February 15, 2014

This entry is part 2 of 4 in the Choose Your Moment

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
— How to Save A Life, The Fray

Port Charles Courthouse: Elevator – 8:40 P.M

Carly was the queen of dramatic statements–though she’d admit that more than half of those statements had been lies or at least partial truths. Life was simpler when you lied to yourself or someone else. Because then at least, you could make up the way you wanted it to be. But theI’m dying line was one Carly hadn’t really had the occasion to use and now she wished she’d had because maybe she’d be able to remember how a person reacted to such a line or how that person looked because she was pretty sure she was doing it wrong.

She laughed nervously. “That’s not–I know I said–that’s not funny.”

“It feels like such a relief to tell someone that,” Alexis said, ignoring her. “I mean, I’ve told Mayor Floyd because he ought to know that he’ll need a new DA soon but I hadn’t really figured out how to tell Ric or the girls.”

Carly blinked. “So dying is….what do you mean by that?”

“I mean that I have lung cancer,” Alexis informed her. “I don’t know why as I don’t smoke and I’m arranging for treatment but the doctors are not optimistic.”

Your kids will be a lot better off when you do everyone a favor and just drop dead. Sometimes, Carly wanted to hit herself.

“Oh, God….” She slapped a hand to her forehead. “You knew–you knew when I said–Jesus, Alexis, if I’d known, I never–” she scowled. “Oh my God, I suck as human being.”

“You didn’t know, you were just being your usual annoying and harsh self,” Alexis looked away. “Not that I believe you would have acted any differently if you had known.”

“Probably not,” Carly admitted. And she hated that about herself, she really did. She pursed her lips. “So…how long?”

“A year,” Alexis sighed. She closed her eyes and let her head thump back against the wall. “At the most, two. Which means Kristina and Molly won’t remember and my only other child…” her face twisted. “I don’t want to think about that.” She hesitated. “I changed my will to leave primary custody of Kristina to Nikolas. With Sonny’s illness, I worried–”

“No, that’s good, that’s right that you did that,” Carly said unexpectedly. She twisted a ring on her finger. “Sonny’s sessions aren’t–they’re not going as smoothly as Lainey would prefer and she’s not sure if he’s going to stay on the medication. I thought–” her voice faltered but only for a moment. “I thought he wanted to stay strong and set a good example for the kids but he’d rather have it his way.”

Alexis exhaled slowly. “I thought he wanted help.” An altogether new fear gripped her and she worried that Sonny might have another breakdown, in front of her daughter. Oh, God, how could she leave Kristina? How could she leave Molly?

“So did I,” Carly murmured. “And now I don’t really know what to do. I can’t keep the boys from their father but I’m scared that he’s going to have another breakdown, and I don’t want Michael and Morgan to see that.” Her eyes connected with Alexis, the only woman in the world that might understand. “I know that Sonny loves his kids and that they love him, but I am terrified that he’ll hurt them without even meaning to.”

General Hospital: Roof – 8:45 P.M.

Dillon paced for ten minutes. He tugged on the door handle for another five and after ten minutes of peering down the ten stories to the sidewalk, hoping to see someone who could help them, he’d spent the last five minutes sprawled out on the ground, his head banging gently against the door.

He directed his attention to Lulu, seated fifteen feet away, her knees tucked under her body, her hand absently rubbing her stomach. Probably hungry, he thought absently remembering the aborted dinner plans with Georgie. She’d never forgive him now after finding out that he’d spent the blackout with Lulu.

Which led him back to something that kept bugging him. Lulu had gone to a lot of trouble to trick him up here. She’d forged notes and snuck around so he wouldn’t see her plant them. And once they were up here, she’d started to talk, to apologize again for what she’d done. He was tired of hearing it, tired of remembering that she had, in fact, told him the truth and he’d chosen not to believe her. It was much easier to just hold her entirely at fault.

But then he’d been angry at being tricked up here, he’d cut her explanations off and tugged on the door to find it locked. Lulu kept going, kept trying to talk to him to tell him something but then he’d told her what was probably the meanest thing he’d said to anyone in a long time, excluding the venom he’d spewed at Georgie. He’d told her to shut up, that he’d never believe another word that came out of her lying mouth.

It was easier to blame Lulu for what had happened and it was simpler to pretend that he’d been an innocent victim but the truth was that he’d believed Lulu because he’d only seen her words as confirmation of what he’d already felt. And he’d slept with Lulu because he wanted to, not because he wanted to get back at Georgie or because Lulu was convenient, but because he’d thought about the way she tasted since the islands and of course, that was wrong, right? He was a married man and over the moon about Georgie.

But Lulu would smile and she’d clap her hands together in excitement about something and he liked that, he liked watching her smile, liked being the one to make her smile and he really liked making her laugh because she’d had such a crappy life, she deserved someone who made her laugh and smile and be okay. And for a little while, he’d thought he could be that person. But then she’d lied and she reminded him of his mother, not caring who she hurt as long as she got her way. And he’d watched them together, Lulu and Tracy, watched them, listened to them and it had made his skin crawl to know that there were such similarities, that he could have thought for one second he’d fall for a girl like his mother, his cold conniving mother that he loved because she was his mother, his family and you couldn’t not love your family. It was written somewhere, he was sure.

And he’d told her they were nothing, because he was terrified that the cliché was true. A boy always fell in love with someone who reminded him of mother, the way girls fell in love with men who were like their fathers and he’d been so sure he’d escaped that with Georgie.

He’d been immersed his own pain, his own betrayal and his own fears before he’d even thought it through and remembered that she’d tried to tell him about Georgie, tried to tell him that she was selfish and not a good person. She’d told him the truth and he’d told her she didn’t have to lie to him. And then he felt guilty and the more guilty he felt, the more he took it out on her because he wouldn’t feel this torn up and twisted around if she had just stayed out of his life entirely. He’d be in love with Georgie without complications and he wouldn’t be thinking about Lulu Spencer, and the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled or how her nose would twitch right before she laughed.

He was terrified now that he loved them both. That he loved Georgie’s compassion and her generosity. That he loved Lulu’s smile, her laugh and her voice and her devotion and loyalty to a father that didn’t deserve it. He understood what it was to crave a family, he’d grown up like that.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted out. She turned her head to frown at him and he continued, “I’m sorry I’m an ass and I’m sorry that I said we were nothing because we weren’t and that was a lie and I think there have been enough lies.”

Her eyes filled and then he really panicked because tears were not his thing. He never knew what to say, what to do and he was pretty sure that tears led to crying and then he’d really be in deep shit. Her lower lip trembled but she bit down on it and he was relieved because maybe she wouldn’t cry after all.

“No, you were right,” Lulu said quietly. “We are nothing and it’s better that way.” She turned her gaze back over the dark city. She closed her eyes and without thinking about it, rubbed her hand over her belly in a way that reminded Dillon of something, he just couldn’t figure out what.

General Hospital: Elevator Shaft B – 8:50 P.M.

An hour, they’d sat in here. And Robin was sure he would have cracked by now. She didn’t know what that said about her as a woman, but he hadn’t even moved an inch her way. In fact, except for the tense expression on his face and the clenching of his fists, one might suspect he didn’t have any interest in elevator sex.

Which confirmed what she’d expected since he’d turned her down a few days ago. He’d lost his appetite for her, for sex between them and he couldn’t find a nice way to tell her. She couldn’t blame him. The risk when they’d slept together had been minimal, but it’d also been an abstract thing, nothing tangible he could wrap his hands around.

But now, with an actual exposure, it was probably more real to him. That he risked his life every time he took her to bed. And he’d probably decided it wasn’t worth it. It was understandable–he had a brilliant career in front of him and it would be a shame if it was cut short in anyway.

So Robin tugged her skirt down and folded her arms across her chest. She was done trying to tempt him. If he’d wanted her, he would have had her by now and she had more self-respect than that.

“You could have just said something.”

Her voice startled him, they hadn’t spoken in nearly a half hour. He blinked at her. “Tell you what?” he demanded, grateful that she’d opened her mouth. But with his luck, she’d say something that either pissed him off or turned him on (and truth be told, the former usually led to the latter anyway) and the battle to control himself would begin all over again. He really couldn’t win tonight.

“Why I’m here and you’re all the way over there,” Robin said. “I mean, I’m a big girl, I can handle it.”

“I did tell you,” Patrick said, confused. “The other night–”

“No, I mean you could have told me the real reason,” she interrupted. “And I wouldn’t have blamed you or held it against you.”

Women. You could always count on them to start at Point A and go directly to Point F without bothering with any of the stops in between. “I’m not exactly sure what you’re talking about,” he said, spacing the words out.

“You’re not attracted to me anymore,” Robin shrugged, trying to pretend that it didn’t cut deep because no one–not even Jason–had looked at her the way Patrick had, not since she’d been diagnosed. He’d looked at her like he was hungry and she was the meal and while it had irritated her in the beginning, she found that she liked being considered desirable and being wanted so fiercely by someone so….well experienced was probably the best word.

“Not attracted to you anymore,” Patrick echoed, wondering how someone so smart could be so completely stupid. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” The fact that he was still attracted to her after eight months of knowing her, two months after sleeping with her–well that was a worrisome fact that he didn’t really want to address right now.

“Well, what else am I supposed to think?” Robin demanded. “I throw myself after you the other night, you throw me back. And I’m practically naked over here and you won’t budge, so what exactly am I supposed to think?”

He opened his mouth and shut again, irritated beyond hell. Why did she have to complicate things and why the hell had the word naked have to spill from her lips? Damn her.

When he didn’t say anything, she nodded. “That’s what I thought–”

“Don’t take my silence as some sort of agreement,” he retorted. “I’m just trying to figure out how someone who’s so smart can be so absolutely stupid. I’ve been exposed to AIDS, you idiot. End-stage AIDS. If you get exposed to that–” his breath caught just thinking about it and he shook his head. “I’m not taking that risk. I refuse to. And if that means celibacy, well that’s fine. I don’t really care.”

“Oh, so it’s just me you’re being noble with, huh?” Robin demanded. “What about the other women?”

Other women! Other women! He was going to wring her neck before this over, he was sure of it. “When the hell do I have time for other women?” he spat out. “I’m working or I’m with you. When am I supposed to find the time?”

She closed her mouth and digested the fact that Patrick wasn’t seeing anyone else. “Okay, so you’re not sleeping with anyone for six months because you might be sick.” She nodded. “Well, I am actually sick and I didn’t sleep with you for months because I didn’t want to expose you.” She glowered at him. “Who’s hiding behind their illness now, you bastard?”

He opened his mouth but shut it abruptly. He cursed under his breath. “I don’t care for the fact that you have a point.”

She nodded. “Damn right. You accused me of using my HIV as an excuse, as a way to hide from the world, well now you have an idea of why.” She glared at him. “Do you think it was easy knowing that every time we were together, I could have killed you?”

“No, no, I don’t,” Patrick admitted. He’d handled this wrong, of course but wasn’t the first time he’d done so regarding Robin and it definitely not going to be the last. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize–”

“And I’m sorry,” Robin sighed. “I didn’t–I didn’t think you were really serious about the celibacy thing. But you are and I don’t have the right to try and change your mind.” She shifted restlessly, wanting this elevator to move, wanting to get away from this. Six months. In six months, without sex to hold him, her tenuous grip on Patrick would be gone and he’d be off chasing someone else by the time he was tested again.

But that was okay, because she might have almost been in love with him, but she’d caught herself before the final plunge and it was okay now. They’d be friends and she really did value that–

“I can’t believe you’d be so thick as to think I wasn’t attracted to you anymore,” Patrick said, still stuck on that. “You’re as dumb as a brick, you know that?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Keep calling me stupid, jackass, and find out what it’s like to be in an enclosed space with the daughter of two government agents.”

Harborview Towers: Jason Morgan’s Penthouse – 9:00 P.M.

Elizabeth wished she had charcoal or a decent pencil to go with this pad of paper she’d unearth from Jason’s desk, but all he’d had was an assortment of pens and a dull number two yellow pencil with no sharpener in sight.

When she’d arrived earlier, he’d been in a weird mood–he’d been his usual silent and brooding self but there was an agitation was that unnatural, and it worried her. Jason was rarely agitated and it always with a good reason. He’d alluded to having seen something he wished he hadn’t but beyond that he hadn’t been all that good for details.

And if she didn’t know what happened, she couldn’t help. And Elizabeth liked to help Jason, she liked thinking that someone besides her toddler needed her. So she sketched and listened to him play pool and she wondered why he couldn’t be like normal people and just have a breaking point.

It had to do with Sam, Elizabeth decided. Because he would be too used to anything Carly could do to him and Sonny, she knew was safely tucked away in his mansion. Emily was away with Monica at a spa and she didn’t think that really left anyone.

So he’d seen Sam doing something or heard her saying something to disturb him. He’d been somewhat restless after Carly and Sonny had slept together, Elizabeth remembered. And the look in his eyes had been the same too. So maybe that was it. Maybe he’d seen Sam with another man. Maybe it was sinking in that he’d tossed her away and had lost his chance to get her back.

But who could Sam have been with? She wasn’t a blonde, so she definitely wasn’t with Lucky, Elizabeth thought bitterly. And if it had been Sonny, Jason would look worse, she decided. Nikolas was family, so that ruled him out.

She tried to think of all the people that she’d seen Sam around lately. There was Detective Rodriguez from the PCPD, Ric–well that was really it. She and Ric had seemed close when they’d been on the docks the other day, Elizabeth remembered. But Ric was happily married, right?

But he’d cheated on Alexis before. With Reese Marshall. And Elizabeth’s pencil dropped to pad of paper. What better way to get back at Alexis for her part in breaking Jason and Sam up than to seduce her mother’s husband?

She felt really sick.

She peered over the back of the sofa and watched Jason line up another shot, the muscles in his shoulders bunching up. “Jason,” she said quietly. She set her pad aside and stood to round the sofa.

He didn’t reply, didn’t acknowledge her voice but Elizabeth slid in between him and the pool table, stopping him in his tracks. “What?” he asked roughly. He was glad she was going to talk again. Because when she talked, he could focus on her and not on what he’d seen. It was easier to listen to Elizabeth, to fix her life than examine his own.

“I am so sorry,” she said in a soft tone. “It’s awful when you see someone you love doing something so reprehensible and so unthinkable.”

He frowned down at her–how could she have possibly known?

She must have seen the question in his eyes and she shrugged. “I know that look; you’ve had it before–when Carly slept with Sonny. I didn’t know why then, but it makes sense. And it just makes sense to me that was Sam you saw.” She touched his chest, her small hand braced over his heart, her warmth bleeding through the gray of his shirt. “I am so sorry,” she repeated.

She felt empty inside, knowing that all the while Lucky had been accusing her of infidelity, that he’d only done it throw her off and keep her from discovering his secret. She was empty and she was cold and she wanted that to go away.

And so it seemed perfectly natural to lean up on the tips of her toes and press her mouth to his. It seemed natural and in a way, it seemed inevitable. Because Jason had always been able to make her feel safe and secure and more importantly, he’d always made her feel okay in her own skin. And she wanted to give that back to him at the same time.

As if her soft kiss was the key that unlocked something inside him, his arm slid around her waist and he crushed her mouth to his, accepting the comfort she wanted so desperately to give.

This entry is part 3 of 4 in the Choose Your Moment

It’s all right to make mistakes
You’re only human
Inside everybody’s hiding something
Take time to catch your breathe and choose your moment
Don’t slide
– Slide, Dido

Harborview Towers: Jason Morgan’s Penthouse – 9:07 P.M.

He held her in an almost suffocating embrace, devouring her mouth like a desperate man who hadn’t had a drink in years. And even if she’d been unable to breath, Elizabeth didn’t think she’d have the strength to push him away. She would have gladly died in his arms, if it meant that she’d never have to give up this intoxicating warmth.

His breath was hot against her face as he pulled away to set his teeth into her neck. He nipped at the soft skin and a moan trapped itself in her throat. She couldn’t find the energy to force it out and she lost the opportunity when he brought his lips back to hers.

She was so caught up, so lost in the moment that she didn’t even register when he lifted her into the air and set her on the edge of the pool table. She could feel her feet dangling in thin air and the wood beneath her but she only let that sunk in quickly before sliding her hands underneath his shirt to find the skin beneath it. It was slick and hot but she wanted more and she tugged at the hem, wanting to see the chest she remembered so clearly and had often been the subject of many fantasies once upon a time.

He swept the shirt off his head and sent it sailing and she dimly wondered if they’d find it hanging from the desk chair the next morning but then his mouth met hers again and she felt herself falling until her back met the cool green felt.

She didn’t feel empty or cold anymore and that was the last conscious thought she had.

General Hospital: Elevator Shaft B – 9:07

The silence was thick and the air was beginning to feel heavy. Robin plucked at the damp tank top that sweat had sticking to her skin. She didn’t realize how much she valued air conditioning until it was gone.

Her watch beeped and Robin sighed, reaching into her purse for her medication. She tugged out a pouch and a very warm bottle of water and started to take each pill.

She could feel his eyes on her but he didn’t speak and she was grateful for that. He’d seen her take the medication so many times–during the epidemic, during the transplant crisis with his father, and during the brief weeks where they’d spent nearly ever night together. He’d watched her take all these pills and had never said a word about them.

But it was the first time she’d taken them in front of him since his exposure.

She finished the dose and set the pouch and bottle back into her purse and stared at the light pink nail polish on her toes.

“So you never told me about your cousins,” Patrick broke the silence again.

“You can’t possibly want to know how Maxie or Georgie are,” Robin said, suspiciously. “You don’t even know them.”

“I don’t know Georgie, I don’t like Maxie, there’s a difference,” Patrick corrected bluntly. “And don’t start on me about Maxie’s difficult time–”

“No, no…” Robin shook her head. “I wasn’t going to. I still–it’s hard to believe that she slept with him and then…” she exhaled slowly. “If Maxie hadn’t told me myself, I probably wouldn’t have believed it.” She eyed him for a moment. “So you did see them kissing on the docks.”

Patrick shrugged. “Yeah but I was hoping it was a mistake, a one time thing and there’s no reason to hurt Elizabeth over something like that.” He licked his lips. “But, you know, if I had told her, maybe she wouldn’t have had to walk in on her husband screwing someone else. Twice.”

“Or she wouldn’t have believed you either,” Robin pointed out. “And all you would have done was wreck your friendship.” She sighed and let her head fall back against the elevator wall. “I look at Maxie and I don’t even recognize her anymore. I know we all handle grief in different ways and maybe I could have been there for her more, spent more time with her–made time. But I just can’t reconcile the girl that’s so proud of herself for sleeping with a married man with the one that I watched grow up. And what’s worse? I think Maxie is the one that fed into Lucky’s suspicions about you and Elizabeth.”

“You know, I don’t care what people think of me, I never have but I wish…I could I could have figured out a way to convince Lucky that nothing was going on but how do you prove a negative right?”

“You can’t.” Robin shook her head. “And she told me that it didn’t matter what Lucky did with anyone else, because everyone knew that Elizabeth was sleeping with you. I told her–that’s not possible because for one thing, Elizabeth would never do that–even if she weren’t married because she’s my friend and number two, you and I were sleeping together most of the summer and even though we didn’t do the monogamy thing…I got the feeling that you really didn’t…” she shrugged. “Sleep with anyone else.”

“Well, I didn’t,” Patrick admitted. He wasn’t about to tell her why. That would just make the business of being stuck in this elevator all that much worse. “What did she say when you told her that?”

“She told that you’d probably lied to me about that, that you couldn’t be trusted to tell anyone the truth because you’d tried to lie about the kiss on the docks. And I just…” Robin closed her eyes. “I just stared at her because I couldn’t understand how she could lie to my face like that and try–” she licked her lips. “She had to know that it would hurt me. To think that you and Elizabeth were sleeping together. I mean, she knows–” she shook her head. ”

The words were unsaid, but they hung in the air. She knows how I feel about you and that, of course, made Patrick perk up. Everywhere, unfortunately. “She knows only what she wants,” Patrick corrected. “And she’s not really seeing past that right now, Robin. The truth is going to come out eventually and it’s only going to make your cousin look like the bitch that she is. I’m sorry but I can’t pretend I like her–”

“No, no, I wouldn’t expect you to. She’s running around town, telling anyone who’ll hear her about your wild affair with Elizabeth. You get to dislike her.” Robin bit her lip. “But I have to involve my uncle Mac now and I think that’s going to get her sent off to a nunnery unfortunately.” She tapped her fingers restlessly against the floor. “So you’re really going to go six months,” she remarked, changing the subject.

“I can do it,” Patrick said somewhat defensively, though his earlier resolve was being worn down by the way her clothing was now sticking to her skin. It was really getting hot in here. Where thehell was the power?

“Have you ever gone six months?” Robin asked pointedly. “Since you started having sex? Have you ever gone a month?”

“Yes,” Patrick said, somewhat smugly. In fact, he’d gone six months very recently and he was damn proud of that. Of course, he hadn’t yet slept with Robin and he was pretty sure that was going to be his breaking point. “Before you and I slept together, I hadn’t been with anyone since you caught me in the OR with that nurse.”

Robin stared at him and for the first time, he realized she was completely speechless. Of all the days for him not to have a video camera or some sort of recording device–because no one else was ever going to believe this.

“I don’t think that was quite six months,” Patrick continued, “but it was pretty close and let me tell you, I do appreciate you finally giving in and ending that particular dry spell.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You can’t possibly be serious. You were out all the time with women and what about Carly? Why did you go six months?”

“I’m not exactly sure if I like the fact that you think I was sleeping with other women the entire time I was trying to sleep with you,” he replied, a little offended. “And I told you, I only pretended with Carly to annoy you. And it worked, so–”

“Wait a minute, wait a minute–” Robin held up her hands and waved them in front of her, so he’d shut up. “So the second we make any progress, you give me that speech about how you’re only in it for casual sex and you spend the next two months telling me you’ll sleep with any woman you want when you want to and now you’re telling me that the only woman you’ve been with for the last eight months is me?”

He scowled. “You’re intentionally putting it together so that it sounds stupid. That’s not how it happened.” It was, but she didn’t understand and he really thought she would have. She understood him in every other way, and usually could tell him what he was thinking before he could tell himself–a fact that would probably always piss him off. How could she not see how it was? It would have been so simpler if she’d understood without his having to tell her.

But then again, things were rarely simple between them and he was getting tired of it. Maybe it was time to finally lay it on the line.

She glared at him and folded her arms tightly across her chest. “Oh, yeah, jackass? How’d it happen then?”

He crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”

“You don’t want me any closer, I might lose my mind and tear your clothes off,” Robin retorted sarcastically.

“I’m willing to take that chance. Come over here.”

“No,” Robin said stubbornly. “You can’t make me.”

“Listen, pain in the ass, I am bigger, I’m meaner than you and now I’m ticked off so get your ass over here or I will just drag you,” he threatened.

Robin huffed and rolled her eyes before sliding across the car and settling in a good foot from Patrick. He grabbed her hand and she smacked him with her free one. “I’m not going to touch that–” she began.

“You and that gutter mind of yours,” Patrick shook his head before bringing her hand to his chest. “I told you that I didn’t want anything more than casual because I thought if I said it out loud, it would be true.”

Her brow wrinkled with confusion. “What do you mean–”

“I mean, that I wanted to believe that I still wanted another woman, any other woman. All women. But, the truth is, Robin,” he hesitated. “The truth is that since the moment you barreled into that operating room, the thought of sleeping with another woman became a distant memory and you were all I could think about for months.”

“It’s really hot in here,” Robin said suddenly, “I think it’s gone to your head. It’s making you act really weird–”

He clapped his free hand over her mouth. “You talk too much. Be quiet for a second and let me finish.”

She glared at him mutinously and then with great relish bit his hand. But he’d expected that from her and had already braced himself for it. “You’re going to feel really stupid in about five seconds,” he warned her.

He took a deep breath and ignored all the voices in his head screaming at him to shut up. “Robin, I know you think that this exposure has changed things between us–and it has. Because now I understand you more. And I can understand what it’s like wanting to put someone else’s safety in front of your own and that terrifying feeling that you could hurt the one person you want to protect more than anything.”

He removed his hand from her mouth, not wanting to say these words for the first time while physically restraining him. He shifted it to her chin and touched her bottom lip with his thumb. “Robin, I love you.”

General Hospital: Roof – 9:15 P.M.

Lulu wondered what her baby would look like. If she (she really wanted a little girl to name Laura) would have her light blonde hair or maybe she’d have Dillon’s dark blonde hair. Maybe their baby would look more like their relatives–dark red hair like her aunt Bobbie or dark brown hair like Dillon’s brother Ned.

She thought their baby would probably have her eyes instead of Dillon’s but she wanted the baby to have his nose and his mouth. She really liked those features.

Lulu wanted her baby to feel wanted and loved from the first second she breathed, and to never be an afterthought or be told that her mother had wanted her but her father had tolerated her. And she was scared that if she did tell Dillon, he would look at her with horror before fulfilling his obligations. And to him, their daughter would be a mistake, a nice one, but a mistake nonetheless. And no matter what, that would always color their interaction, he would never able to look at their Laura and not wish she’d happened at a different time, with a different girl.

So, really, she was protecting Dillon and their baby by not telling him. She loved Dillon. She thought she had before, but now she knew what that meant and love meant protecting that person, even if it took them away from you. It meant wanting them to be happy, even if it wasn’t with you.

Her stomach rumbled and she wished she’d eaten something. It rumbled again, and then it lurched and suddenly, she knew she was going to be sick. Lulu stumbled to her feet and made her way out of Dillon’s sight, trying not to brace her hand against her stomach.

Dillon followed her, worried and when he realized she was throwing up, he stepped respectfully out of sight for a moment, feeling angry at himself for having yelled at her earlier now that he knew she was sick–

And then it all clicked for him. The arranged meeting, the need to tell him something, the touching of her stomach, the throwing up–his mouth felt dry and all the blood drained out of his head.

Oh, God. Oh, God.

He bit down on his fist to keep himself from speaking out loud. He was only going to get do this once, only get to give her a first reaction once and he didn’t want it be anything other than surprise. He didn’t want it be disappointment and terror, he wanted, for once, to do the right thing where Lulu was concerned.

Lulu finished and straightened, rubbing her hand over her mouth. She fished the mints she kept in her pockets for moments like this and popped one in her mouth and wished that she had water.

She went back to the main part of the roof and found Dillon standing there, his hand in his pockets, his gaze out on the darkened city. “No lights on yet,” he mused.

“I wonder what’s taking so long,” Lulu rubbed her arms, feeling goose bumps rise for some reason. She glanced at him nervously and found that he was looking at her now, in a manner that she didn’t recognize. “What?”

“You weren’t going to tell me, were you?” he asked. “Why?”

She widened her eyes in what she thought would be innocence. “Tell you what?”

He swallowed and hoped his voice and face were as level as he was striving for. “Lulu. How did you think I wouldn’t notice? I mean, you can’t hide that sort of thing.”

Her breath caught and shook her head. “No, I don’t know what you mean–”

“Lulu,” he repeated. “Come on. No more lies, remember? You promised me that before and I just told you a half hour ago that I didn’t want there to be any lies or secrets between us.” He stepped towards her. “You can tell me anything, Lu. You always could.”

“No,” Lulu shook her head. It was better this way, she told herself. It was better and it didn’t matter that he already knew. She had to keep lying, she had to protect herself and she had to protect their baby and he didn’t love her the way she loved him–

But he took her hand in his, and squeezed. “I know you have to be scared, Lu. I know it, because I’m scared, too. It’s a scary idea but hey…” he smiled weakly. “I have a history of doing things before most people our age. I’ve already been married and divorced, you know.”

“Dillon–” she began, but her voice broke and suddenly she couldn’t understand why she was protecting herself anymore. He was right in front of her, and he looked strong and she was tired of standing by herself anymore, tired of pretending she didn’t feel like breaking. “I didn’t mean for this to happen but I can’t–” she blinked back tears. “I can’t say it’s a mistake because it’s not fair–”

“It’s not a mistake,” he cut in. And then he folded her into his arms and she broke, clinging to him, pretending for a moment that he would always be there to hold her and protect her. “It’s a surprise,” he laughed weakly. “But it’s not a mistake. It’s okay, Lu–” he stroked her hair as he felt her warm tears on his shoulder. “It’s okay, we’ll get through this together.”

This must be what growing up was, Dillon thought, cradling the mother of his child in his arms and wishing he could have made this better for her somehow. It meant taking the bad and the good together and making something great out of it. It meant making things okay for someone when they were far from okay.

So he was gonna be a dad. That was okay, he’d figure it out as he went along. He’d never let the kid grow up in hotels with movies for best friends. And he’d never make him (or her) feel like an afterthought or run their life or make it miserable. He thought he’d be a pretty good dad and Lu would be a good mom and that’s what was important right now. Everything else could wait until they got off the roof but right now, the belief that he could make it work for her and make it okay again was enough.

Port Charles Courthouse: Elevator Shaft – 9:20 P.M.

Carly closed her eyes and prayed for the power to come back on, though she was surprised when she wasn’t struck down by lightening at the very idea of praying for something. After all the sins she’d committed and would likely commit before her time on this rock was finished, her room in hell was reserved and had been for some time.

But if there was ever a moment she wanted God to be listening to her, it was this one. She prayed for the power, she prayed for the air conditioning, because damn it was hot in here. She prayed for her children’s father, to give him the strength to do what was right and she prayed for her best friend, to find someone who wouldn’t sleep with his enemy. As long as he didn’t love that someone more than her, Carly qualified. And she prayed for the woman across from her, she prayed that she would have a miracle and that she would continue to live.

She opened her eyes and looked at Alexis, concerned at the pallor of the woman’s skin and the labored breathing. The sweat was trickling down her face in small streams and the air felt thicker, hotter and it was like a layer of heavy cloth being wrapped around them, more and more tightly so that breathing became more and more of a chore.

Could you get heatstroke from being stuck in an elevator? Carly wondered.

She cleared her throat, it was so hoarse from the lack of liquid. She’d given her water bottle to Alexis when the lawyer had drained her own. “Alexis,” she said, coughing because the sweat felt like it was in her throat now, like it was clogging her airways. “If we get out of here alive–”

“This feels familiar,” Alexis murmured and Carly smiled faintly.

“We’ve made it out of worse, honey,” Carly replied. “But if we get out of here, I want you know to know that I don’t think it’s too late for me to be a good person, you know? I think I could still do it.”

Alexis cracked an eye and peered at the blonde, baffled. “Okay,” she said slowly.

“No, no, listen, this is how I’m going to be a good person–well better,” Carly clarified. “I might be too far gone to be a good one. Anyway…” she waved her hand weakly. “You and me…I don’t really remember why we don’t like each other, you know? Because I think it started when you slept with Sonny, but that doesn’t matter now. Because that was then, and I was a different person, you know? I still loved him and I wanted him and I don’t know.” She closed her eyes, feeling really tired. “But you and me, we’re different now. And you have the girls and I have my boys and we’re family, you know.”

Alexis laughed weakly. “Yeah, someone’s laughing about that somewhere. I bet it’s Stefan, he always had a perverse sense of humor.”

“Could be my mama Virginia, she always told me my bad karma would come back to bite me in the butt,” Carly countered. “Anyway, that’s not the point.” She frowned. “What was my point?”

“Something about you being a good person or a better one.”

“Right, right, so here’s how I’m going to do it.” Carly straightened. “You’re gonna need someone. A friend, if we can use that term loosely. And this next year is gonna be rough, you know? So I’m gonna be a better person by being a friend to you. There’s a reason we keep getting stuck in elevators, Alexis and I think it’s God way of telling us we should stick together.”

“The heat’s getting to you, Carly. I think you’re hallucinating,” Alexis mumbled.

“Or maybe it’s the devil, but either way, Alexis, you’re gonna need someone to help you out and seeing as how we’re family, there’s really no one else who understands what you’re going through with Ric and Sam more.” Carly reached out her hand. “So what to do you say to a truce? Pinky swear?” She arranged her hand so her pinky was out.

“What the hell?” Alexis shrugged and latched her own pinky to Carly’s. “Pinky swear.”

Harborview Towers: Jason Morgan’s Penthouse – 9:30 P.M.

Elizabeth reached under her back and retrieved the cue ball. She giggled and then stopped. “I can’t believe I want to laugh,” she said.

Jason leaned up on an elbow next to her and peered at her curiously. “You want to laugh?” he repeated. “That’s not usually the reaction I get.”

Now she did laugh, her shoulders shaking. “Oh, I’m sorry, should I have gone with, ‘Wow, that was the best I’ve ever had?'”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “I think I’m insulted now.”

It was wonderful, she thought, closing her eyes and stretching her hands over her head. It was wonderful to feel this loose and this warm and this peaceful inside. It appeared that she’d finally nailed the concept of comfort sex. She giggled again. Nailed, she repeated to herself.

“It’s nice to see you smile.” Jason toyed with a strand of her hair. She brought her fingers up to trace his mouth.

“You’re smiling too. It’s nice to see that again,” she told him. She slid her fingers in his hair and drew his face back down to hers. After a long moment during which she forgot her name, age and place of residence, she sighed. “This pool table looks a lot more comfortable than it actually is.”

Jason chuckled and rolled off the table, getting to his feet. She sat up and realized that they were both completely naked. And there were some things that only got better with age, she decided, taking a good look at him–or at least as good as the moonlight filtering through the windows would allow. The candles they’d lit earlier had long since flickered out.

“Why don’t I take you upstairs?” he suggested, scooping her up in his arms like she weighed less than a feather. “You can look for your clothes later.”

She frowned. “How did you know I was thinking about looking for them?”

He didn’t answer her but just started to the stairs. Halfway to the first landing, the lights in the penthouse flickered on, then off, on and then off again before finally staying on the third time around.

“Power’s back,” Elizabeth murmured.

This entry is part 4 of 4 in the Choose Your Moment

If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I’ve been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you’ve done
— Feels Like Home, Chantal Kreviazuk

Harborview Towers: Jason Morgan’s Penthouse – 9:35 P.M.

Jason glanced over at one of the lamps and a brief smile spread across his face. “Well, at least we’ll be able to find your clothes later.”

She bit her lip and cast her eyes towards the stairs. Somehow, in the dark, she hadn’t had to say it to herself–she’d just had wild, crazy, passionate sex with Jason on his pool table. She hadn’t really had to come clean with herself that her marriage was definitely over now.

But with the lights on, it didn’t seem so inevitable or so dream like. It was almost as if going upstairs, to his bedroom, with the lights shining and the power back on, reality had resurfaced and it would now be a conscious decision to continue their interlude.

And it was a decision that she decided she wanted to make. She tightened her arms around his neck and grinned. “So, we going upstairs or what?”

Port Charles Courthouse: Elevator – 9:36 P.M.

The emergency lights in the car flickered and Carly moaned–even their backup was going out. In moments, it would be pitch black.

But they only flickered and then the lights came on full force.

And so did the air conditioning. And then the elevator lurched and started to move. “Hallelujah, prayer works!” Carly raised her fists in the air. “We are getting out of here!”

“Fabulous,” Alexis sighed. “So I get to go back to my life with my adulterous husband, my tramp daughter and oh, yeah–my death sentence.” She pulled herself to her feet. “I almost preferred the idea of death by heat stroke.”

Carly bounced to her feet, the idea of getting out this elevator giving her an adrenaline rush. “The difference is, now you got me.”

Alexis peered at the blonde and sighed. “And I thought 2006 couldn’t get much worse. Now I have Carly on my side.”

General Hospital: Elevator Shaft B – 9:35 P.M.

As soon as the words had left Patrick’s lips, the flights flickered on and Robin blinked, pulling away from him. Thank God for interruptions, she decided. She’d always thought if those words left either of their mouths, it would be hers and then he’d be horrified, it would end badly so she was pretty glad she wasn’t stupid enough to say those words.

She’d never thought he would and now she didn’t know what to think–what to say–what to do. “I wonder why the elevator isn’t moving,” she mused, hoping enough time had passed that he’d realized that he’d made a mistake, that she didn’t need to hear those words, especially when she wasn’t sure what he meant or why he’d said them.

Patrick scrubbed a hand over his face and wanted to smack himself and her at the same time. Were they really going to do another round of this? “Robin–”

“I mean, the elevator must be stuck or something because with the power back on, I figured it would just start moving but it’s not and we’re still here and–”

“Robin,” Patrick cut in. “You don’t have anything to say to me?” he demanded.

Her eyes wide, she sputtered for a moment before coherent words emerged. “What do you want me to say?” she asked almost weakly.

This was exactly his worst nightmare, he realized. Why did they never do anything the easy way? Why did they always have to take one step forward and three back? “Well, reciprocation would have been nice,” he muttered.

“Because I’m not saying it just because you said it,” Robin began. “And I’m not even sure why you said it, I mean, you don’t want to feel that way and I can’t believe you said it–”

To stop her from babbling and for his own sanity, he again clapped a hand over her mouth. Her panicked expression quickly morphed into irritation and she tried to jerk away. “No, no, Scorpio. I’m done. Listen, you’re going to say because you’ve already said it and now that I’ve said it, you–” He glared at her. “Don’t shake your head at me, you did so say it.”

Robin jerked away and got to her feet. “I did not,” she denied. “A-and you can’t prove differently.”

“See, you know how I know when you lie? You get that little twitch right here by your nose–” he gestured. “You said it when we were in bed–”

“Oh, well you can’t believe what people say in the heat of the moment,” Robin cut in. “That’s just—you’re really good in bed,” she finished lamely.

He wiped the back of his hand over his mouth and really wished for the strength not to just reach out and wring her neck. Why was it so difficult for her to just admit it? She was supposed to be the mature one in this duo, not him. “I didn’t need confirmation, I already knew that, but thanks. No, you thought I was asleep.”

Her eyes widened at this and he smirked. “Coming back to you now, isn’t it?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Robin folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “Clearly, you just want to believe that I said it first so you can pretend you’re reciprocating and not actually having to say it–”

“For the love of–” Patrick raised his eyes to the ceiling and muttered some unkind thoughts under his breath. “Okay, fine. Have it your way. You never said it, but I am saying it so will just give me a break here?”

“You’re…you’re really saying it?” she asked hesitantly. She bit her lip and peered up at him. “Like you mean it?”

“Robin, I love you, though only God knows why at this point.” He gripped her elbows and drew her closer to him. “So can we just skip the portion of the program where we bicker over it and just go to the part where you say it back?”

“Fine, but you know, if I say it, I’m going to want strings,” she warned. “Strings and commitments and exclusivity–”

“No problem,” Patrick cut in. “Just say it, damn it.”

“You’re really cute when you’re mad, you know that?” Robin teased, something settling inside of her. She grinned. “Man, if someone had told me you’d be begging to hear this, I would have told them they were nuts–”

He actually growled and she giggled. “Fine, fine, I’ll do it right this time.” She sobered. “Do it again.”

It might have been the only declaration of love she’d ever receive in which the man declaring it would be staring daggers at her and clenching his teeth. But this one meant the most. She’d really fought for this one, had given up hoping for this one and most of all, she thought this might be last one.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, stood up on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips to his. “I love you, too.”

The elevator lurched then and they went flying back against the wall. Before they could right themselves, the doors slid open and half the hospital staff–including Patrick’s father Noah, the Chief of Staff Alan Quartermaine and Robin’s parents, Robert and Anna, were standing in front of the doors.

“Your father never could pass up the opportunity to neck in the elevator with a pretty girl either,” Alan said to Patrick.

General Hospital: Roof – 10:00 P.M.

“Do you have service yet?” Lulu asked as Dillon sat back down at her side and slid his arm back around her shoulders. “My cell’s dead.”

“Mine, too.” Dillon glanced at the door. “Well, with the power back on, it still doesn’t solve our problem of being locked out here. Let’s just hope someone comes up here soon.”

They were quiet for a while but then Lulu spoke. “So, you took this better than I thought you would.”

“Me, too,” Dillon admitted. “I panicked at first, Lu, I’m not going to lie. Because this is….” he exhaled shakily. “It’s almost too terrifying to really think about just yet. But I wanted to do better, I wanted to be what you needed.”

She glanced up at him. “So what happens next?” she asked quietly.

“Well, next, we’re going to hope someone lets us off this roof,” Dillon remarked. “But as to after that…I hope you’re okay with the fact that…I have no clue.” He met her eyes. “But you know what? I do know that whatever happens, it’s gonna be okay. You know? Because you and me, we are amazing together. And you know, things happen for a reason. I don’t believe in accidents. You’re going to be a good mom and I’m going to be a good dad, and we’ll figure it out as we go along.”

“You’re going to love her right?” Lulu asked. “I mean, you’re not going to look at her and wish she were Georgie’s or that she’d come along like ten years later, right?”

Scary questions. He wanted his answers to be the right ones, he honestly did. So he took a deep breath and just went with it. “It’s okay that she’s ours and not mine and Georgie’s. I’m okay with that. But it’s hard not to wish that it had happened even a year from now, you know? Because this is going to be so hard for you.” He brushed his lips over the top of her head. “You’re going through all this crap with your family and now you factor in that my mother is probably going to kill us both–but you don’t have to worry about me not loving her. She’s part of you, she’s part of us. And my family, and your family. And I just…” he shook his head. “We’re going to do better for our baby than our parents did for us. And I just have this feeling–” He paused. “I just have this feeling inside that she’s going to be the best of both us. Of our families. Lulu, I already love her. Or him. Either way.”

“You’re coming up with really good answers,” Lulu said after a moment. She closed her eyes and leaned into him, glad for once she wasn’t standing alone. “I’m glad you know. I thought I’d be okay with you not knowing and me leaving, to be on my own but I’m glad that didn’t happen.”

“Me, too,” Dillon said. “However, if we don’t get off this roof soon, I might cry. I’m just saying. Because I’m starving.” He looked down at her. “And you should eat. And we should get you to a doctor. And then find some sort of way to tie my mother up for the next nine months.”

August 15, 2006

Harborview Towers: Jason Morgan’s Penthouse – 7:34 A.M.

The sunlight peeked in through the cracks in the shades. Elizabeth blinked and rolled over to shade her eyes. But they flew open when she couldn’t move. Something was pinning her down. A strong something. A warm something. She peeked over and grinned. It wasn’t a dream.

“There you go, smiling again.” Jason’s voice didn’t sound the least bit sleepy but she was sure he’d only just woken up. He must be one of those annoying people that could go to from sleeping to be awake without that icky stage in between. Bastard. “You keep doing that and I’m going to get used to it,” he continued.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to,” she admitted. She closed her eyes and snuggled into his arms, feeling safe and warm and completely at peace. That would change when she left this penthouse, she knew that. The real world filter in and she’d have to deal with it. But for now, she wanted to bask in being in the arms of someone who never let her down and had never treated her badly–even though she’d probably deserved it.

“So, what next?” Jason asked, idly stroking a hand down her bare back.

“I go home, I kick Lucky out long enough to pack mine and Cam’s things and then I go to my grandmother’s.” Elizabeth hesitated. “And then I just…breathe for a while, you know?” She glanced up at him. “What about you?”

“Breathing sounds good,” Jason answered. “I could go for that.” He paused for a moment. “I could drive you home.”

Elizabeth sat up and peered at him. “When you say drive, does that mean–”

He chuckled. “I guess some things never change. Yeah, we can take the bike.”

“Excellent. Can I drive?” Elizabeth asked.

“No,” he answered, good-naturedly. He crossed to his dresser and tossed her a t-shirt to wear since her clothes were strewn down stairs.

“Okay,” she accepted that. She was out of practice. “Can we take the cliff road then?”

“That’s not on the way to your place,” he pointed out, pulling on a pair of black briefs.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and huffed. “So? We’ll take the long way.” She grinned brightly. “C’mon, Jason, it’ll be like old times. And then, you can let me drive.”

“Cliff roads, yes, driving no.”

“You’re such a killjoy,” Elizabeth sighed. But her smile didn’t fade. “Jason?”

“Yeah?” he moved towards the bathroom to run the shower.

“Thank you,” she said simply.

He shook his head. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You always say that, but it’s never true.”

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the Fiction Graveyard: The Sisters

Corinthos Penthouse

“So, Will told me you stopped by Kelly’s tonight,” Sonny said over dinner. Carly glanced up at him. “He told me that while you were there, Zander Smith stopped in.”

Carly shifted in her seat. “That’s true,” she admitted. “He stopped in to talk to Elizabeth.”

“Does Jason know this?” Sonny asked.

She shrugged. “How am I supposed to know what the princess does or doesn’t tell her boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend?” Sonny repeated. “Since when did that happen?”

“I don’t know. Courtney mentioned it in passing while I was there,” Carly replied. “I’ve been meaning to tell you what happened tonight,” she said. “Zander told Elizabeth she should stay away from Jason because something was going to go down.”

“He said this. In front of you,” Sonny stated.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me,” Carly stated. “I’m sure Elizabeth is telling Jason, too. So, maybe you’ll believe it coming from her–”

“That’s not what I meant, Carly,” Sonny said, almost exasperated. “I meant I can’t believe Zander would do that. It’s such a stupid move.”

“Oh.” Carly shrugged. “Well, this is Zander we’re talking about. Personally, Elizabeth, Courtney and I all think–”

“Wait, the three of you discussed this?” Sonny asked amused. “Without killing each other?”

Carly glared at her husband. “You’re kidding, right? Is that all you think I do with other woman? Fight? Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence,” she drawled.

“I’m sorry,” Sonny said. “Okay, what did the three of you come up with?” he asked, amused.

Carly narrowed her eyes. He wasn’t going to take her seriously–she could already see it. “We think that Zander wants you to be on your toes because he’s got a way to blindside you anyway.”

Sonny shook his head. “That kid couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag,” he said, scornfully. “And Roy doesn’t have the resources.”

“Maybe they’re working for someone else,” Carly suggested.

Sonny rolled his eyes. “Carly, we knew that already.”

“Well, excuse me for breathing,” Carly muttered. She stood and headed for the stairs. “I’m going upstairs. When you feel like treating me like an adult rather than a child, you let me know, k?”

“Carly–” Sonny tried, but she ignored him and went up the stairs.

Studio

“I think you should stay away from Zander.”

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head. “Yeah, like that hasn’t already occurred to me,” she grumbled.

“I’m serious, Elizabeth,” Jason tried again. Elizabeth just shrugged and continued her sketching. Jason stood from the couch and stood behind her. “Are you ignoring me?”

“No,” Elizabeth replied. She set the sketchpad down and turned around to wrap her arms around his waist. “I’m just sick of talking about Zander, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been sick of Zander since the day I met him,” Jason muttered.

“Hey, have you found anything else on Marisa?” Elizabeth asked eagerly.

Jason shook his head. “No. Carmen covered her tracks pretty well–I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t expect to find her right away,” Elizabeth told him. “But thanks for at least trying.”

“Uh huh.” Jason eyed her. “Don’t think I don’t know what you did.”

“What?” Elizabeth asked, wide-eyed and innocent. “What did I do?”

“You’re avoiding the subject,” Jason replied. “Did he say anything else to you?”

“Nope,” Elizabeth said. “Just that something big was going to go down and he didn’t want me anywhere near you.” She bit the inside of her cheek, hesitating. “Carly, Courtney and I were talking about it after he left and we think he warned us because he’s got an angle you guys won’t think about.”

“Don’t worry about,” Jason told her. “Sonny and I will take care of it.” He frowned. “Maybe I should put someone on you.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I don’t want a guard, Jason. I don’t need one.”

“Elizabeth–”

“Do we have to keep talking about this?” Elizabeth asked. She stood on her tip toes to press a kiss to the underside of his jaw. “I have other things I was looking forward to.”

“Oh, really?” Jason asked, amused. He tilted his head back a little as she continued moving her mouth down his neck.

“Uh huh.” Elizabeth pulled away from him and took his hand in hers, backing up towards the couch. “You have any plans for the rest of the night?”

“Elizabeth–” Jason began. He was cut off as Elizabeth fell onto the couch, pulling him on top of her. She kissed him again, thrusting her tongue in his mouth and he let himself give in for a little while before pulling away. “Elizabeth, this isn’t a good idea.”

She groaned and let her head fall back against the arm of the couch. “All right. Fine. Can’t blame a girl for trying.”

Jason chuckled and stood, pulling Elizabeth to her feet. “I’d better go before you tempt me further.” He kissed her briefly. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I’ve got work and then Courtney and I were going to go shopping. You want to do something?”

“I’ll pick you up at eight?” Jason said as he headed for the door.

“See you then.”

Docks

Elizabeth stood on the docks looking out over the water. For the first time since leaving the hospital, she felt good. At peace. Like she had accomplished a major feat. And she had. She’d stood up and declared exactly what she wanted. What could be better?

“Elizabeth.”

For one, he could disappear. She sighed, irritated. “What do you want Zander?”

“You need to leave.” He didn’t wait for her answer and started dragging towards the stairs.

“Get your hands off of me.” She yanked her arm away and glared at him. “Don’t ever touch me again. I’m not going anywhere–”

Zander glared at her. “You need to go. Now.”

“I didn’t realize this was your property,” she snapped. “I don’t have to do anything.”

“Don’t be stubborn. You need to go.” He took her arm again.

“Why? Give me one good reason?” Elizabeth demanded. “You meeting someone to set up Jason?”

“It’s always about Jason,” Zander shot back. “Well you can tell your little boyfriend I’m not scared of him.”

“No? He put you in the hospital. That’s reason enough to be scared.”

“He got lucky.”

“Stay away from me. Stay away from Jason and stay away from Sonny, do you understand?” Elizabeth glared at him a few seconds more and turned to leave when she collided with a taller man with dark hair. He looked familiar in some way but Elizabeth couldn’t place him.

“I’m sorry, Miss…?” the man trailed off.

“Webber,” Elizabeth replied, not bothering to volunteer her first name. “And you are?”

“Alcazar. Luis Alcazar.” He flashed a smile that chilled her down to her bones. Luis Alcazar…Alejandro’s brother. Elizabeth paled. What was he doing in town?

“Pleasure meeting you,” she replied. She turned to glare and Zander one last time and fled up the stairs. She stopped around the corner and decided to eavesdrop. Zander hadn’t wanted her on the docks for a specific reason and she’d be damned if she’d leave before finding out more. Sticking close to the corner, she could hear their conversation.

“You shouldn’t have given your real name. She knows who I am.”

“I’m not worried. Morgan and Corinthos have no clue what’s going on. Is she really Jason Morgan’s girlfriend?”

“If she’s not, she will be. Why?”

“Just…an interesting turn of events. We’ve got a problem.”

“What?”

“You’re making mistakes.”

“No I’m not!”

“Yes, you are. Don’t try and deny it, little brother. We had a plan and you’ve changed it. Don’t worry. I’ve got a way to fix it. You stay safe and the plan moves forward.”

“How?”

“Get Morgan before he gets you.”

Elizabeth was still recovering from the “little brother” remark when the meaning of the older man’s remarks smacked her in the face.

Get Morgan before he gets you.

“You want me to kill him?”

“You think you can handle that?”

“Not a problem.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes. If Emily could hear her ex-boyfriend now. Snapping to attention, she realized they were winding down their conversation. She slid away from her hiding spot and started running.

She had to warn Jason.

Harborview Towers

Stepping off the elevator, Elizabeth leaned against the wall to catch her breath. She had taken off and hadn’t stopped running until the elevator doors shut. She’d covered the fifteen minute walk in five minutes.

She was about to go to Jason’s when reality set in. She’d eavesdropped on purpose. Her intentions wouldn’t matter. He wouldn’t understand she was only trying to protect him. She’d tell Sonny first. Sonny could tell Jason. Run interference.

She turned left and noted that the ever present guard was absent. Frowning, she knocked on Sonny’s door.

The door swung open. “Elizabeth-” Sonny said, surprised.

“Sonny, I have something majorly important to tell you,” Elizabeth burst out. Her white face and shaking hands worried Sonny. He took by the arm and led her in. Without waiting for him to say anything, she launched right in. “I was on the docks arguing with Zander when this guy showed up. He gave Zander orders to kill Jason and he said something about a plan and he’s Zander’s brother and Zander said he’d kill Jason!”

“And he said all this in front of you?” a voice came from behind her. She whirled around. So much avoiding Jason.

“Um, not exactly,” Elizabeth said, sheepishly.

“Not exactly?” Jason lifted his eyebrows. Elizabeth had the grace to look guilty.

“All right. Sit down and start from the beginning. Take deep breaths and go slowly,” Sonny said. Elizabeth nodded and sat on the couch.

“Like I said I was arguing with Zander. He wanted me to leave and I was being stubborn. But eventually I turned to leave and ran into this guy. He asked for my name-”

“You didn’t give it to him, did you?” Jason asked, exasperated.

“I’m not a moron,” Elizabeth replied, irritated. “But it’s not like it makes any difference. He overheard Zander calling you my-” she stopped, flushed. “And Zander said my name a couple of times. Anyway, I asked him for his name and you’re not going to believe this, but it’s his brother, Luis. Luis Alcazar is here and they’re–”

“Alcazar?” Sonny cut in. He looked at Jason. “How did we not know that Zander was Alcazar’s brother?”

Jason shifted. “I knew. I found out the other day but I was trying to get some more information in before I told you,” he replied.

Sonny shook his head. “All right, Elizabeth. What else happened?”

“I felt weird and left then. But I, um…” she trailed off and looked at her hands.

Sonny had to grin. “You hid and listened.”

“Well, yeah.”

“Elizabeth-” Jason began.

She turned and glared at him. “Don’t start with me. If I hadn’t, then I wouldn’t be here and you two wouldn’t have this information. You want be protective? Fine. But can I finish first?”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“And, Alcazar asked if I was really–” She stopped, embarrassed.

“Go on. If you were what?” Sonny asked.

She sighed and looked at the ceiling. She mumbled something that neither of them quite heard.

“What?” Jason asked.

“If I was really Jason Morgan’s girlfriend,” she repeated, aggravated.

“And where did he get this piece of information?” Sonny asked, amused.

Elizabeth let out a frustrated breath. “Zander told me to tell my little boyfriend that he wasn’t scared of him.”

“This is not good,” Jason said, rubbing his eyes.

“Well it doesn’t get better. Alcazar said it was an interesting turn of events.” Jason groaned. “But then he went on to say that Zander had created a problem, but he knew how to fix it.”

“I’m guessing the problem would be getting thrown out of the organization,” Sonny stated.

“Probably.” Elizabeth shrugged. “It was around this time that he said to get rid of Morgan before he gets rid of you.” She grimaced. “Took a few seconds to sink in, but if I hadn’t understood, Zander would have made it real clear. He said ‘you want me to kill him.’ Alcazar told him if he could handle it. Then Zander said no problem. That’s when I came here.”

Sonny started pacing. “So Luis Alcazar is the man behind Roy.” He scratched his chin. “I don’t get it–we’ve always been friendly with the family. What the hell is Ramon’s kid doing in Port Charles?” Sonny demanded. “He ducked out on a murder charge a couple of years ago.” He shook his head. “And now Luis is in town. Great.”

“Sonny, we should discuss this later,” Jason said.

Elizabeth frowned. “I know a cue when I hear it. I’m going back to my studio.” She stood up. Sonny pushed her down by her shoulders.

“Oh, no you don’t. Stay right there.”

“Sonny-” Jason began.

“I can leave,” Elizabeth offered again. She didn’t want to be within ten feet of Jason after this conversation was over. He looked ready to set into her about eavesdropping and she wasn’t in the mood.

“I don’t want you in that studio alone,” Sonny said, thoughtfully. “Anywhere you can go?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No.”

“Then you’ll stay here.” Elizabeth jerked her head up.

“Um, you know that Carly’s not my biggest fan, right? I mean, we’re sisters and all, but that’s like in name only. She’s not going to be thrilled with this.”

Sonny waved it away. “I’ll talk to her.”

Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably. “Okay,” she replied, her tone clearly stating she didn’t think Sonny could talk Carly into it.

“First, we gotta figure out what the Alcazars are doing here.” Sonny headed to the phone. “I’ll ask Benny to look into it. Jason, take Elizabeth to her studio and get some things.”

Elizabeth stood reluctantly. She’d rather face rabid dogs than the argument she was about to get into. “I have plans for today,” she told them. “I have a shift at noon and I was supposed to go shopping with Courtney.”

“Make excuses,” Sonny said. “See if Bobbie will give you a few days off. I really want to make sure you’re safe, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth gave him a brief smile. “Thanks, Sonny.” Well, the upshot was that if she, Carly and Courtney were going to go ahead with this plan of theirs, then at least she’d be in the penthouse to plan it.

Jason opened the penthouse door wordlessly. She walked through it and headed to the elevator. He followed her. He punched in the down button and turned to glare at her. “I want to make it clear that I’m not happy with you eavesdropping.”

“Crystal clear,” Elizabeth replied. She stepped into the elevator when the doors opened.

“I’m not kidding, Elizabeth. Don’t do it again. I thought I explained that this isn’t a game.”

“Darn. And I was having so much fun.”

“Elizabeth-”

“Jason, I never said it was a game. And if I didn’t know it, getting kidnapped and thrown into a crypt would have set me straight.” She put her hand on his arm and looked into his eyes. “Believe me; I know this isn’t a game.”

“All right. Then don’t do it again.”

“I’m not promising you that,” Elizabeth replied. She shrugged. “Face it. You can’t tell me what to do.”

Jason swore. “Damn it, Elizabeth, you’re not getting it. These people can and will use you to get to me.”

“You really ought to find new excuses.” She raised an eyebrow. “They already have.”

“And you want to go through that again?” Jason snapped. She looked down, stung. “I’m sorry, but you’re not making it easy. All I’m doing it trying to keep you safe.”

“I know, and I appreciate it. You know that I-” Elizabeth broke off. She didn’t want to go there so soon. “Look, Jason, I know there are things you can’t tell me. Quite frankly, there are things I don’t want to know. But if I think I have the opportunity to help? I will. I won’t think twice.” They stepped out of the elevator and headed towards the back where Jason’s bike was.

He grabbed her arm as she was about to get on the bike and pulled her towards him. He wrapped his arms around her and she let herself sink into the familiarity of his arms. “I don’t want to lose you.” His voice was low.

“I don’t want to lose you either.”

Corinthos Penthouse

Carly walked into the penthouse, and pulled off her sunglasses. “Where’s Max?” She looked at Sonny standing in the middle of the room — like he was waiting for her. She gulped and felt a guilty flush flash through her body. Wait a second, she thought rationally, I haven’t even done anything. She gave her husband a bright smile and decided to walk straight past him.

“Wait, Carly. I have to talk to you.” Sonny grinned. “And you might want to sit down for this.”

He’s smiling. It can’t be about Alexis, Carly decided. She sat on the couch and looked at him warily.

“It’s about Elizabeth-”

“Elizabeth?” Carly said, surprised. She frowned. “What about her?” Her eyes widened. She jumped off the couch. “Did she hurt Jason again? I’ll kill her!” Eyes gleaming with anger, she headed towards the door. Sonny chuckled and caught her by the waist. He pulled her back.

“No, no. She didn’t do anything to Jason.” Carly didn’t look convinced. “She actually helped Jason.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “How do you figure?”

Sonny scratched his forehead. “I can’t really tell you. But suffice to say because she, uh, helped Jason, she’s not exactly safe by herself.”

“What do you mean–” Realization dawned in her eyes. “She is not staying here. No way. Are you insane?”

“Carly, she doesn’t have anywhere else to go,” Sonny replied.

“Sure she does. She can go back to Kelly’s. To her grandmother’s. She can go to the Spencers. There’s a ton of places she can go.” She shook her head. “She is not staying here.”

“Besides Jason’s, this is the only place where I know she’ll be safe.” He grinned. “Do you want her at Jason’s?”

“Hell, no.” She started pacing. “Why, Sonny? How did she help Jason? Give me a hint. You can’t ask me to take in someone I hate without a really good reason.”

“You don’t hate Elizabeth.”

“Don’t tell me who I do and do not hate. I hate Elizabeth. Jason left town because of her.”

“I sent him away on business.”

“And he stayed away because of her.”

Sonny shook his head in amusement. “Elizabeth overheard a conversation that provided some good information for me. She came straight here with that information.”

“If she overheard it, then they don’t know she did. So she’s not in danger.” Carly looked hopeful.

“You’re not going to like this part.”

“I don’t like any of this.”

“The people that had this conversation know Elizabeth is Jason’s girlfriend.”

“And your point?” Carly crossed her arms.

“They were very interested in that fact. Now you know that Jason cares about Elizabeth. I know you hate that, but I also know you’d do anything for Jason.”

“Yeah,” Carly said, grudgingly. He was going to play the best friend card.

“And I would do anything for Jason. Including keeping Elizabeth safe. Can you do this for him?”

She glared at him. “You don’t play fair. You can’t play the best friend card.”

“Yes I can. Do it for Jason.”

“Fine.” Carly narrowed her eyes. “But she hurts Jason just once and she’s gone.” She looked at him carefully. “Is that clear?”

“Crystal.”

Carly sat back on the couch and glared at nothing in particular. Just because she, Courtney and Elizabeth had gotten along the other night at Kelly’s and had come to an understand and an agreement to work together…that did not mean she wanted the little twit under her roof. This was Carly’s domain. Carly’s world.

And if Elizabeth Webber didn’t understand that, then Carly would just have to beat it into her.

Later

Elizabeth entered the penthouse behind Jason. She stopped when she saw Carly waiting her, unhappily. Oh boy, she thought.

“You,” Carly said, her voice dripping with disdain, “can stay in the guest room at the top of the stairs.” She pointed a finger towards the stairs.

Elizabeth stayed rooted to the spot by the door. “I know this is a difficult situation,” she began stiffly, “but I do appreciate it.”

“I’m not doing it for you little girl.” Carly glared at her.”I’m doing it for Jason. Just because he has rotten taste–”

“Carly-”

“No, Jason. I’ll handle this.” Elizabeth smiled at him briefly before looking at Carly dead-on. “I think you and me have got a few things we need to work out.”

“Oh, we got more than that,” Carly replied.

“So why don’t you show me my room and maybe we can get started.” Elizabeth grinned. “Unless of course, you can’t handle that.”

“I can handle anything you can dish out.”

“Uh, ladies-” Sonny began.

“Back off,” Carly said. She crossed her arms and raised her chin. “I’m a big girl. Unless of course, the princess here needs rescuing.” Raising her eyebrow, “Why don’t we go upstairs?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Elizabeth picked her bag off the floor and headed towards the stairs, Carly right after her.

“That’s…that’s not good,” Jason said, his eyes on the stairs.

“Please, no bloodshed!” Sonny called up after them. “It’s expensive to get blood out of rugs.” Turning to Jason, he only grinned, “Nah. I think they’ll be fine. It’s also long overdue.”

“Has Benny turned up anything?” Jason asked.

Sonny nodded. “Yeah. He found out that Luis Alcazar arranged for his brother to work for Sorel under the name Zander Smith. Almost makes me wish that idiot wasn’t dead so we could get more details about the deal.” He grinned. “Almost.”

“So, whatever they’ve been planning has been long-term,” Jason noted. “Maybe they wanted Zander to get really involved here.”

“It’s possible. In the last two years, he has managed to make a few connections. With your sister, Carly, me, and Elizabeth. When it comes right down to it, the only people he’s been around are connected to either you or me,” Sonny remarked.

“You want me to tail him?” Jason asked.

“Yeah. That sounds like a plan.”

Elizabeth’s Room

Carly threw open the guest room door and stalked in. She turned to face Elizabeth who put her bag on the floor and closed the door. “Let me make this simple. You hurt Jason, you pay.”

“I think you need to shut up.”

“Excuse me?” Carly retorted.

“You heard me. For once in your life, listen to someone else.”

“I would if I thought you had anything constructive to say.”

“Look, you don’t get it. I care about Jason. More than you know,” Elizabeth admitted. “Sometimes so much that it scares me. And the only reason I’m telling you this is because despite our mutual dislike, I know you care about him too. You are his best friend, Carly.”

“Damn right. Which means you don’t get to hurt him.”

“I’ve made mistakes when it comes to him. I’ll be the first one to admit it. But, Carly, we all make mistakes when it comes to the people that we lo…” Elizabeth broke off and turned away. “When it comes to the people that we love,” she finished in a hushed voice. “You know that better than most people. We think we’re helping a situation and we end up making it worse.”

Carly was beginning to worry. The little twit was making far too sense for her taste.

“And then we try to fix it, but it just keeps getting worse and worse until there’s no going back.”

Carly crossed her arms. “Okay. You do have a point. I have done a few things that I regret.” She stopped and looked up. “All right. More than a few. Especially when it came to Jason and Sonny.” She bit her lip. “And I have made a couple of situations a lot worse than they would have been because I was trying to help.”

“All right.” Elizabeth picked up her bag and set it on the bed. She unzipped it and began taking clothes out of it.

“Oh, no. We’re not done yet. See, Jason, he becomes a bit tight lipped when it comes to you. So all I know is that you hurt him. I figure, you tell what you did and why and maybe I won’t hate you.”

“Why should I tell you anything?” Elizabeth asked quietly. She started putting clothes in drawers.

Carly took a deep breath. She was making a fresh start. Being honest. Being a better person. She could do this. “Because I’ve been where you are. I had a lot of guilt wrapped in me because of things I did. I didn’t have a person in the world to turn to when I betrayed Jason and slept with Sonny. I would have appreciated having somebody to talk to.”

“We’re not friends, Carly.”

“I never said we were. But I think we understand each other.” Carly took a deep breath. “And it’s obvious that you are close to the most important men in my life. It would probably be in our best interests. Besides, we are supposed to be working together. I need to be able to trust you.”

“That looked like it hurt,” Elizabeth said, amused. She sat on the bed.

“You have no idea. So?” Carly asked.

“Well, when Jason came back to town last year, I knew I was attracted to him.”

“Girl, nuns would be attracted to that man.”

Elizabeth grinned. “Well, that’s true.” She shook her head. “Anyway, but besides that, we were really close. He was the only one who could help me when Lucky died. But last year, it all changed. I was with Lucky, and I was beginning to have problems with him. But I wouldn’t let myself see them.” She started to wring her hands. “Lucky was insane with jealousy, and I realize now that I gave him a lot to be jealous about. But he asked me to stay from Jason.”

“Don’t tell me you actually listened.” Carly stared her, dumbstruck. “Letting a man order you around? That’s pretty bad.”

“Yeah. But, you have to realize something was off with Lucky. I didn’t want to see it, but it was there. When he attacked Jason both times–I didn’t want to believe it.”

“So hurting Jason comes in how?” Carly asked. “Believe me, it didn’t matter to him you didn’t believe that Lucky attacked him the first time. He was more worried about you.”

“When he attacked Jason that last time…I finally realized that something was wrong with him. Jason asked me to leave with him.”

“He what?” Carly shot off the bed. “Jason asked you to leave town? And you turned him down?”

“Yeah. I know I was crazy. He offered to take my to Italy. And believe me, if I could take it back, I would. But he knows that. But before he did, he…” Elizabeth closed her eyes. “We both admitted that we wanted more.”

“And you still turned him down?” Carly yelped. “Forget crazy, you’re insane.”

“I had an obligation. I had to help Lucky.”

“Why?” Carly demanded. “What could you do that no one else could?” She put her hands on her hips. “You’re lucky I’ve done worse or you’d be dead.”

“Lucky once helped me. He helped me through one of the worst experiences of my life. He never flinched, he never backed down and he never looked back. How could I leave knowing he needed my help?”

Carly pursed her lips. “So, you were told to stay away from Jason.”

“I was trying to. But every time I tried to get myself to tell him, I couldn’t do it. I mean, I’d tell him. He’d accept it. But then I’d run to him with another problem. You were right Carly; I didn’t have the guts to go after what I wanted.”

Carly decided to pass on the chance to gloat. She’d do that later. “So you were jerking him around.”

“Yes.” Elizabeth eyed her. “You gonna hit me?”

“No. That was only last year. You haven’t even gotten to the big stuff yet.” Carly resumed her position on the bed. “What have you done lately?”

“Something really bad. And it kept getting worse,” Elizabeth groaned. She laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “I slept with Zander. And Jason found out.”

This was beginning to sound familiar. “Yeah, I was wondering about that. So, what happened? How’d he find out?”

“That’s the worst part. He came to my studio the next morning. There’d been a fire and he wanted to make sure I was all right. He knew I hated fire. I was hoping to get him out of there before he saw Zander. But…” Elizabeth sighed. “Zander pushed open the door and told him I was fine. And that so was he.” She shook her head. “It was like he couldn’t wait to tell him. Look, Jason. Look what I got. And for some reason, I forgave him.”

“It could have been worse.” Carly tilted her head. “He could have been shot and you could have been wearing Zander’s shirt.”

“That’s true.”

“Now that we got the how, let’s get to the why.” Carly looked at her carefully. She didn’t like the twinges of respect she was started to gain for this girl and she was hoping her explanation would crush them.

“Did you know that I was kidnapped?”

“I remember something about it.”

“I was locked in a crypt with Zander. I wasn’t worried at first. I mean, I knew Jason would find me. And he did. But Zander and I had time to connect. I thought I was getting to know him.”

“Never trust a man when his life is in danger,” Carly advised. “They tell you what you want to hear.”

“You know this how?” Elizabeth asked.

Carly shrugged. “My experience with men. No, actually when I was in Florida as a teenager, my best friend—the real Carly Roberts–was killed in an accident. I was in the car with her and so was one of our friends. He had been driving–and he was drunk. He wanted to me lie and tell everyone I was driving. I was underage and hadn’t been drinking. I’d get off easier. On the other hand, he was eighteen, he’d been drinking and it wasn’t his first offense. He would go to jail.”

“What happened?” Elizabeth asked, curiously. She sat up.

“He told me he loved me and that he always had. Wanted to tell me how much I meant to him. Crazy me, I believed it. I had a crush on him and he took advantage of the fact. I almost did get blamed. But in the end, I came clean.” She shook head, clearing it. She was bonding with Elizabeth Webber. This was getting scary. “Anyway, so you and Zander connected.”

“Well, I got locked in the stairwell one night. It raining and dark, I was having some trouble breathing. But Zander got me out. We went back to my studio and I was still having trouble getting my bearings back. Zander hugged me, and all I wanted was to be comforted. So I let him. And then he kissed me. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“So if Jason hadn’t found out, what do you think would have happened?” Carly asked. The stupid little twinges weren’t going away.

“I don’t know. I don’t really want to think about it either. It hurts too much.” Elizabeth made a swipe at her eyes.

Damn it, the twinges were growing. Come on, Webber; say something I can get mad at. “So after Jason found out, what happened?”

“I knew I didn’t want anything more with Zander, so I told him it had been a mistake. Zander didn’t take that well–you’ve seen his reaction. So I tried to make it better with Jason. Right in the middle of that, my father died, I found out I had two sisters, that Zander wanted to kill Jason and somehow somewhere in there…Jason and I got together.”

Carly frowned. “I can’t believe you’re still around him. If I did half the things you did, I would have been gone.”

Elizabeth snorted. “Carly, what I’ve done couldn’t even measure up to you. You nearly got him arrested for kidnapping, you drove Robin away, you took Michael away, you married his brother, you slept with his best friend, you married his best friend–”

“Okay, okay, okay,” Carly glared at her. “I get the point. I’m a bitch and you’re no angel.” She sighed. “So, truce?”

Elizabeth stared at her. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

Carly shuddered. “That’s the scary part.”

“All right. And you accept that Jason is my friend and so is Sonny, and that’s not going to change because you want it to?”

Carly gritted her teeth. “They must see something I’m missing.”

Elizabeth stuck out her hand. “So, we don’t bite each other’s heads anymore?”

Carly shook it. “Agreed. Besides, we actually have some things in common.”

“Who knew?” Elizabeth smiled. “You’d better go reassure Sonny that we’re both alive.”

“As if he’d believe me. Don’t be too shocked if he comes to make sure.” Carly walked towards the door. She turned back. “Elizabeth, for what it’s worth, Jason deserves the best. And for some reason, he seems to think that’s you. Don’t make him regret that.”

She closed the door behind her.

— Living Room —

Sonny looked up as his wife descended the stairs. She looked a bit too calm for his liking.

“Please tell she’s still breathing.”

Carly grinned. “Don’t worry. We came to an understanding. Hell, we even called a truce.”

“A truce.”

“Yeah. Believe it or not, we had a civil conversation.” Carly sat on the couch and started flipping through some papers. “She really cares about Jason doesn’t she?”

Sonny blinked. “What?”

“Elizabeth. She cares about him.” Carly clenched her jaw. “You know what that takes for me to admit that.”

“I do know. And the next time you see Jason, I want you to let him know you and Elizabeth are getting along.”

Carly stood up and looked at him. “Why? Aren’t you going to tell him?”

“Yeah, but I know he’d appreciate it coming from you.”

“He wouldn’t believe it coming from me.” She looked around. “Well, I’m going pick up Michael.” She grabbed her purse. “See when I get back.” She kissed him and left.

Sonny looked after his wife in amusement. Every day, something surprised him about Carly. At least today’s surprise was good.

— Elizabeth’s Room —

“Yeah, so I’m at Sonny’s,” Elizabeth told Courtney. She shifted the receiver from ear to the other and sighed. “I don’t know how long I’m staying here.”

“Well, Bobbie said you can have as much time as you want,” Courtney replied. “So, how’s living with the Godfather and his evil sidekick?”

Elizabeth giggled. “Courtney, he is your brother.”

“Maybe by blood. Seriously. I know you and Carly were getting along the other night, but you don’t really think you’re going to survive living under the same roof.”

“Of course not,” Elizabeth replied. “No, we’re going to do what we set out to do–we’re going to have to change our plan a bit since there’s no way I’m going to get anywhere near him after he threatened to kill Jason.”

“That’s no problem. So, since I don’t step foot inside the lair, why don’t you and Carly come to Kelly’s tomorrow?” Courtney suggested.

“It’s not that bad here,” Elizabeth argued.

“Well, no, you are living across the hall from your boyfriend, so I can see why you wouldn’t think it was that bad. I step foot inside there and Sonny will start thinking I’m ten and he can order me around. Nope. Not going near the penthouse. It’s Kelly’s or your studio or my apartment.”

Elizabeth snorted. “Could you see Carly in my studio? She’d be complaining about the couch before she even sat down.”

“And you know if she even came near my apartment, she and AJ would be attacking each other. So, Kelly’s it is, then. Come in after the lunch rush, okay?” Courtney said

“We’ll be there,” Elizabeth replied. “See you tomorrow.”

— The Lakehouse —

Skye eyed the safe. She was wondering how difficult it would be to crack it when a knock at the door distracted her. She walked to the door and opened it only to find no one there. She was about to turn away when she noticed an envelope on the floor. Curious, she picked it up and turned it over. It had her name written in large and looping script. She opened it and removed the letter.

Do you want to get out of your contract with your grandfather? Be at the Elm St. Pier at 8 o’clock tonight. Tell no one.

— Felicia’s House —

Across town, Felicia was reading her own letter.

If you want to keep Roy DiLucca alive, be at the Elm St. Pier at 8’clock tonight. Tell no one.

— Elm St. Pier —

The pier was dark and deserted when Felicia arrived. She stood to wait. After a few moments, she heard footsteps and turned. A figure emerged out of the darkness.

“What are you doing here?” Felicia demanded. Skye tossed her head arrogantly.

“I have an appointment,” Skye replied.

“And so do I,” Felicia shot back.

“Good, I’m glad you could both make it,” a female voice said from beyond them. They both turned.

“Oh my God,” Felicia whispered as a woman she hadn’t seen in four years came into view. “You…you’re…”

“Dead?” Brenda Barrett smirked. “Sorry to disappoint you my dear, but rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

“Who are you?” Skye asked, curiously. She shot a look at Felicia. “I’ve never met you before in my life.”

“No, you haven’t,” Brenda replied, “but your fiancé knows me very well. In fact, I was his second wife.”

“Oh my God,” Skye breathed. “But you’re dead.”

“If we can move on from that,” Brenda said, “I’ve got a proposition for you both.”

Felicia traded suspicious looks with the redhead. “What kind of proposition?”

Brenda smirked. “Felicia, your boyfriend is out for respect but he’s not willing to let you in on anything he does. Skye seems to have a contract that she just can’t remove herself from. Have I got it straight?”

“Yes,” Skye said, irritated. “How did you know about that contract?”

Brenda waved her hand. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is taking matters into our own hands. You see, I have a grudge I’m taking care of.”

“A grudge against whom?” Felicia questioned.

“All the people who didn’t care enough to search for my body. The people who have hurt me,” Brenda replied, her dark eyes burning with anger. “Sonny and Jax are at the top of that list.”

“And what are we supposed to do about that?” Skye demanded.

“Just a few things to ensure my goal is reached,” Brenda replied coolly.
“I’m not going to help you destroy Jax,” Skye declared. “He’s my fiancé, and I love him.”

“That’s very sweet, but I don’t care. Just because you now believe he loves you doesn’t change that little old contract,” Brenda said. She crossed her arms. “And I’m not really interested in destroying Jax as much as Sonny. I just want Jax to suffer. ”

“And if I help you,” Skye said hesitatingly, “you’ll see that my contract disappears?”

“Jax won’t even have to know if ever existed,” Brenda promised. “What about you, Felicia?”

“I don’t know,” Felicia bit her lip. “What would we have to do?”

“Just help me play little mind games with them. Little notes, messages.” Brenda smiled coolly. “Nothing that will be traced back to either of you.”

“And that’s it?” Felicia asked.

“That’s it. I’d go to Roy, but he might tell Luis. And I want Luis to go about his business. He’s still of some use. So, do we have a deal?” Brenda asked.

Felicia took a deep breath. “All right. I’ll help you.”

“Skye?” Brenda pressed.

“I help. But Jax can’t ever know,” Skye said, desperately.

“You have my word.”

— Kelly’s —

“I hate this place,” Carly grumbled, sliding into a seat at a courtyard table. “It’s so ordinary.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “You’re such a whiner.”

“Where is Courtney?” Carly demanded. “How much longer is it going to be?”

“Well, if Sonny and Jason would let me work, then Courtney wouldn’t be handling the rush all by herself,” Elizabeth reminded her sweetly.

“Let you?” Carly snorted. “I didn’t realize that Jason ordered you around. I thought you hated that.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Carly, you’re being ridiculous and I was being sarcastic. Sonny suggested that I take a few days off and I agreed. Then Jason asked me to take a leave of absence until they know what’s going on a little more. He calmly and rationally explained that he just wanted me to safe. He doesn’t order me around, he’s not like that.” She paused for effect. “I mean, he’s not Sonny after all.”

Carly narrowed her eyes. “You trying to tell me I’ve got a controlling husband?”

“I don’t need to tell you,” Elizabeth replied. She shrugged. “After being with him for so long, you probably already know it.”

Carly frowned. “Yeah, well, I need the discipline. Left to my own devices…” she smirked. “Who knows what kind of trouble I’d get into?”

“I think we’re about to find out,” Elizabeth murmured.

Carly grinned. “I love scheming. It’s my favorite hobby.” She sat back in her chair, keeping her eye on Marco and Francis in the distance. “First, I think we’re going to have to come up with a cover story.”

“Cover story?” Elizabeth asked. “Why?”

“Because Sonny and Jason are going to want to know why we’re meeting Courtney,” Carly told her.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Why not just tell them we met her for lunch?” she asked pointedly. “No reason to lie if we can avoid it.”

“They’re not going to believe us.”

“Correction, Jason will believe me because he knows I wouldn’t lie to him,” Elizabeth replied. “And Jason will convince Sonny.”

Carly eyed her. “You think you’ve got Jason pegged, don’t you?”

“I know Jason very well,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m in his life, Carly. Deal with that.”

“I’m working on it, but I’m afraid I don’t see the attraction,” Carly snarled.

“Good,” Elizabeth replied simply. “I don’t swing that way.”

Carly stared at her a moment and started to laugh. “You know what? If I didn’t hate you, I might have to like you.”

“Can’t have that,” Elizabeth replied, grinning.

“I hate this job,” Courtney muttered, coming to a stop in front of the table. “You know, we miss you in here,” she remarked sweetly.

Elizabeth grinned. “After all these years, it’s nice to know I’m appreciated.”

“Very funny,” Courtney remarked dryly. “You sure you don’t want to pitch in?”

“Sorry. I’ve got my vacation and I’m going to enjoy it.”

“Yeah, well, when you come back, I am so going to make you pay for this,” Courtney threatened good-naturedly. “Anyway, I wanted to get your orders before I go on my break.”

“The usual for me,” Elizabeth remarked.

“Same for me,” Carly replied. She shifted. “And make it quick. It’s too hot out here.”

“Coming right up, your highness,” Courtney said sweetly as she headed back into the diner.

“That girl needs to learn some manners,” Carly remarked.

“Lay off,” Elizabeth advised. “I happen to like Courtney just the way she is. Besides, truce, remember?”

“I agreed to a truce with you,” Carly reminded her. “Not the Quartermaine wife.”

“You know, I know this is hard for you to believe, but AJ and Courtney really love each other,” Elizabeth told her. “He’s changed. He’s cleaned up his act.”

Carly snorted. “Impossible.”

“Why? Because no one changes?” Elizabeth demanded. “You and Sonny used to hate each other. That changed.”

“That was different. Circumstances changed that. Sonny tried to warn Courtney about AJ and she wouldn’t listen.”

“Maybe because Sonny’s opinion isn’t the end of the subject,” Elizabeth replied. “Maybe AJ is more than just who he used to be. Maybe he is the recovering alcoholic disinherited Quartermaine who now operates a forklift on the docks, lives in a tiny apartment and is married to a waitress. Why is that so difficult for you to accept that he makes Courtney happy?”

Carly stared at Elizabeth for a second. “What, are you going for sainthood or something?”

“Here are your orders,” Courtney interrupted. She set their drinks and plates down in front of them and pulled a chair up to the table. “Let’s get cracking. I’ve only got fifteen minutes for break.”

“Okay, my original idea was to tail Zander,” Carly said, “but I think that Jason is probably on that now.”

“How can you tell?” Courtney asked.

“Because I saw Zander on the docks on our way over here and Jason was around the corner,” Carly smirked. “It’s been a while since Jason tailed anyone-it’s not in his usual job description. He’s a little off. Not enough for Zander to find him though.”

“I personally wish Sonny would have put someone else on Zander,” Elizabeth said. “I mean, Zander’s trying to find Jason to kill him. How’s it look with Jason following him?”

“So, anyway, we need to find another angle,” Carly decided. “Elizabeth mentioned that the brother was in town now. Can we use that?”

“We can if we knew why,” Courtney said. She looked at Elizabeth. “Did Sonny say anything we can use?”

“He mentioned that they were always friendly with Ramon Alcazar, that he didn’t understand why that’s changed,” Elizabeth replied. “So, I don’t think this is about business.”

“Not if Zander’s been here for two years,” Courtney said. “And let’s look at that. Who did he get himself involved with?”

“Sorel, Sonny’s enemy,” Elizabeth answered. “And then he switched sides.”

“He dated Emily, befriended me and you,” Carly pointed out. “Everyone he’s come into any kind of close contact with is directly linked to Sonny or Jason.”

“Whatever has been going on, they’ve been planning it for some time,” Courtney pointed out. “What kind of plan requires that type of strategizing?”

Carly frowned as she sipped her drink. “You know, I must have planned out my revenge plan for my biological mother my entire life. Every single detail was mapped out. I’d integrate myself into her life, take what I wanted and rip it into shreds. I put a lot of work into it. Revenge. Carefully planned revenge.”

Elizabeth snorted. “Great. Now we just have to figure out which one of Sonny’s numerous enemies wanted revenge this time.”

“This isn’t the typical mob-related revenge,” Carly said decisively. “Way too much planning, too much consideration. This is personal revenge.”

“But who?” Courtney asked. “Who has a reason to hate Sonny and Jason if it’s not for business?” She hesitated before adding, “Besides AJ.”

“I think we’ll just have to keep our ears open,” Elizabeth said. “I’m sure we’ll figure out something.”

“If that’s it for today,” Courtney murmured, checking her watch. “I’ve got to get back to work. Call me later, k?” she asked Elizabeth. “I get off around eight.”

“I’ll do that.” Courtney stood and disappeared into the doors.

Carly was about to suggest that they leave themselves when they saw Skye Chandler-Quartermaine and Felicia Scorpio-Jones enter the courtyard. She frowned. “Now, when did the two of them become friends?”

“They look worried,” Elizabeth murmured as the blonde and redhead took a seat at the table across from them.

Carly shifted positions in order to hear parts of the conversation. “They can’t believe this is happening to them,” she murmured. “Something about a contract and Roy DiLucca. Delivering a letter…” her eyes lit up. “Something about Sonny and Jax.”

“We’d better go,” Elizabeth said. “We don’t want to get caught.”

Carly nodded and tossed a twenty on the table. “We’ll talk about this back at the penthouse.”

— Penthouse —

“So you think Skye and Felicia are in on this whole thing?” Elizabeth asked, flopping down on the couch and pulling out her sketch pad. She flipped open a box of pencils and selected a color.

“I think what happened today was very suspicious,” Carly replied, sitting next to her. “I think we also have an angle to work.”

“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked.

“I think we should follow Felicia,” Carly said decisively.

“Why Felicia and not Skye?” Elizabeth asked. “Wouldn’t it make sense to follow them both?”

“I don’t like Skye,” Carly remarked stubbornly.

“And you like Felicia?” Elizabeth asked doubtfully.

“No. But I really don’t like Skye.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “All right. But we’re gonna have to ditch the guards.”

Carly grinned. “Leave it to me.”

— Harborview Towers: Lobby —

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Felicia muttered, glancing around as she stopped in front of the mail boxes. She found Penthouse 4 and looked around one more time to ensure no one was looking. She slipped the letter out of her purse and into the box. “When this is over, I am so moving to Texas. I am done with the mob and all this crap,” she mumbled as she left the building.

— Penthouse: Later —

Sonny frowned at the envelope in his hands. No return address, only his name scrawled across the front.

He slit it open and pulled out the paper inside.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful model that was on top of the world. She had everything–money, beauty and love. Until the man she was in love with ran away. It destroyed her and she’s never been the same.

What’s done is done and there’s more to come. Keep those you love close and your enemies closer. There’s no one left trust. If I were you, I’d watch out. Because the past is back and she’s a bitch.

— Corinthos Penthouse: Elizabeth’s Bedroom —

“I’m worried,” Carly declared, barging into her room after dinner that night. Elizabeth set her sketchpad aside and frowned.

“Well, it was your idea. We can always call it off.”

Carly shook her head. “No, not the Felicia thing. I’m worried about Sonny.”

“What about him?”

“He was distracted at dinner tonight,” Carly told her. “And so was Jason. You could tell. Something happened.”

Elizabeth chewed her lip for a second. “Yeah, they were, weren’t they? I wonder what’s up.”

“They wouldn’t tell us, that’s for sure.” Carly sighed and sank onto the bed. “Something doesn’t feel right about this whole thing.”

“I wish Sonny would assign someone else to tail Zander,” Elizabeth mused. “I really don’t like the idea of Zander’s assigned target tailing him.”

“You know, I don’t know why Jason was given this. After all, he’s not some guard, you know?” Carly said. “He’s like…”

“The second-in-command,” Elizabeth finished quietly. “Things are so different this time around. The last couple of times he was in town, he wasn’t so focused on business, you know? Even when the stuff with Sorel was out of control, we always found time to take a ride or talk and it’s not like that now.”

“Are you regretting being with him?”

“Never,” Elizabeth said firmly. “It’s just…I get to know a new part of him every time he’s home, that’s all. It’s not a bad thing…it just takes time to adjust.”

Carly shifted. “This all feels really surreal,” she said. “A month ago, we were barely on speaking terms. Now, we’re half-sisters, scheming to help the men in our lives.” She glared at Elizabeth. “None of this means I like you.”

“Of course not,” Elizabeth smirked. “If the two of us teamed up permanently, why, the whole world would shift on its axis.”

“Right. This is temporary,” Carly told her. “You’ll move back into your studio and you’ll be far away from me.”

“Jason’s looking for Marisa,” Elizabeth reported. “Did I tell you that?”

“Marisa….” Carly said slowly. “That would be the sister we share with Zander and all, right?”

“Yeah. Our other half-sister. I didn’t want to ask Jason originally, but he offered and let’s face it, I never would have found her on my own.”

“I don’t know how I feel about all this,” Carly told her. “I mean, for my entire life, I just had my mother, Virginia. And suddenly, I’ve got these two sisters I knew nothing about. It’s like finding out I was adopted all over again.”

“I think it’s pretty amazing,” Elizabeth reported. “But I’m the only Webber who thinks though. I talked to Sarah and Steven and neither of them are happy about it. Sarah remembers you and she thinks being related to you would be bad for her career. Steven doesn’t really…he and I don’t talk much, so it’s like he’s not even part of the family anymore. Or maybe it’s me who’s not part of the family…” Elizabeth sighed.

The already ajar door slid open a little more and Jason stepped in. “Hey,” he said, frowning when he saw the two women sitting civilly on the bed. “Everything okay?”

Carly smirked. “You know the best thing about this truce of ours?” she asked Elizabeth.

“What’s that?”

“The fact that it confuses the hell out of the two of them.” Carly stood and sighed. “Tomorrow? The park? Sketching with Michael?”

“Yep.”

Jason watched Carly suspiciously as she left and then looked at Elizabeth. “The two of you are getting along?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Elizabeth remarked, amused. “Carly is my sister after all. Even I got along with Sarah every once in a while.”

He frowned and studied her. “Are you okay here?” he asked.

Elizabeth shrugged. “Sure. It’s a nice change, sleeping on a bed. Why?”

“I just don’t like that you had to make this huge change because of me,” Jason replied. He sat next to her on the bed. “I mean, I understand if–”

“Jason, stop,” Elizabeth told him firmly. “I eavesdropped, no one forced me too.” She shrugged. “Honestly, it’s not that bad. I get to eat Sonny’s cooking on a regular basis, I’m getting to know a side of Carly I didn’t know existed.”

“I’m gonna be kind of busy for the next few days,” Jason told her. “This thing with Alcazar…I’m not ignoring you or anything and I’ll try to stop by and–”

“It’s okay. I understand. Besides, Carly and I are working this series of sketches of her and Michael for Bobbie’s birthday in September.” She smirked. “Come to think of it, I probably won’t have time for you,” she teased.

Jason chuckled and kissed her briefly. “I should go,” he told her pulling back a little.

Elizabeth grinned and hooked her arm around his neck. “You sure you can’t stay?” she murmured, kissing him again. She frowned when his lips remained motionless and decided that two could play that game. She nibbled and use her tongue until he finally kissed her back hard. His mouth devoured hers greedily and he started to lean her back on the bed.

But abruptly, he stopped and stood. He smirked. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She threw a pillow at his retreating back, seething. “Tease,” she muttered.

— Club 101 —

“Okay, she’s parting with Roy,” Carly murmured, putting her binoculars down. Elizabeth peered at her from the driver’s seat of her grandmother’s car which she’d borrowed for the day.

Ditching Carly’s guard had been almost too easy. After their morning session of sketching, Carly had dropped Michael off with Leticia and they’d gone to Elizabeth’s art studio. Elizabeth had insisted that Will stay near the stairwell while she and Carly used the opportunity to sneak out the back stair well.

Luckily, Elizabeth had managed to talk both Sonny and Jason out of assigning her a guard so once they’d ditched Will and snagged Audrey’s car, they were good to go.

“Carly, you don’t need binoculars,” Elizabeth sighed. “She’s ten feet away.”

“Whatever,” Carly replied, slipping a pair of sunglasses on. “She’s going somewhere. Let’s go.”

Elizabeth slid the car into gear and pulled onto the road behind Felicia’s car. She frowned when Felicia drove into the parking garage of Harborview Towers. “What’s she doing here?”

“I don’t know.” Carly chewed her lip. “Okay, if she sees me, she might freak. She doesn’t know you’re really involved. You go follow her.”

“Okay.” Elizabeth turned off the car. “Wait here. We’ll need to get back to the studio soon.”

Elizabeth followed Felicia from the garage into the lobby of the building, keeping a good distance. Felicia was carrying a parcel and muttering to herself, nothing that Elizabeth could hear.

Felicia went to the mailboxes, opened one and slipped the box in. When she turned to look at her surroundings suspiciously, Elizabeth ducked behind a large planter. Felicia exited the building through the garage and Elizabeth hurried over to check the mailbox.

“Oh, yeah, Felicia’s involved,” Elizabeth murmured. Penthouse Four, Sonny’s place. She sighed and headed back to Carly.

— Elizabeth’s Studio —

“Okay, so Felicia put a box in Sonny’s mailbox,” Carly said. “Well obviously, we have to get back to the penthouse and get the mail.”

“Obviously,” Elizabeth replied. She unlocked her studio door. “She seemed really nervous,” she continued, opening the door. “It’s not–” She broke off abruptly and frowned. “Jason. What are you doing here?”

“I came to see if you wanted to go for a ride,” Jason remarked. He crossed his arms and studied the two women. “Will said you’d both been in here for a few hours. But obviously you ditched him.”

“Ditched,” Carly snorted. “He makes it sound like high school, doesn’t he?”

“We didn’t ditch anyone,” Elizabeth said, irritated. “I told you I didn’t want a guard and I don’t want Will reporting to you when I’m with Carly.”

“That’s not–”

“And further more, what if I did encourage Carly to ditch her baby-sitter and go somewhere?” Elizabeth pressed. “We’re fine. Nothing happened.”

“He’s not a baby-sitter,” Jason managed to get in finally. “He’s her guard. He’s supposed to take her places and look out for her.”

“Seems to me that Carly’s been looking out for herself for most of her life. Why does she need a guard now?”

“Okay, I know what you’re doing and it’s not working,” Jason remarked. “Where did you go?”

“You’re my boyfriend, not my father,” Elizabeth said sweetly. He narrowed his eyes.

“Elizabeth–”

“Careful, Jase,” Carly warned. “I think she’s said all she’s gonna say on the subject.”

“Carly, stay out of this,” Jason told her. “In fact, go meet Will and tell him to take you back to the penthouse.”

“Oh, I know I didn’t just hear you order me around,” Carly replied. “You know, you’re starting to adopt some of Sonny’s less than attractive qualities.”

“Carly, please?” Elizabeth asked. “I’ll meet you at home and we can talk about the sketches.”

“Fine.” Carly leveled one last glare at her friend before leaving. When she was gone, Elizabeth glared at Jason.

“I wasn’t aware one of the rules of this relationship was that I have tell you exactly where I am and where I’ll be,” Elizabeth said coolly. “But if that’s the way you want–”

“Elizabeth, stop trying to turn this around,” Jason snapped impatiently. “You and Carly are up to something–”

“I love the little bit of condescension you stuck in here,” Elizabeth cut in. “You and Sonny do your job, but Carly and I are up to something, like we’re good little mob molls with no real minds of our own.”

“You know that’s not what I think–”

“No?” Elizabeth replied, raising her eyebrows. “You didn’t come in here and immediately start grilling me and Carly on our whereabouts? You didn’t immediately insinuate that we’re up to something? You didn’t demand to know where we were?”

He exhaled slowly. “I don’t want to fight with you, Elizabeth. I just want to know what’s going on.”

Elizabeth hesitated. “It’s nothing. We just went down to the docks. Believe it or not, Carly feels kind of suffocated constantly having a guard breathing down her neck. She knows he’s there to protect her, but sometimes a person just wants some time to themselves.”

“I understand that, but I don’t think that’s all you were doing,” Jason remarked.

“Oh, so now I’m lying?” Elizabeth retorted, feeling the smallest smidgen of guilt now–well, because she was actually lying. “Okay, fine. Carly and I went and tracked down Luis Alcazar. She searched the place while he and I had a quickie. Is that better?” She pushed past him and stared out the window.

“That’s not funny. This is serious–”

“You think I don’t know that?” Elizabeth demanded, whirling around. “Do you honestly still think that I see this as a game?”

“Well, when you joke about it like that, what am I supposed to think?”

“Jason, I was kidnapped. I was locked in a dark crypt with dead bodies for days!” Elizabeth cried. “I think I got the picture then that your job and your lifestyle is anything but a game.”

“You’re not treating it that way. You and Carly ditched the guard–”

“Her guard, not mine,” Elizabeth stuck in. “I won’t let the fear of what could happen destroy my life. I did that once–I let the fear eat away at me until I could barely breathe. After the rape, I was scared to walk down a brightly lit sidewalk at night. It hurt to be inside my own skin. When I was finally able to get past that, I promised myself that I would never do it again–that no matter what I had to sacrifice, I wasn’t going to live my life, looking over my shoulder.”

“Asking you to have a guard is not the same thing as living in fear,” Jason said patiently.

“It is to me.” She crossed her arms. “I don’t want to fight with you, Jason. But the longer you try to control me, the more and more I’m gonna pull away. It took me a long time see that I wasn’t happy with Lucky–that I wanted to live my life for me. I’m not going to get trapped into another relationship where I have to do what my boyfriend wants. I can’t live like that.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Okay, that’s fair.” Jason shook his head. “I need to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Wait, we’re not done talking,” Elizabeth said, stepping forward.

“I’ve said what I need to say. This isn’t a game, Elizabeth. Ditching Carly’s guard, disappearing for hours on end, lying to me. You can’t be with someone who controls you…and I can’t be with someone who doesn’t get my life.” He pulled the open the door he’d had installed and shut it behind him.

She blinked and wrapped her arms around her trembling body.

— Corinthos Penthouse —

Carly entered the penthouse, the mail in her hands. She closed the door, and set it all on the desk. The package Felicia had put in the box wasn’t very large and was actually addressed to Carly.

She frowned and slit the tape on the box. She opened it and pulled the flaps back. The second a part of the package material moved, the red clock began to count down and the box began to tick.

Carly shrieked and moved back immediately. “Will!” she shrieked. “Will!”

— Kelly’s —

Courtney came out of the kitchen and smiled when she saw Elizabeth sitting at the counter. “Hey, you,” she greeted, warmly. “How’s it going at the penthouse?”

Elizabeth cleared her throat and kept her eyes on the counter. “I just stopped by to tell you that the thing with Felicia…panned out. She sent a package to Sonny. So, she’s involved.”

Courtney nodded. “Okay. So what was in it?”

“I don’t know. I stopped in on my way back to the penthouse. I gotta go.” Elizabeth slipped off the stool, but Courtney reached and grasped her arm.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” she asked. “You look upset.”

“It’s nothing,” Elizabeth said. “I just…Jason and I had a fight and it’s just upsetting, that’s all.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Courtney apologized. “Look, I’ll stop by after my shift and we’ll talk, okay?”

Elizabeth cracked a small smile. “You’ll step inside the lair? What if Sonny tries to take over your life?”

Courtney shrugged. “I’ll just bash him over the head with one of those god awful vases Carly’s decorated the place with.”

“I’ll see you tonight,” Elizabeth said. She waved as she headed out of the diner.

— Harborview Towers: Hallway —

Elizabeth stepped off the elevator and her eyes widened as she took in the guards swarming the hallway. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Ms. Webber,” Marco said, pulling her aside. “We need you to go Jason’s penthouse. You can’t go into Mr. Corinthos’s.”

“What?” Elizabeth looked towards penthouse four. “What happened? Where’s Carly?”

“She’s in there already. Ms. Webber, please. We’ve got make sure everyone’s safe. Mrs. Corinthos will explain.”

Elizabeth didn’t reply, she just pushed past the rest of the guards and entered the other penthouse. Carly was sitting stiffly on the couch while Jason was near the stairwell on his phone. She paused and their eyes met before she broke contact and hurried to Carly.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Elizabeth demanded. “Are you okay?”

Carly nodded. “I’m fine,” she said faintly. “There was a package addressed to me and when I opened it, the clock on it began to count down and it started to tick.”

“It was a bomb?” Elizabeth asked, her voice rising with fear. “Did it go off? Where’s Michael and Leticia?”

“I called for Will and he made me come over here. Michael and Leticia are at my mother’s,” Carly explained. Elizabeth sat next to her and did her best to concentrate on Carly rather than Jason.

Jason hung up his phone. “Okay, it wasn’t a bomb. It was just a mock-up of one. Sonny’s on his way home now.”

Carly let out a whoosh of breath, relieved. She closed her eyes. “Thank God.”

“He wants to send you to the island,” Jason told her. “You, Michael, Leticia and Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth bit her lip, knowing a refusal now wouldn’t go over well at all. She and Jason were already on rocky ground–they didn’t need the extra trouble.

Carly shook her head. “No. I’m not going. I will send Michael and Leticia but I’m not going anywhere.”

“Carly, Sonny would be able to work better if he knew you were safe. He’s not doing this to control you; he’s doing this because he’s worried.” Jason met Elizabeth’s eyes and looked away after a moment. “Will you…will you at least think about it?”

“Yeah, I’ll think about it,” Carly agreed. “Can we go back in there?”

“Yeah,” Jason told her. “Sonny will be home in a little while. You can argue with him then.”

Carly sighed. “Yeah, fine. Come on, Elizabeth.” Elizabeth followed her until she was out of the room but she turned around to face Jason.

“Can we talk?” she asked softly.

He shook his head. “I’ve got some things to do. Later, okay?”

“Yeah…later,” Elizabeth said. She sighed and left the penthouse. “Story of my life,” she muttered.

— Corinthos Penthouse —

Carly was pacing when Elizabeth entered. “I can’t believe some lunatic sent me a fake bomb!” she fumed. “Addressed to me, not Sonny. What the hell?”

Elizabeth sighed and crossed her arms. “Carly…I think we should tell Jason and Sonny that Felicia delivered the package.”

Carly halted. “What? No! We don’t know she’s working for!”

“Carly…” Elizabeth shook her head. “We’re not going to be able to find out. They want us to go to the island.”

“Bah,” Carly said, waving her hand in dismissal. “Sonny always wants to send me to the island. This is no different. We can’t give in.”

Elizabeth sat on the loveseat and curled her legs underneath her body. “I don’t like lying to Jason,” she told Carly. “It’s not fair to him. We’re just starting our relationship and…I don’t want to start it off with so many lies.”

“It’s a lie to protect them,” Carly insisted. She sat on the couch. “We’re doing this for them.”

“If I keep lying…I’ll lose him,” Elizabeth told her. “And I just got him back in my life. I couldn’t handle that.”

Carly frowned. “What happened after I left the studio?”

Elizabeth sighed heavily. “We got into a huge fight. I accused him of trying to control me and he told me I was treating this all like a game. He left saying he couldn’t be with someone who didn’t get his life.”

“Wait, so did…did you like break up?”

“I don’t know really,” Elizabeth replied. “I tried to talk to him just now but he just brushed me off, saying we’d talk later.”

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I guess…well, I’ve been scheming and plotting behind Sonny’s back for so long, he just tends to expect it from me now. But I didn’t really get that you and Jason are that honest with each other.”

“He knows when I’m lying,” Elizabeth offered weakly. “I’ve never been able to keep anything from him.”

“Okay, let’s make a deal. Let’s investigate just a little more. If after a week, you still feel this way, then we’ll tell them everything, okay?” Carly asked.

“Okay,” Elizabeth agreed.

Sonny pushed open the door. “Carly?” he called.

Carly stood up and crossed the room to hug him tightly. “I’m okay,” she promised him. “It was fake.”

“You’re going to the island,” Sonny told her forcefully. “You, Michael, Leticia and you, too Elizabeth. I don’t want any arguments.”

Carly smirked. “You obviously don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

Elizabeth stood. “Sonny, I know that you just want us to be safe, but I don’t want to go to the island. I want to be here.”

“Elizabeth, you’re already out there without a guard,” Sonny protested.

“If it means that much to you and Jason, you can give me a guard,” Elizabeth replied. “I just…I don’t want to leave town. There’s too much going on.”

Carly bit her lip and leaned closer to Sonny, lowering her voice so only he could hear. “She and Jason had a really bad fight today. She doesn’t to leave it unresolved.”

“Okay.” Sonny sighed. “All right. Michael and Leticia are going, and the two of you will stay.” He pulled away from Carly. “You’ll have Will and Elizabeth, if it’s okay, I want to assign Travis. When the two of you are together, you’ll only have Will. When you’re separated, Travis will take you anywhere you want to go.”

“Will I be able to go back to work?” Elizabeth asked.

“Sure, as long as Travis is with you.” Sonny kissed Carly on the cheek. “What do you say we head over to the Brownstone to pick up Michael and talk to him about the island?”

“Sure. Will you be okay?” Carly asked Elizabeth.

“Yeah. Courtney’s coming over in a little while anyway,” Elizabeth replied.

“Okay. We’re going to head out then,” Sonny told her. “If Jason stops by, let me know, okay?”

“Yeah, sure.”

— Hallway —

Courtney stepped off the elevator and ran smack into Jason. “Oh, sorry,” she said, stepping aside. “Is Elizabeth here?”

“As far as I know,” Jason remarked, stepping onto the elevator. He hit the lobby button, but Courtney pressed her hand against the doors to stop them from closing.

“She was real upset when she came by Kelly’s earlier,” Courtney told him. “I hope you know how much she cares about you.”

“I don’t have time for this,” Jason said, impatiently.

“Yeah, well if she means anything to you, you should make time,” Courtney snapped, stepping back. “You’re no better than my brother.”

He frowned but before he could reply, the doors slid shut.

Courtney sighed and headed for the penthouse. The guard in front held a hand up. “I wasn’t told to expect anyone.”

“I have got to get my girl out of here,” she sighed. “Courtney Quartermaine? Sonny’s sister?”

“Oh. Sorry, Mrs. Quartermaine. I didn’t realize that was you.” The guard slid the door open. “Ms. Webber? Mrs. Quartermaine is here.”

“Thanks, Travis,” Elizabeth replied.

Courtney shook her head as she entered the room. When the door was shut, she said, “This is ridiculous. It’s like you’re a prisoner.”

Elizabeth sighed. “No. Security was just tightened a little while ago. Carly got a fake bomb in the mail and everyone’s a little jumpy.”

Courtney shrugged and sat on the couch. “So, have you talked to Jason?”

“I tried. But he just said we’d talk later.” She picked a piece of lint on her jeans. “We fought because he was waiting at the studio when Carly and I got back. He wanted to know where we’d been. He was…I don’t know how to describe it, Courtney. He was so demanding, and even a little condescending. He said that we were up to something–making it sound like we were children. I know that it’s partly my fault, I mean…I am lying to him, but it just feels like he’s trying to control me.”

“Did you tell him that?” Courtney asked.

“I tried to, but he doesn’t see it that. I know he’s just trying to keep me safe, but it just feels so…constricting. I’ve been in a relationship where my boyfriend had to know where I was at all times and I was miserable. Lucky controlled everything about me–from who I hung out with to where I spent my time. I know Jason’s not like that, but it just…I never want to feel like I’m not in charge of my own life.”

“I feel bad for you,” Courtney said. “I mean, you’ve made this huge sacrifice for him–you left your own place to stay here because he and Sonny wanted you safe. You took time off from work. You made all the sacrifices and it’s not unusual for you to want some kind of freedom.”

“I love him,” Elizabeth admitted softly. “I want this to work between us. But not at the price of my self-respect.”

— Felicia’s House —

“Mom,” Maxie whined. “Why do we have to go to Texas so early?”

“Because I said so,” Felicia snapped. “Finish packing and make sure your sister’s almost ready. We’re leaving for the airport in an hour.”

Mac Scorpio shook his head as he watched Maxie climb the stairs. “Why are you sending the girls to Texas a week early?”

“Because I want to send them there,” Felicia replied, irritated. She sighed and pushed her blonde hair off her forehead. “Mac, don’t argue with me. Why is everyone arguing with me today?”

“You’re acting a little odd lately,” Mac said, narrowing his eyes. “What’s with you?”

“Nothing’s with me,” Felicia sighed. “I’m just…tired. And run down. Having the girls out of the house for a while will be good for me.”

“Is this about Roy? Are the two of you getting into trouble?”

“Mac, I know this is hard for you to understand–but I’m not five,” Felicia remarked. “I’m perfectly capable of handling my own life and my own family. My grandmother is looking forward to having the girls down there early and you have a police department to run, so why don’t we leave it that?”

The ring of the phone interrupted any further arguments from her ex-husband and Felicia hurried to answer it. “Hello?”

“Hello, darling,” Brenda greeted cheerfully. “How did it go today?”

Felicia sighed. “It went fine. Did you need something?”

“Nope. I’m just checking in. I’ll call when I need you again. Toodles.”

Felicia glared at the receiver, the dial tone echoing in the room. She replaced it in a hurry when she noticed Mac’s strange look. “Just an irritating client,” she told him. “Very bitchy. Never satisfied.”

“Right,” Mac nodded, unconvinced. “I’m going to head back to the station.” He crossed to the stairs. “Girls, I’m leaving. I’ll give you a call when you get down there.”

“Bye!” Maxie called.

“See you later!” Georgie yelled.

“Good bye. I’ll talk to you later,” Mac told Felicia.

“Why do I get this feeling that a lecture is coming?” Felicia complained.

— Lakehouse: The Next Day —

Skye slipped her letter in with the stack of incoming mail and sighed as she crossed the living room to set the entire pile on the table next to the mini bar. She could do this. She could deliver a few cryptic letters if it meant that Jax would never find out about that stupid contract.

“Good morning,” Jax greeted as he strode out of the bedroom. He kissed her soundly and reached for the mail. “You’re up early.”

Skye smiled. “There’s a shipment coming in at Club 101. I’ve got to get there early to take care of it,” she replied. She kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see you later?”

“I’ll come by for some late lunch,” Jax assured her as he flipped through the mail and stopped at a small envelope with his name written in large, loopy script. It had no postage and no return address. Frowning, he slit it open and unfolded the letter.

Once upon a time, a man rescued a beautiful woman who had lost her true love. He married her and took care of her. She left him after a while for her true love, and nearly married the man. She was abandoned by him and nearly lost her mind. The man rescued her again, but the beautiful woman died a year later and he barely searched for her. If he had only looked a little harder…

What’s done is done and there’s more to come. Keep your loved ones close and your enemies closer. There’s no one left trust. If I were you, I’d watch out. Because the past is back and she’s a bitch.

Jax stared at the letter, frozen. That was Brenda’s handwriting. He’d know it anywhere. He stood up, letting the rest of his mail fall from his lap. So Brenda was angry with him.. He hadn’t looked for her long enough. Or hard enough. Didn’t she realize he’d searched to the ends of the Earth for her?

“Darling, is there something wrong?” Skye asked. She watched him nervously. She hoped he never found out she was involved. She’d made so many mistakes…and this seemed to be one with the least amount of risks. Brenda just wanted to hurt Jax, right?

“Nothing,” Jax said, softly. Clearing his throat, he looked up at her. “Just a bit of surprising news. I have some calls to make.” Still clutching the letter, he left the room leaving the mail strewn on the floor.

Skye sighed and left the lakehouse.

— Docks —

“Ms. Webber, we shouldn’t be out in the open,” Travis told her. Elizabeth sighed and slipped her hand into her pockets.

“Just a little longer?” she asked. “Carly and Sonny aren’t due back from the airport for another hour and I don’t want to go back to an empty penthouse.”

“All right,” Travis replied. Elizabeth sat on the bench and peered out at the river.

“How long have you worked for Sonny?” she asked him.

Travis shrugged. “About a year. This is the first guarding assignment I’ve had.”

“Well, this is the first time I’ve really been guarded,” Elizabeth told him. “Well, except for a few weeks a few years ago when Francis guarded me. Do you know him?”

“Yeah. He trained me actually.” Travis straightened and the friendly look disappeared from his face. Elizabeth frowned but sighed when she heard Jason’s tell tale boots on the stairs behind her.

“Travis, I’ve got her,” Jason told him. “I’ll take her home when we’re done.”

“Okay, Mr. Morgan,” Travis remarked. He walked away without another word.

“I know I’m not supposed to be out in the open,” Elizabeth sighed, “but I just didn’t feel like going back to the penthouse until Carly and Sonny were back.”

“That’s not what I was going to say,” Jason replied. “I wanted to talk to you.”

She bit inside of her cheek and looked at the wooden planks. “Jason, I know you just want to protect me.”

He stepped towards her. “Elizabeth you mean so much to me–I don’t want something to happen to you because of me.”

“I know that, and I understand that. But you’ve got to understand that I am not always going to agree with how you want to keep me safe. I don’t mind having a guard when security is heightened right now, but when things are okay–and I know you guys have periods when things aren’t like this, right?”

“Yeah,” Jason admitted. “We do. Not often and they don’t last long.”

“When that happens, I don’t want a guard, okay?” Elizabeth asked. “I don’t want to have to depend on someone to take me places. I’m independent–I’ve always been independent and I don’t want to lose that.”

“I know.” He exhaled slowly. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”

Tears built in her eyes and she shook her head. “Don’t say that, Jason.”

“Elizabeth–”

“I always knew a woman would bring you down eventually, Morgan.”

At the sound of Zander’s voice, Jason spun around and glared at the intrusion, cursing himself for not hearing the other man’s approach.

Elizabeth glared at her former friend. “Go away,” she snarled.

“Shut up,” Zander snapped. “You had your chance. I warned you to stay away from him, but you wouldn’t listen. It’s your own fault now.”

“Zander, what about Emily?” Elizabeth demanded. “Do you think she’d want you to do this?”

Zander hesitated only a moment. “Emily’s not here now,” he replied stiffly. He reached behind him to withdraw a gun. “And I’m going to take care of my mistake.”

“Elizabeth,” Jason said carefully, “Go. Go to the penthouse.”

“What?” she demanded. “No!”

“She moves, I shoot,” Zander threatened.

“Elizabeth, just go,” Jason ordered. Elizabeth hesitated. “Go now!”

She took a step and Zander cocked the hammer back to pull the trigger. Elizabeth froze, her wide eyes trained on him. “You would really shoot me?”

“You’d better believe it,” Zander retorted. “I made mistakes with this. I fell in love with Emily when I wasn’t supposed to. But I made a promise to my family to see this through and believe me, I will.”

“Zander, we share a sister,” Elizabeth told him. “Marisa. She’s my father’s daughter–”

“I honestly don’t know her,” Zander shrugged. “I’ve only met her a few times. I doubt she’d give a damn about you. She hates the mob life. That’s why she chose to go with my mother. The lastthing she’d want is a sister who willingly chose it.”

“Elizabeth, please go,” Jason said again.

“I won’t warn you again,” Zander snapped. “Move and I will shoot her.” He smirked. “I’ll probably have to shoot her away. Can’t leave any witnesses.”

Elizabeth hesitated only one more moment before bolting for the stairs.

The sound of the gunshot echoed on the docks.

Elizabeth was around the corner when she heard the shot. Not caring that Zander could still be there, she whirled around and clattered down the steps.

Jason was on his phone, standing over Zander. The younger man was lying on the docks, a bullet wound to his abdomen.

At the sound of her approach, Jason turned and waved her away. “Get out of here, now, Elizabeth. You can’t be found here.”

She bit her lip, not bothering to hide the tears streaming down her face. “Jason–”

“Yeah, the Elm St. Pier,” Jason said, turning around, concentrating on the situation at hand. “He needs medical attention and to be taken to a safe house. Okay.” He hung up his cell and tucked in his pocket.

He turned back around and strode towards Elizabeth, forcibly turning her around and steering her towards the steps. “Please just go back to the penthouse, okay?”

“What if the police come before the others?” Elizabeth asked. “You’ll need someone to give you an alibi.”

Jason exhaled slowly. “Elizabeth, you can’t be found here. I’m almost sure the shot was muffled by the water, okay? Please just go.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight and quick hug. “Please be careful,” she begged.

“I will,” Jason replied, allowing himself a moment to hug her back. “Please just go, okay?”

She nodded and pulled away, climbing the steps quickly until she was around the corner and out of sight.

— Corinthos Penthouse —

Sonny only stopped in briefly before leaving for the safe house to talk to Jason about Zander and when he was gone, Elizabeth had an announcement for Carly.

“We need to tell him about Felicia.”

“Elizabeth,” Carly sighed. “We had a deal.”

“Yeah, but that was before Zander Smith tried to kill us,” Elizabeth remarked. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on, I don’t know who’s behind this, but I know that we are not capable of handling this by ourselves.”

“You’re probably right,” Carly replied. She crossed her arms and stared out the window. “It just doesn’t feel right. None of this does. Felicia’s delivering fake bombs and working with Roy, who’s working for someone else. Zander’s connected to a mob family from New York who suddenly have this grudge against Sonny and Jason that’s obviously personal. I mean…two years, they’ve been planning this. Two years.”

“Maybe the person Roy and Felicia are working for is Luis Alcazar,” Elizabeth said.

“I don’t think so. Luis gave Zander the order to kill Jason. Why would he waste time with having Felicia play weird mind games?”

“I still say this is all connected,” Elizabeth told her. “We’re missing something.”

“Yeah…we probably are.”

— Luis Alcazar’s Yacht —

Luis managed to duck as the bottle of brandy smashed over his head. “Watch it, you nearly hit me!”

“That was the point!” Brenda Barrett seethed. “You stupid, stupid fool. All of this is going to hell now!”

“Look, it’s time to step this up and get over it!” Luis shouted. “I’m tired of waiting.”

“This is my plan, my revenge, not an attempt to enlarge your damn territory!” Brenda cried. “This was my way of making them pay! And you send Alex to kill Jason! What for?”

“Because Morgan was on to him,” Luis snarled. “And they know that Zander Smith is Alejandro Alcazar. Something had to be done. His cover was blown. It wouldn’t take long before they tracked down photos of you in New York!”

“I was finally ready to finish this, finally ready to make them pay and you had to go and fuck it up.” Brenda shook her head. “It’s too early for violence.”

“It’s been two years since we planted Alex here. How long did you expect us to wait?”

“I guess I underestimated my value to you,” Brenda said softly. “I thought family was supposed to be important to you.”

“It is important,” Luis remarked. “You are my sister and I promised to take care of you, to help you with this. And I will. But I am not in the mood to play stupid mind games after two years of sitting in New York, waiting for Corinthos to trust Alex.”

“It’s no wonder Alex was nearly tried and convicted,” Brenda hissed. “You two have no fucking patience. I know Sonny and Jax. I know them better than anyone. I knew what I was doing when I contacted Edward about trapping Skye and forcing her to help. I knew what I was doing when I asked you and Alex for your help. Alex was on his way in the organization–he was getting the important jobs. But he went and fucked it up by getting greedy and turning on him. Once Jason came home, Sonny had no use for him.”

“And getting rid of Morgan was the necessary option. We tried to make him vulnerable by kidnapping that girlfriend of his and we nearly succeeded when the little twit latched onto Alex, but he screwed it up by pushing too hard, sending the Webber girl straight back to Morgan.”

“We need to immobilize Jason,” Brenda decided. “We need to do it now before Alex screws this up even further.”

“And how do you suggest we do that?” Luis mocked. “We’ve already tried the obvious, going through the girl.”

Brenda laughed then. “You almost had it, but you sent Alex in with her. That was fucking stupid. Jason was about to find them because the incompetent morons you hired gave it away. Sending Alex in there with her, making her form an attachment–it only served to make Jason focus on work more. You have to make sure he doesn’t have a choice!”

“What do you want me to do?” Luis roared. “Kidnap her again? Kill her?”

Brenda smirked. “Not exactly. In fact, maybe it should go a little like this…”

— Safe house —

Dr. Joel McKean stepped into the hallway, closing the bedroom door behind him. “He’ll live.”

“Pity,” Sonny murmured. “How long will he be out?”

“Until tomorrow, I would assume. The wound was clean, didn’t hit any organs but I gave him a mild sedative anyway. Do you need me for anything else?”

Sonny shook his head. “No. Marco will drove you home. Thank you.”

Dr. McKean nodded and moved down the hallway into the living room. When they heard the door shut, Sonny sighed. “I’m glad you’re quick with that gun. Who was he aiming at? You or Elizabeth?”

“Elizabeth,” Jason stiffly. “I told her to run so that she didn’t have to see me shoot him. But he aimed at her as she was running so I shot him before it was safe.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I aimed to kill, but I only managed to get that shot off.”

“That’s fine. He’s more valuable alive. We need to find out what’s going on with the Alcazar family and why they’ve suddenly targeted us.” Sonny shook his head. “Let’s head back to the penthouse. I want to check on Elizabeth, make sure she’s okay.”

“You want me to stay with him tonight?” Jason asked.

Sonny frowned. “I thought you’d be more than willing to go home and check on her. The two of you still fighting?”

Jason shook his head. “We’re not fighting. We’ve just both agreed that it’s not a good time to be in a relationship. How did you find out?”

“Carly told me. Seems Elizabeth doesn’t want to go to the island with this unresolved. You sure you both agreed?”

“Sonny, I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Fine,” Sonny shrugged, heading towards the living room. “You can talk to Carly.”

“She doesn’t understand how serious this is,” Jason remarked. “She and Carly ditched Will the other day, disappeared for hours on end and then she lied to me when they got back. She thinks I’m trying to control her.”

“And you explain that you just want to protect her, right?” Sonny prompted.

“Right,” Jason replied. “But…”

“And she didn’t really see it that way, so you tossed in towel.” Sonny nodded. “Okay, giving up was your first mistake.”

“I don’t want her to sacrifice her independence to be with me,” Jason argued.

“Who says she has to? The two of you just need to work together to find a balance that works for you.”

“It’s not a good time to be working out a balance,” Jason said, shaking his head. “With everything that’s going on…”

“What if Zander had shot her?” Sonny asked. “What if he’d shot her and killed her?”

Jason grimaced. “Sonny, I don’t think about what ifs.”

“Yeah, live for today and all that. But what happens when you wait too long to work this out with her? You, more than anyone, should know what I mean. Look, until Zander wakes up and unless they make another move, we’re just sitting ducks. We can’t develop an offensive–we can barely handle a defense. So, I’m going to go home to my wife and try and concentrate on what is going right in my life. I suggest you do the same.”

— Corinthos Penthouse —

Sonny’s idea of a pleasant evening was cut off the second he and Jason entered the penthouse and saw Elizabeth and Carly sitting on the couch, talking intently.

Carly sighed when she saw them in the door way. “Get the funeral march ready,” she whispered to Elizabeth. “Hey. We have something to tell you.”

Elizabeth stood and folded her arms tightly, keeping her eyes low on the ground. “You didn’t really listen to us when we warned you that Zander was after you. It took the discovery that his brother was here, too, for you to believe us.”

“By that time, Elizabeth, Courtney and I had already agreed to look into this ourselves,” Carly informed them.

Jason narrowed his eyes. “Oh, really.”

“We saw Felicia Jones and Skye Chandler-Quartermaine acting strangely so we decided to follow Felicia,” Elizabeth continued. “Felicia is the one who put the package in the mailbox.”

Sonny stared at them. “You knew this yesterday and didn’t tell us?”

Carly sighed. “We’ve been arguing about it all day and now that it’s turned violent, we knew we had to come clean.”

Sonny rubbed the side of his face. “Carly, we have discussed this over and over again. It just doesn’t seem to sink in. You can’t get involved.”

“Look, it just fell into our laps!” Carly argued. “What were we supposed to do?”

“Tell us?” Sonny suggested, sarcastically. “We might have been able to flush out whoever sent Felicia with that package!”

“Oh, so now it’s our fault?” Carly sputtered.

“Carly–”

“If you guys don’t mind, can Travis take me to work now?” Elizabeth cut in. “I’ve got the closing shift.”

“Elizabeth, you might want to ask Bobbie for more time off. Tomorrow morning, the two of you are leaving for the island if I have to tie and gag you to get you on the plane.”

“Fine,” Elizabeth sighed. She smiled wanly at Carly. “See you when I get back.” She pushed past Sonny and Jason and left the penthouse.

“Typical,” Carly snorted. “Send away what you can’t deal with.” She glared at Jason. “And, you, my good friend, are a jackass.”

“You both lied to me,” Jason spoke up finally. “You can’t get mad because I called her on it and she just lied some more.”

“She was trying to help you,” Carly retorted. “And this lying thing was really eating her up inside.”

“When did you start defending Elizabeth?” Jason demanded.

“Why does that matter?” Carly retorted. “She’s family. I didn’t want her in my life, but now she’s here. I’ve got a sister who for some reason is in love with you and all you can do is concentrate on the fact that she lied to you–”

“I don’t have the patience for this,” Jason snapped. “I’m going back to the safe house. Call me when you leave for the airport,” he told Sonny.

When he was Sonny just sighed and shook his head. “Carly.”

“What?” Carly asked, defensively. “It’s not like I lied to you. I just didn’t tell you.”

He managed a small smile. “So, I see that you and Elizabeth are getting along.”

Carly frowned. “Take that back.”

He wagged his finger at her. “Watch it, honey. First you call her family, you stick up for her with Jason, you plan schemes with her…you like her don’t you?”

“I do not!” Carly said, outraged. She shook her head vehemently. “That’s just ridiculous.”

“Yeah, okay.” Sonny chuckled. “I’ll go make some dinner, okay? We’ll have a quiet night here and then you’ll go pack.”

Carly snorted. “Whatever.”

— Later —

“Okay, I’ll get the phone,” Carly said, “but you have to get me a slice of that pie I know you’re hiding in the kitchen.”

Sonny laughed and they went in opposite direction–him towards the kitchen and her to the phone.

“Hello?”

“Carly, it’s Courtney.”

“What do you want?” Carly asked, frowning. Courtney only called the penthouse for Elizabeth and she was at work.

“I’m calling to check on Elizabeth,” Courtney replied.

“What do you mean?” Carly asked. Her frown deepened.

“Well, she’s an hour late for her shift and she didn’t call out. It’s her first night back, so I was worried. Is she feeling all right?”

“You mean she never showed?” Carly demanded. “Courtney, why didn’t you call earlier?”

“You don’t know where she is either?” Courtney cried.

“Carly,” Sonny called, entering the room. ‘What’s wrong?”

“I gotta go Courtney, I’ll let you know what’s up.” Carly hung up hastily and started dialing Jason. “Elizabeth never showed up for her shift. I’m calling Jason.”

Sonny headed towards the door to tell one of the guards to find Travis when a knock sounded. He jerked the door open to reveal an ashen-faced Johnny. “What?”

“We found Travis ten minutes ago. Francis stumbled over him during one of his rounds.” Johnny scrubbed a hand over his face. “He’s dead. Ms. Webber is gone. This was in his pocket.” He extended the folded paper to Sonny who snatched it and ripped it open.

“What’s it say?” Carly demanded.

You know, I honestly expected more difficulty in procuring Ms. Webber. But, like the first time, it was just almost too easy. You should really be more careful with those you love. She’s alive. For now. I’ll be in touch.

“Call Jason,” Sonny murmured.

“What does it say?” Carly cried.

“They’ve got her.”

— Safehouse —

By the time Jason arrived back at the house, Zander had come out of his sleep a little and was murmuring things. The guards had been noting all of the words, which included Jason’s, name, Elizabeth’s, Alcazar, his mother Carmen and a surprising one.

Brenda Barrett.

Jason was on the phone to Benny trying to track down a possible connection between Brenda and the Alcazar family and missed the first frantic call from Sonny. He hung up with the other man about twenty minutes later. The only link Benny had unearthed was that Harlan Barrett and Ramon Alcazar frequently did business together.

But it was a start.

His phone rang almost immediately and Jason answered it without checking the display. “Yeah?”

“Where have you been?” Sonny demanded. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for almost a half hour.”

“I was on the phone with Benny,” Jason replied. “I think I’ve got something–”

“Elizabeth’s gone,” Sonny interrupted.

Jason didn’t say anything for a moment as the news sunk in. Finally, he asked, “What do you mean gone?”

“Travis was taking her to Kelly’s. She was supposed to show up for her shift an hour ago, but Courtney just called and said she never made it. Francis found Travis’s body on the docks a little while go.”

Jason was already heading for the door, intent on returning to the penthouse. “What do we know?” he demanded.

“It’s definitely Alcazar behind this,” Sonny told him. “He left a note in Travis’s pocket saying that he’d be in touch. We’re just waiting for the call.”

“You’re just sitting around and waiting?” Jason asked incredulously. “Do you have someone canvassing the docks? Looking for clues? A witness?”

Sonny took a deep breath, forcing himself to be calm and reminded himself that Jason was just in panic mode right now. “That’s being done now. You’d better come back here.”

“I’m on my way.”

— Corinthos Penthouse —

By the time Jason had gotten there, the results of the docks sweep were in and the men had found nothing.

“I want to see the note,” Jason said immediately. Sonny handed it to him and Jason skimmed it before handing it back. “It doesn’t say when he’ll be getting in touch.”

“No,” Sonny replied, “but he wants something. He’ll be in touch.”

“I swear to God, he messes with one hair on her head, I will rip his throat out,” Carly muttered as she paced in front of the couch.

“Zander was mumbling in his sleep,” Jason told Sonny. “He was saying people’s names. Mine, Elizabeth’s, Alcazar’s, their mother Carmen and Brenda’s.”

Carly halted her in tracks. “Brenda?”

Sonny arched an eyebrow in question. “Brenda?”

“Yeah. All Benny could find that Harlan Barrett and Ramon Alcazar did business together in the late seventies. Barrett financed Alcazar’s first takeover,” Jason explained. “Benny’s still looking for more.”

“Okay, Brenda might explain a few things,” Carly said after another moment. “I mean Elizabeth and I figured all along it was a personal thing. We just couldn’t figure out the reason why Felicia and Skye–” She halted in her words. “Oh. Did I mention we think Skye’s involved?”

Sonny narrowed his eyes. “You know, I’m tired of learning things about this after the fact.”

“Sorry,” Carly apologized. “But the reason we decided to follow Felicia was that she and Skye were acting oddly at Kelly’s yesterday. So if Felicia’s involved, Skye must be too.”

“Felicia delivered the package,” Jason remarked. “You think Skye’s a delivery girl for someone else?”

“Maybe this is about Brenda,” Carly pointed out. “And maybe someone thinks that you and Jax are to blame. Skye could be delivering stuff to Jax.”

“She’s got a point,” Jason said. Before Sonny could say anything in response, the phone rang. Sonny waited another moment before picking it up.

“Corinthos.”

“Ah. Corinthos. I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I am Luis Alcazar.”

Sonny made eye contact with Jason. “Luis. How can I help you?”

“I believe I’m in possession of something that means a great deal to your wife and your best friend,” Luis replied.

“Look, Alcazar, I don’t know what game you’re playing,” Sonny began, his patience wearing thin.

“It’s simple actually,” Luis cut in. “You want Ms. Webber back? Come and get her.”

“I’m supposed to believe you’ll just have Elizabeth waiting at a bus stop or something.”

“Well no. You’ll have to come to a place of our choice and agree to our terms.”

“Our terms?”

Luis ignored Sonny’s questions and continued smoothly. “Bring my brother to the warehouse on Pier 45. I think you know which one it is. Come with your pretty wife and your enforcer. I’m sure Ms. Webber would love to see them.”

Sonny narrowed his eyes. “I am not bringing my wife.”

“You don’t bring her, she never sees her sister again.”

Sonny muttered a curse under his breath. “When?” he demanded.

“Tonight. At midnight. Goodbye.”

Sonny hung up the phone and sighed. “He wants the three of us to go to a warehouse on Pier 45. We’re to bring Zander with us.”

“We can’t bring Carly,” Jason remarked.

“We have to,” Sonny snapped. He looked at his wife. “I’m not happy about it, but I know you want Elizabeth back as much as we do.”

“Yeah,” Carly admitted reluctantly. “For some reason that appears to be the truth.” She folded her arms across her chest. “So, any idea what this is all about?”

“No.” Sonny sighed. “But one way or another, we’re going to find out tonight.”

— Pier 45 Warehouse —

Elizabeth glared at Luis Alcazar’s back and tried to force the gag from her mouth. She was seriously getting tired of this tactic. Stupid frigging mob idiots and their idiotic vendettas. Why the hell wasn’t Carly ever kidnapped? Why was it always her?

“A car just pulled up outside,” someone told Luis and Elizabeth glared at the door. Idiots. Walking right into a trap.

Luis turned around and met his hostage’s murderous eyes. He smirked. “Looks like you matter to your sister after all. Will wonders ever cease?” He looked back at the man who’d reported the arrival. “Bring them to me. It’s time to end this.”

She would have opened her mouth in shock if the gag hadn’t prevented that, but the sight of Carly entering the room behind Sonny and Jason just floored her. What the hell…?

No bruises or cuts , Carly noted with some relief. Elizabeth looked fine, albeit slightly pissed as she was tied to a chair and gagged.

“Okay.” Sonny shrugged. “We’re here, Luis. What do you want?”

Luis stood behind Elizabeth and removed the gag, but left her tied to the chair. “It’s time to end this,” he said simply. “Where’s my brother?”

“We have him,” one of the men said. “He’s being taken to the yacht now.”

Luis nodded. “Fine.” He met Carly’s eyes. “You’ve got a very beautiful sister here. I understand you were just recently made aware of your relationship.”

“That’s right,” Carly said slowly. “She’s a pain in the ass.”

“Same to you,” Elizabeth retorted.

“You want to save the bonding until later?” Sonny asked his wife in exasperation. “You’ve got Zander back. I want my sister-in-law and I want to know what the hell this is all about.”

“That’s what I want to know!” an enraged female voice demanded. She stepped out of the shadows, her dark eyes boring into her half-brother. “Luis, what in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Sonny blinked. He blinked again. “Bre–Brenda?”

“Oh my God,” Carly groaned. “I thought it couldn’t get any worse. First the twit is my sister and now you’re alive. Jesus, who did I piss off to deserve this?”

Brenda Barrett shot a scathing look at the blonde before looking back at her brother. “I thought we agreed that we were going to do this my way,” she said, seething. “We were just going to grab her. There was nothing about exchanging Alex.”

Luis started to untie Elizabeth’s ropes. “There’s been a change in plans, Brenda. You can get your revenge all you want but I prefer my brother alive and breathing. I have a territory to run. I don’t have time for this.”

“Oh?” Brenda demanded. She reached into her purse and withdrew a pistol. “Do you have time for this?”

“Of course, the psycho has a gun,” Elizabeth muttered. Luis glanced up from his task.

“Brenda. Put the gun down. You shoot me and you don’t make it out of here alive and you know that.”

He untied the last rope and Elizabeth, fighting the urge to bolt and run into Jason’s arms, stood slowly and walked leisurely over to her sister. “Do people ever stay dead around here?” she asked.

“Not as much as I wish they would,” Carly muttered.

“Well, I can see the two of you have some business to discuss,” Sonny said, visibly shaken from Brenda’s emergence. He took a step back. “You’ve got Zander, I’ve got Elizabeth. I think it’s time for–”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Brenda retorted. She didn’t glance away from Luis. “You’re going to stay right and we are going to finish this.”

“Finish what?” Carly demanded, out of patience. “What is your problem?”

“She blames Corinthos for her accident,” Luis revealed, slightly bored. Brenda’s eyes filled with hurt at her brother’s betrayal. “She blames him far more than she blames the real culprit, her own mother. You see, my darling half-sister isn’t exactly in her right mind.”

“Your what?” Carly asked incredulously. She exchanged glances with her husband before looking at Jason, who’d been silent up until now.

“I’m fine!” Brenda shrieked, her hands shaking. “I’m fine!”

“She has her mother’s disease,” Luis continued. He stepped forward. “She knows her time is close and she wanted her revenge before she died.”

“Shut up!” Brenda ordered.

“I didn’t see any harm in indulging her this one last time. After all, I’d gain a very profitable territory.”

“Luis, stop it,” Brenda begged. “Stop this.”

“But it’s not working in my best interest and I’ve decided to pull out and go home.” Luis shrugged. “No harm, no foul.”

“You can’t!” Brenda cried. “Luis, you promised!” She charged at him, but one of his men snatched her easily and before Brenda knew what was happening, he’d rolled up her sleeve and injected her with something.

“A sedative,” Luis remarked. “She’s gotten worse since we came to Port Charles. Another reason this is ending.” He waved his hand. “Take her back to the yacht. We’re finished here.”

“Not yet,” Sonny said. “We have some issues we need to take care of.” He looked at the girls. “Why don’t the two of you wait in the limo?”

“Sonny–” Carly began to protest.

“Mrs. Corinthos, Ms. Webber, I hear we have a sister in common,” Luis cut in swiftly. “Marisa Galvez?”

Elizabeth’s eyes lit up interest. “Do you know where she is?”

“Elizabeth,” Sonny began, “we can discuss this later–”

“Mr. Corinthos, I believe that family is more important than business,” Luis said, with a charming smile. “Our other business will keep for a few moments while we talk about Marisa.”

Sonny narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think–”

“Sonny,” Jason interrupted. “Just…let him tell her, okay?”

Sonny glanced at his enforcer in surprise but after a looking at Elizabeth’s hopeful eyes, he sighed and nodded. “All right.”

“Not here,” Luis said. He gestured around the dank room. “I do not wish to discuss my sister in this environment. My yacht is moored outside. We can go there and I can arrange for a driver to take the ladies home while we discuss business.”

Sonny hesitated but nodded. If it was a trap, it was a trap. But he didn’t think it was, so they filed out.

— Yacht —

“Have a seat,” Luis said as they entered a sitting room. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No,” Sonny remarked.

“Fine.” Luis sat in an arm chair. “I didn’t know that Marisa was my half-sister until a few years ago. My parents divorced shortly after she was born and she took Marisa and my brother Ricky to live with her while Alex and I stayed with my father.”

Sonny shifted, obviously bored with the conversation and anxious to get down to the real business, but Elizabeth was very interested to finally have the holes filled in.

“I don’t see her as often as I wish, but more often now that I’ve taken over the business. She’s a very lovely girl, around your age, Ms. Webber. She lives in Arizona and I’d be happy to get in touch with her to tell her about you.”

Elizabeth blinked, not really believing it was that easy. “You’ll just…tell her about me and Carly? It’s that easy?”

“Why not?” Luis asked, “You wish to meet your sister and I like to make my sister happy. I’ll call her when my business is done here.”

Elziabeth met Carly’s eyes for a moment and nodded. “Okay. Thank you,” she said, feeling strangely odd about thanking a man who had kidnapped her a few hours ago.

“Is that it?” Sonny asked, impatiently.

“We’ll go now,” Carly said. She stood and Elizabeth followed suit.

“Jason, go with them,” Sonny directed. “Make sure that they get home safely. I’ll be fine.”

Jason hesitated but led the girls back to the deck.

Luis shifted and smiled. “You don’t believe in putting off business for anything, do you?”

“I want to know why you suddenly just decided to stop helping Brenda,” Sonny remarked.

“Once Alex’s identity was uncovered, I knew it wouldn’t take long before word reached New York and I’ve been trying to get him off a murder charge for the past two years. It wouldn’t serve me well to have my younger brother in jail for the rest of his life,” Luis replied. “So, I began making the plans to withdraw.”

“But you gave Zander the order to kill Jason.”

“Alex was being careless as always,” Luis told the other man. “Confronting Elizabeth in public places, not taking care of the situation. He got himself thrown out of your organization because he was greedy and that couldn’t be tolerated. I gave him the order knowing he’d be unable to carry it out.”

“And what if Jason had killed him?” Sonny asked pointedly.

“You still needed information from him,” Luis said simply. “I took a risk and it paid off. I do apologize for the guard that died while we were procuring Elizabeth. The man who did it was dealt with in a similar fashion. I don’t have room in my organization for men that don’t follow orders.”

“So I’m to believe you’ve just stopped it and you’re going to go back to New York quietly?” Sonny asked skeptically. “And how is that she’s your sister?”

Luis stood and Sonny did as well. “For now, we’re at peace as far as I’m concerned,” the taller man said. “I have a sister to take care of and a brother to clear. Until those are done, I don’t think that I have time to fight a territory war.” He cleared his throat. “As for being my sister, her mother and my father had an affair that resulted in her birth. She discovered this shortly after her accident and she’s been staying with me in New York ever since.”

Sonny nodded, accepting the words as truth. The man had no reason to lie. “You’ll let me know, of course, if there’s anything I can do for Brenda.”

Luis shook his head. “I think it would be better if she didn’t see you once you leave her. I have some damage to repair now the plan has been aborted.” He showed Sonny out then, arranging for the man to be taken home.

— Corinthos Penthouse —

Elizabeth entered the penthouse, yawning. “It’s been a long day,” she said. “I’m going to sleep.”

“Oh no you’re not,” Carly said. She slammed the door shut and put her hands on her hips. “You are going to stand right there until I’m finished yelling at Jason and then you two are going to deal with whatever fight you had and then I’m going to sleep.”

“Carly–” Jason began.

“If you’d get over your pride for eight seconds, you might see that we were just trying to help,” Carly said, ignoring his glare. “She didn’t want to lie to you, I made her do it–”

“Carly, don’t take the blame. No one makes me do anything I don’t want to do,” Elizabeth interrupted.

“Fine. Well, then it was my idea and I talked her into it,” Carly corrected. “You are an idiot–”

“Carly–”

“And I think you should give her a chance to explain herself before you all stone silent on her because it’s only fair–”

“Carly–”

“And I swear to God if you start yelling at me to mind my own business, I’ll deck you. That’s my sister and that makes it my business,” Carly finished, glowering.

Jason smirked. “Your sister?”

Elizabeth arched her eyebrows and looked at the blonde oddly. Carly blanched, stricken. “Ah…that’s not what I mean. I meant that…she’s…um…related to me…and that we….reached…” She threw her hands up in the air. “Oh, to hell with it. Yes, my sister and perhaps we should have a discussion about which body parts get cut off when you hurt her–”

“Carly–” Jason tried to cut in again.

“Because you of all people should know I look out for what’s mine and for some twisted and really unfair reason, she does happen to be mine–”

“Oh, really?” Elizabeth remarked amused by this entire display.

“Oh, be quiet,” Carly hissed. She was quiet then and crossed her arms to glare at Jason. “Well?”

“Well what?” Jason asked.

“Oh for the love of God!” Carly muttered. “For some reason, you seem to love her and God knows, she’s crazy enough to be in love with you so what I do not get is why you are being so damn stubborn–” Carly broke off abruptly when Jason grabbed Elizabeth’s by the arm and all but dragged her out of the penthouse, closing the door behind her. “That was unbelievably rude!” she shrieked. “I was in the middle of yelling at you!”
— Morgan Penthouse —

Elizabeth was still highly amused when Jason shut the door behind them. “I can’t believe she just did the big sister routine on you. I think hell must have frozen over or something.”

Jason managed a weak smile. “Yeah, well, once Carly decides she likes you…there’s no going back.”

“The scary thing? I think I like her too.” Elizabeth shook her head. “I’ll never hear the end of this from Courtney.” She looked away and shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “So…did you pull the Neanderthal act to get away from Carly or did you actually have something to say to me?”

Jason exhaled slowly and leaned against the desk. “I’m not going to lie to you, Elizabeth. You know what my life is like. You’ve been kidnapped twice now, shot at…”

“I do know all of that but it was always a risk I was willing to take,” Elizabeth assured him. “Look, I’m sorry I lied to you. It’s not something I wanted to do or anything I’m particularly proud of, but I was just trying to help.”

“You’ve got to understand something, Elizabeth. You can’t help,” Jason told her. He shook his head. “I mean, I understand if sometimes things just fall into your lap and then yeah, I want you to tell me. But you can’t go investigating on your own–”

“We did tell you but you didn’t believe us,” Elizabeth reminded him. “So when the thing with Skye and Felicia happened, we assumed that you still wouldn’t believe us.”

“You’re right. We should have taken you more seriously. The two of you have good instincts.” He grimaced. “That doesn’t mean I want you to put yourself in danger.”

Elizabeth shook her head, amused. “Jason, I may be only twenty-one, but I’ve seen a lot in my life. And I’ve taken on Helena Cassadine–I highly doubt any of your enemies would ever compare to the havoc that psycho caused. I’m not five, Jason. I can take care of myself.”

“Like you did tonight?” Jason asked pointedly.

“Okay, so I still have a few things to learn. Maybe Carly and I will take some self-defense classes,” Elizabeth slid up onto the desk next to him. “I know that I don’t want to give up on making it work between us. We’ve come too far, Jason, to just let it fall apart now.”

“I agree but we’re going to have to make some compromises,” Jason told her. “I don’t want this life to touch you.”

She shook her head. “That’s not realistic. I’m in this now. Maybe not like you are, but I am. This life…it’s your life and it touches me because it’s your life.”

“But you can’t do what you and Carly did,” Jason argued. “You can’t run around trying to help. You don’t have all the information–”

“You don’t trust me at all, do you?” Elizabeth asked, stung. “Carly and I didn’t do anything that we wouldn’t do normally. Zander came to us. Not the other way around. It’s not our fault we ran into Skye and Felicia and picked up on their behavior. It’s not like we went looking for trouble.”

“But you didn’t turn away from it either,” Jason reminded her.

Elizabeth smirked. “Where’s the fun in that?” Seeing Jason’s exasperated look, she rolled her eyes. “Okay, you’ve got to lighten up. Look, that’s not the type of person I am. You say you want me safe. Well, is it so hard to believe that I want you safe too?”

“I understand that,” Jason answered. “But I don’t want you involved, Elizabeth. Not if you can avoid it.”

“All right. I’ll stay out of it. I won’t go looking for trouble but can we agree on something? It’s not always my fault. Sometimes it finds me.” She slid off the desk and faced him. “But you’ve got to promise me something.”

“If I can.”

“I don’t want a guard,” Elizabeth told him. “Not if we can avoid it. Okay?”

“I don’t know about that, Elizabeth. Carly’s okay with a guard–”

“I’m not Carly. I like my freedom.” She sighed and looked down. “Look, I get that you want me safe but I do not want this to be the deal breaker.”

“I know how much your independence means to you and I don’t want you to lose that to be with me.”

She slipped his hands into his. “And I don’t want to lose you to have it, either,” Elizabeth told him. She stepped closer to him. “Can’t we just…work it out along the way? Do we have to have all the answers tonight?”

“It would make it easier,” Jason admitted.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and slid her fingers into his hair. “Now where’s the fun in that?”

“What are you doing?” he asked as she stepped closer and shoved him slightly so he was just sitting on the desk and they were about eye level.

She shook her head. “If you have to ask, it has been way too long.” She leaned down to kiss him, but he stopped her. “What?” she asked, frowning. He always stopped them before it went too far.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked her quietly. “I mean…really sure?”

“I love you, Jason,” Elizabeth told him. Without waiting for him to respond, she kissed him, fisting her hands in his hair. He wrapped his arms around her waist and stood suddenly, lifting her off her feet. He turned them around and set her on his desk instead.

He pulled away and she glared at him, slightly out of breath. “Oh, don’t tell me you’re pulling away again,” she said, irritated.

Jason framed her face in his hands. “I love you,” he told her. He felt his face match her smile and he kissed her again.

— Corinthos Penthouse ––

Sonny entered the penthouse and frowned when he saw Carly wolfing down a slice of the apple pie he’d hidden in the kitchen.

She glanced up guiltily. “Um…you promised I could have a slice.”

“Where’s Jason?” Sonny asked instead of chastising her. “I need to talk to him.”

Carly frowned and glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Well, he dragged Elizabeth out of here about a half hour ago. I’m going to give her about fifteen minutes to have talked some sense into him and since they’ve been apart the last few days–”

Sonny held up a hand. “Okay, stop. No more information needed.” He sat down next to her on the couch. “Can I have a bite of that?”

She fed him a piece and decided just to get it over with and ask. “Is Alcazar really leaving?”

Sonny glared at her. “You know I can’t talk about that.”

“Well…come on…I was there when he said it,” Carly whined. “Besides, I know how much finding Marisa would mean to Elizabeth so I figure she’s got a right to know if he’s going to go through with it–”

“Okay.” Sonny sighed. “He says he’s taking Zander and Brenda back to New York. That he’s done here.”

“But you don’t trust him,” Carly said. “Right?”

“No. I’m sending men to follow him and keep an eye on him in the city,” sonny replied. “I think that he might be serious about pulling out right now, but I wouldn’t put it past him to try again.”

“Good,” Carly decided. “That’s a good decision.”

“And now you and me are going to go over the rules again.”

Carly grimaced. “Do we have to?”

“Are you going to stay out of it from now on?”

Carly grinned. “What do you think?”

“Then, yeah, we have to,” Sonny replied.

“You know what? Let’s put it off,” she suggested. She stood and lowered herself into his lap. “I know where we can find some whipped cream and–”

“Carly, you are not going to distract me,” Sonny said firmly, trying to still his wife’s hands as she unbuttoned his shirt.

“Oh, yes I am,” Carly replied. “Don’t be mistaken about that. We can talk about the rules again tomorrow.” Her eyes lit up. “Or if you really want…” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a pouting a look. “You know…I’ve been a really bad girl.”

He laughed then. “One track mind Carly, one track mind.”

— Morgan Penthouse: Upstairs Hallway —

“I can’t find the door knob,” Jason muttered, trying to look past Elizabeth’s hair and concentrate on something other than her lips trailing down his neck.

She giggled. “Am I a distraction?”

“Are you kidding me?” Jason grumbled. He leaned his back against the door and fumbled with the doorknob. Finally, it twisted and the door fell back, catapulting them both to the ground.

Elizabeth pulled herself up a little, bracing her hands on Jason’s chest, still laughing. “Well, this is romantic,” she teased.

He sat up, situating her on his lap. “Does it bother you?”

“Not at all,” Elizabeth replied, reaching for the hem of his shirt and tugging it off him. “I’ll take you anyway I can get you.”

“We should get off the floor,” Jason told her even as he was unbuttoning her shirt and pushing it off her shoulders. He started kissing her collarbone.

“Yeah…probably.” Elizabeth pushed at Jason’s shoulders and laid him against the ground. “If you ask me, the floor’s good.”

“You’re not the one laying on it,” Jason grumbled. She cut off any further complaining with her mouth and her hands fumbled with the button on his jeans.

He kicked off his boots when she started pulling his jeans down his legs. He reached for the front clasp of her bra and practically tore it off her. He wrapped his arms around her back and rolled them over. “Are you sure you don’t want to get off the floor?”

“I don’t think I can wait that long,” Elizabeth murmured. “You know…I’m ready if you are.”

Jason raised his head and looked down at her oddly. “What?”

She reached for his hands and brought them to the snap on her jeans. “Any time you’re good.”

“You mean…just skip the rest of it?” Jason asked, curiously.

She nodded eagerly. “I want you, Jason. I’ve been trying to get into your pants since the day we got together, or didn’t you notice?”

He chuckled and let his drop into the crook of her shoulder. “You’re not like anyone else I know, do you know that?”

“Why are we still talking?” she asked, slightly irritated. She braced her hands on his shoulders and rolled them over again.

He sat them up again and framed her face in his hands again. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she murmured. She narrowed her eyes. “Now…are you gonna sleep with me or not?”

— Yacht —

Brenda slid her eyes open and frowned when she saw her brother sitting by her side. She rolled over. “I’m not speaking to you.”

Luis sighed. “Brenda. You know I made the right decision.”

“You’re supposed to be my family. You were supposed to love me,” she mumbled into the pillow.

“I do love you, Brenda. You’re my sister. And you being in Port Charles, trying to make Corinthos and Jacks pay for something that wasn’t their fault…it’s only making you worse.”

“I’m not sick,” Brenda denied stubbornly.

“Yes, you are,” Luis told her. “You know you are. I was trying to give you want you wanted but it’s not, is it? You don’t know what you want.”

“I want you to leave,” Brenda hissed.

“We’re leaving for New York City in the morning,” Luis told her. “I’m going to send Alex away to Europe to hide from the authorities until I’m able to get him cleared of these charges and I want you to go with him. You love Europe.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does.” He smoothed his hand over her hair. “You have such precious little time left. Let me help you make the best of it.”

“Stop saying that like I’m going to die,” Brenda whispered. She rolled over, her eyes glossy with tears. “I’ll kill myself before I turn into my mother.”

“Brenda–”

“I’m tired, Luis,” Brenda murmured. She closed her eyes. “I want to sleep.”

–Morgan Penthouse–

Elizabeth closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath. “Mmmm…well…we made it to the bed.”

She felt Jason laugh next to her. “Yeah…only took three tries.”

Elizabeth stretched her arms over her head and sighed happily. “I think that was almost worth waiting for.”

Jason braced himself up one elbow and glared at her. “Almost huh?”

She opened one eye and grinned. “Well…maybe a little more bit more convincing could change my mind.”

“More convincing?” Jason shook his head as he tugged body on top of his. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

She inhaled sharply as he slid into her again. She arched her back. “Well…it’s a good way to go,” she managed to say.

— Elm St. Pier —

Felicia stepped gingerly onto the docks and peered around suspiciously. This entire summer had been a disaster, she decided and she was through with it. If Roy wanted to involve himself with this, that was his problem. She had better things to deal with, more important things to worry about–namely her daughters.

She spied Skye standing at the end of the pier and crossed to join her. “So you got another summons?”

“Yes,” Skye bit off angrily. “But I am going to tell that psycho that it’s off. I’m telling Jax the truth–participating in Brenda Barrett’s revenge scheme is only going to make things worse.”

Felicia nodded. “That’s what I’m going to do. If Roy wants to get himself killed, that’s his business. Who knows what she had me mail to Sonny Corinthos? Roy’s not worth making Sonny my enemy.”

“Which is precisely why I’m here.”

The unfamiliar voice had the two women whirling around to see who had crept up behind them.

Luis Alcazar’s lips curved into a smile that would have almost been characterized as charming had it not been for the cold expression in his eyes. “This is over,” he told them. “Brenda will not be requiring your assistance any longer.”

Skye narrowed her eyes. “I don’t believe that we’d get off that easily. Who are you?”

“I am friend of the family,” Luis said simply. “Brenda’s scheme has been ended, ladies. You’re free of all obligations to her.”

Felicia shook her head. “No, I don’t believe that. She wouldn’t give up on this–”

“It is no longer her choice,” Luis cut in. “You can choose to believe that Brenda will divulge your secrets, that is your prerogative. You can wait for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. You will be waiting some time, naturally.” He nodded to them and walked away, fading into the shadows.

Skye crossed her arms, warding off a chill that did not come from the weather. “If I tell Jax the truth, it won’t matter,” she said almost absently. “I’d rather not have to depend on that man to keep my secret.”

“Well I don’t have to worry about anything,” Felicia remarked. “I was only in this to keep Roy alive and now I don’t even care enough to do that.” She held her hand out to Skye. “Good luck. It’s been…I wish I’d never had to work with you.”

Skye cracked a small smile. “Ditto.”

— Jason’s Penthouse: Bedroom —

Elizabeth propped herself up on her elbows and watched as Jason tugged a pair of jeans on. She wiggled her eyebrows. “And where do you think you’re going?” she asked. She pulled the covers up under her arms.

“We have to eat sometime.” Jason brushed a kiss over her forehead. “I’m just going downstairs to grab something. I’ll be right back.”

“Eating is entirely overrated,” Elizabeth murmured but she leaned back and rested her head against the pillows.

Jason found his phone in the jeans he’d been wearing before and as he descended the stairs, he scrolled through the missed calls. There were only a few–two from Benny, one from Bobbie and one from Emily.

He was listening to his voicemail as he pulled a bag of pretzels from his cabinets.

“Hey, Jase!” Emily chirped. “I just wanted you to be the first to get the good news! I’m being sprung from the rehab clinic next month and I can’t wait to see you!”

— Lake House —

Skye paced the living of the lake house nervously. She knew she should tell Jax. He might even forgive her. After all, she’d barely done anything. Other than deliver some letters that she wasn’t going to even consider telling him about. Signing a contract with Edward because she was upset was one thing – giving him letters from his ex-wife with the purpose of hurting him was another.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t hear Jax come in. She finally heard him chuckle and she looked up. How long had he been standing there watching her lose her mind?

“Something on your mind Skye?” Jax asked, grinning. He strode forward and kissed her. She was so tempted to give into the kiss but pulled back.

“Jax, we need to talk,” she said in a small voice. “I need to tell you something.”

“Skye?” he asked, concerned. “What’s wrong?”

Skye suddenly felt unable to stand. She sank onto the couch and stared at her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. “I did something horrible,” she breathed.

He kneeled in front of her. “Skye, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?” he pressed.

“I thought you cheated on me. I thought that you didn’t love me,” Skye whispered. She refused to look into his eyes. One look into those worried blue eyes and she might lose her resolve. She had to say something. “I did something that I shouldn’t have and I’ve been paying for it ever since.”

“Skye, what’s happened?” Jax demanded. He took her hands in his. “Look at me.”

“I can’t,” she said, softly. “I made a deal with Edward. I was so angry and I was hurt and all I could think was that I had to hurt you because you had hurt me.” She took a deep shuddering breath. “He wanted to bankrupt you and in exchange for my help, I was going to be sole heir.” She heard him draw in a sharp breath, but she continued anyway. “I thought I could do it, but then you proposed and you explained away everything that had happened and all I could think was ‘what have I done?’ I took this love and trust and I just threw it out the window. I tried to get out of the contract, but Edward won’t let me. He’s giving me ultimatums and I can’t do it.” Skye stopped, her voice showing signs of hysteria. “He told me if I backed out he’d tell you. But I can’t do it, Jax. I can’t.”

Without looking at him, she withdrew her hands from his and stood. She faced the wall, letting the tears streak down her face. “I knew that by telling you that I would more than likely lose you. But I couldn’t help Edward and I couldn’t let Edward be the one to tell you.”

She heard him stand up, but he made no move towards her. “Are you telling me everything?” he asked, quietly. Her heart broke at the tone in his voice. He was never going to forgive her. Might as well tell him everything. It was too late now.

She covered her mouth with her hand and looked at the ceiling. “No, that’s not it,” she said, shakily. “I’m the one who delivered those letters,” she breathed.

She felt an arm on her shoulder and turned her roughly around to face him. He jerked her chin up so she was forced to look him in the eyes. She shut her eyes almost immediately. She couldn’t look at him and see the anger and betrayal in his eyes. “What the hell do you mean you delivered those letters?” Jax demanded. He shook her shoulders. “Tell me!”

“I got a note,” Skye said, softly. She opened her eyes and concentrated on the top open button of his shirt. “It said if I wanted my contract to disappear, all I had to do was go the pier. I went and…” Her hands started to shake. “Brenda met me.”

He let go of her shoulders and took a step backwards. “Why would you do that?” he asked, stunned. “Why would you deliberately hurt me like that?”

Drawing in a shaky breath, Skye said, “I never knew what was in the letters, I swear. I just wanted to get rid of that contract and forget it ever happened!” She covered her eyes with her hands. “If I had known what was in the letter, I swear I would never have gone along. She promised she could get rid of the contract.”

“Why are you telling me now?” Jax demanded. “If Brenda was going to get rid of the contract, why tell me?”

“Sonny Corinthos found out I was delivering the letters,” Skye replied. “He wanted to know why, so I told him. And he told me that Brenda told you not to trust me.” Rubbing her forehead, she finished, “And he told me that it would be better if you heard if from me.” She waited for a few moments as Jax stared at her in stunned silence. Skye lifted her hand and slowly slipped her engagement ring off her finger and placed it next to the phone. She picked up her purse and left.

Jax picked up the ring and looked at it. He closed his fist around it and sat back on the couch. Hostile takeovers he could handle. He could deal with Sonny Corinthos and his organization.

Betrayal from the woman he loved was something completely different.

— Felicia’s House: Felicia’s Bedroom —

Mac crossed his arms and glared at his ex-wife. “You’re still not telling me the whole story.”

Felicia huffed and shoved some more clothes into her suitcase. “I don’t have to tell you the whole story. That’s what being divorced means. I was working on a project and now it’s done, so I’m joining the girls in Texas. Comprende?”

“No,” Mac said dryly. “I know you when you’re lying and this is your face when you’re lying. What was the project?”

“Making monkeys dance,” Felicia muttered. She zipped the suitcase shut.

“Felicia.”

“Fine.” She threw her hands up in the air. “I was helping Brenda Barrett get revenge on Sonny Corinthos because she threatened to kill Roy.”

Mac narrowed his eyes. “If you’re not going to tell me the truth–”

“All right, fine,” Felicia said, exasperated. “I was channeling an alternate dimension full of demons. It’s a great dimension, it’s always Wednesday there which you know is my favorite day of the week because Law and Order and West Wing are on. Satisfied?”

Mac arched his eyebrows. “So Brenda’s alive then?”

Felicia tugged another suitcase from her closet. “Nah,” she said dryly. “In addition to witchcraft, I’ve decided to make the dead rise from the grave. You know I get bored when my girls are gone.”

“Cut the wise cracks.” Mac crossed the room and put his hands on her shoulders forcing her to meet his eyes. “Just because we’re divorced, it does not mean I stopped caring about you. I worry about you and I get to because we’re friends, got it?”

“I know,” Felicia sighed. She sank onto the bed. “Look, I got in over my head with Roy, I know that. I’m willing to cut my losses and chalk it up to extreme loneliness.” She eyed Mac. “As someone who once dated Katherine Bell, you might have some sympathy for me.”

“Low blow,” Mac muttered. He sat next to her. “So, how did you help Brenda Barrett get revenge on Sonny?”

Felicia shrugged. “I delivered a box to him. I don’t know what it was and I don’t care. I’m not interested in making him my enemy.”

“Do you know why Brenda wanted revenge?” Mac asked.

“Sonny never searched for her body, and neither did Jax. They just accepted her for dead. She was upset, she wanted to make them pay. She’s connected to Luis Alcazar by the way,” Felicia said as an afterthought.

“The New York mobster?” Mac rubbed his chin. “Would have been nice if you could have mentioned that earlier. If I’d known Luis was in town, I would have looked into why.”

“Doesn’t matter. His yacht’s gone from the harbor.” Felicia sighed again and stood to resume her packing. “I told Roy last night that we’re done. He can do whatever he wants because he’s obviously not going to listen to me and stay out of this whole thing. I’m going to go to Texas, spend the rest of the summer with the girls and when we come back, this whole thing is going to seem like a bad memory.”

“We can only hope,” Mac replied.

— Corinthos Penthouse —

Carly smiled at Michael and drew her napkin over her lap. “Mmm, Belgian waffles,” she sniffed. “Do I get strawberry sauce?”

Sonny set the small pitcher in front of her. “I never forget the strawberry sauce.”

“Are Uncle Jason and Liz coming over for breakfast?” Michael asked, digging into his meal.

Carly shook her head. “I doubt it, Mr. Man, I think they’re going to be a bit too tired to get up this morning.”

“Carly,” Sonny hissed.

“They shouldn’t stay up late, it’s not ‘sponsible,” Michael said gravely.

“No, it’s not and I will tell them as soon as I see them.” Carly started to cut her waffles. “I’m actually meeting her at her studio later this afternoon. She’s moving into the penthouse, she called me last night to tell me.”

“Sisterly bonding,” Sonny sighed. “It’s almost scary to see.”

“You think me and the Muffin getting along is scary?” Carly snorted. “Courtney’s supposed to be there too. This should be interesting.”

“Mama and Liz are sisters?” Michael asked curiously.

“You never told him?” Sonny asked pointedly.

“Well, no.” Carly shrugged. “At first, I was trying to forget and then I just…a lot of was happening.” She looked at her son. “Yes, Michael, Elizabeth and I are sisters–half sisters. We share the same father.”

Michael nodded. “Okay, so she’s my aunt like Aunt Court is.” He looked at his father. “How come we don’t see Aunt Court more?”

“Yeah, Dad, how come we don’t see Aunt Court more?” Carly teased.

Sonny cleared his throat. “Because your aunt seems to think I am slightly…overbearing.”

Michael furrowed his brow. “What’s overbearing?”

“Your father likes to believe he’s in charge of everyone’s lives,” Carly said dryly. “That he can make everyone’s decisions for them.”

“I just want to make sure they’re making the right decisions,” Sonny said, almost primly.

“He’s a bit of a bully,” Carly confided to her son. “A very sweet, well-meaning bully.”

Sonny scowled but Michael just giggled. “A bully can’t be sweet!”

“Ha!” Carly snorted.

— Elizabeth’s Studio —

Carly peered suspiciously at a canvas. “Are you sure you want to take this?”

Elizabeth glanced over from the art supplies she was boxing up. “I’m taking all the canvases–” she peered at the one Carly was indicating and grimaced. “Except for that one.” She picked it up and tossed it in the scrap pile. “No canvases of Lucky.”

“Best news I’ve heard all day,” Courtney said from across the room. She frowned at an old Styrofoam package from Kelly’s. “I’m only just guessing that this is tossable.”

“You might as well toss everything in the fridge,” Elizabeth shrugged. “I haven’t been here in a while so most of it’s bad.”

“And besides, Sonny stocks Jason’s fridge weekly, so it’s not like you’ll need to hit the grocery store.” Carly’s finger caught the edge of the one of the canvases she was boxing and she yelped. “Splinter.”

“Here, let me get it–” Elizabeth reached for a needle from her table and took Carly’s hand in hers. “I’m an old pro at this by now.”

“Aww,” Courtney teased with an mischevious smirk. “It just warms my heart to see sisters who love each other so much.”

“Bite me, Barbie,” Carly muttered. “Or I’ll sic Sonny on you.” She all but growled as Elizabeth dug the splinter. “Hey, watch it, Muffin! That’s real skin there!”

“Oh, don’t be such a baby.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes and let Carly’s hand go. “See, it’s gone now.”

“You’re a butcher,” Carly whined, sucking the tip of her finger. “It hurts!”

“I’d hate to see you get a real injury,” Elizabeth smirked. “You’d probably keel over right there.”

“Listen, you–”

As their bickering continued to escalate, Courtney rolled her eyes and turned back to her packing. Some things would never change.

This entry is part 2 of 3 in the Fiction Graveyard: The Sisters

Corinthos Penthouse

Carly Corinthos glared at her husband. “Why did you do that?” she asked, stomping her foot and sounding like a five-year-old.

“Do what?” Sonny asked, setting the fork next to the spoon.

“You invited Jason!” Carly whined. She watched her husband set the table, making sure the forks and knives were just the right distance from the plates.

Sonny glanced up, frowning. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want her to feel comfortable here,” Carly replied.

Sonny sighed and rested his hands on the back of one of the chairs. “Carly. Elizabeth has been a good friend to Jason–” when she snorted, he held up a hand to hold her off, “–and as much as you hate to acknowledge that, you know it’s true.”

“I know no such thing,” Carly said. “And I don’t want her thinking she can use this new…complication…to get back in good with Jason.”

“I don’t think–”

“And you always take her side.”

“Carly…I invited Jason because I consider him part of my family. Don’t you?”

“Yes,” Carly said, grudgingly.

“And is about as close to a family dinner as we’re ever going to have,” Sonny continued. “Which means my brother and your sister get to eat dinner here. It is not my fault if they’re attracted to one another.”

“He is not attracted to that pasty-faced–”

“Carly.”

“Limp-noodle looking–”

“Carly,” Sonny repeated forcefully. “What do you have against Elizabeth exactly?”

“She’s not good enough for Jason,” Carly said immediately. “She doesn’t understand what he needs.”

“And you won’t let Jason be the judge of that?” Sonny asked.

“Jason has extremely bad taste in women.” She frowned. “Excluding myself of course.”

“Of course.” Sonny shook his head. “I know you didn’t like Robin, and the two of you enjoyed taking each other apart–and you blame her for telling AJ about Michael. But Elizabeth has never done anything directly to you.”

“You always take her side!”

“Carly, just…for one night, can you do me a favor?” Sonny asked, adjusting the wine glasses.

“What?” Carly grumbled.

“Remember something: You have been given a chance in life–you have a sister and you have the opportunity not to screw it up, not like I did.”

Carly sighed. “Elizabeth and I will never be close.”

“Why?” Sonny challenged. “Because you’ve convinced yourself of this?”

“I know it,” Carly snapped.

“Fine. So, this is the favor–”

“I thought the favor was to remember that I have a sister,” Carly muttered.

“No. I want to look at Elizabeth objectively tonight and give her a chance.”

“What?” Carly yelped. “Are you nuts?”

“No–”

“Because there’s no way she’ll be able to impress me.” Carly was firm on the subject–she wasn’t going to budge.

“Good. Then you’ll do it.”

“Wait…what?” Carly asked. “I didn’t agree to that!”

Sonny smiled at her. “If she won’t impress you, then you have no problem giving her a chance.”

“You tricked me,” Carly accused. “That’s what happened.”

Sonny just shook his head and grinned. “Okay, Carly. Whatever.” He headed back to the kitchen to check on dinner. “Oh…I asked Jason to pick Elizabeth up.”

He let the door swing shut, cutting off Carly’s shrieks.

Elizabeth’s Studio

Elizabeth finished brushing her hair and tossed the brush on a table. She wasn’t really looking forward to this dinner–but she liked Sonny and it was nice to be related to him a sense.

She was more excited about the project she and Courtney were going to be starting the next day after their morning shifts. They were going to look for information about the Alcazar family. Elizabeth was looking forward to tracking down her other sister, Marisa.

Courtney had volunteered to help after Carly left earlier that day and they’d made plans to hit the library and look at old issues of newspapers. She knew it was probably a dead end, but short of asking Sonny or Jason, it was their only option.

A knock on the door interrupted her musings and she flipped open the bolts. “Jason.”

“Hey,” he greeted. “Sonny asked me to pick you up on my way home from the warehouse.”

“Oh.” Elizabeth nodded and turned to retrieve her purse. “So, I guess you’ve heard about my…uh…ties to Carly.”

“Yeah. It’s…interesting to say the least,” Jason said following her into the hallway. She locked the door and they headed to the stairwell.

“I haven’t told my grandmother yet,” Elizabeth said as they walked down the steps. “Because technically, she’s Carly’s grandmother, too.”

Jason chuckled and Elizabeth glanced up at him. “What?”

“Just the thought of Sonny being related to your grandmother.”

Elizabeth laughed then. “I bet Gram will get a kick out of that.”

Corinthos Penthouse

“She’s evil.”

Sonny rolled her eyes and adjusted the forks again. “Carly, Elizabeth Webber is not evil.”

Carly crossed her arms and glared at him. “Okay, maybe evil’s a strong word.”

“She’s a good person.”

Before Carly could start arguing with him, Jason pushed the door open. “We’re here.”

Carly glared at the young woman who entered with her best friend. “Goody.”

Kelly’s

“And it went downhill from there,” Elizabeth sighed. She flipped the sign from closed to open. She turned back to Courtney. “Every time I looked up, she was insulting me.”

Courtney set the sugar canister down at a table and looked at her. “So, no cozy relationship between the sisters, huh?”

Elizabeth snorted. “We’re going to be about as close as me and Sarah. Or you and Sonny.”

Courtney headed back behind the counter. “So, how are things with Jason?”

Elizabeth couldn’t hide the small smile that crossed her lips as she crossed the diner. “They’re better.”

“Better?” Courtney echoed. She grinned and leaned forward, folding her arms on the counter. “Better how?”

“Well…” Elizabeth drawled. “He picked me up for dinner last night and took me home afterwards.”

“Uh huh,” Courtney said, clearly digging for more.

“It’s not so much as what we did…” Elizabeth stopped, struggling a little to explain it. “It’s just…that awkward feeling is gone, y’know?”

“I’m glad,” Courtney said. “Because like I said, I think he really cares about you.”

“I care about him, too,” Elizabeth said, sincerely. “But I’ve screwed up so many times in the past–I have to be careful.”

“You can’t be careful when your heart’s on the line,” Courtney said. “Sometimes…you have to take a risk.”

“Maybe,” Elizabeth said, shrugging. “Anyway, as soon as we get off, we’re going to the library, right?”

Accepting the change in topic, Courtney nodded. “Definitely.” She grinned. “I think I may be more excited than you are.”

Library

Elizabeth stared at the article in stunned silence. “What did you find?” Courtney asked, leaning over from her microfiche machine.

Elizabeth leaned back to let the blonde see. “Alleged Crime Boss Ramon Alcazar Killed In Shootout–” Courtney’s blue eyes flicked to Elizabeth. “No way.”

Elizabeth nodded numbly. “Apparently.”

“So, wait, he’s kinda like Sonny…” Courtney sighed. “Is everyone in the mob or something?”

“Welcome to Port Charles,” Elizabeth mumbled. She clicked the print button and turned to Courtney. “Did you find anything?”

“No, still looking,” Courtney replied. She went back to her machine and flipped through a few more issues. She frowned and read the headline out loud. “Alcazar Heir Vanishes.”

Elizabeth leaned over to look. “What sort of newspaper prints something like that?”

Courtney smirked. “The Sun. Anyway…” she squinted to read further. “Twenty-one-year-old Alejandro Alcazar has vanished just before his trial. The youngest brother of alleged crime lord, Luis Alcazar, was to be tried for first degree murder…” Courtney scrolled down to read more and gasped.

“What, what is it?” Elizabeth asked. “Did you see something about Marisa?”

“N-no,” Courtney stammered. “I found a picture of Alejandro Alcazar.” She pressed the print button and crossed to the printer. She sifted through the articles they’d already printed until she found the one she’d just printed. She handed to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth stared at the picture for a few moments before raising her gaze to Courtney. “This is impossible.”

“I know,” Courtney said, her voice clearly stating her doubt. “But…that picture…”

“It can’t be…” Elizabeth trailed off. She looked back down at the picture of Alejandro Alcazar.

And looked into the face of Zander Smith.

Elizabeth’s Studio

“This is just impossible,” Elizabeth said for the hundredth time. “None of these articles mention the other children or even Carmen. They’re all about Ramon, Luis and Alejandro.”

“Well, maybe Ramon and Carmen were divorced,” Courtney suggested. “She might have gotten custody of the other two.”

“That’s true.” She stared down at the picture of Alejandro. “This can’t be Zander. I mean…this is just crazy.”

Courtney sighed. “You know what you have to do, you know….if you need confirmation.”

Elizabeth glared at her. “If you’re suggesting I tell Jason, you’re nuts.”

“Honestly, Elizabeth, Jason will be able to find out if this guy and Zander are the same person. Not to mention…he might be able to find Marisa if Ramon Alcazar is involved in organized crime.”

“I just can’t go and ask Jason for help,” Elizabeth replied. “I have to stop going to him when I just need help. Too much of our friendship has been like that–I can’t do it anymore.”

“Fair enough,” Courtney agreed. “But how’s he gonna feel when he finds out you kept this from him?”

Elizabeth didn’t answer and busied herself organizing the various articles they’d found about the Alcazar crime family in New York City.

“You just don’t want to bring up Zander, do you?” Courtney asked.

“Look–I just…we just got past me sleeping with Zander…the last thing I want to do is bring him up again.”

“Elizabeth…you can’t keep this from him,” Courtney admonished. “You know he’s going to find out and he’s not gonna like that you didn’t tell him.”

“I know,” Elizabeth grumbled. “But how am I supposed to explain that this guy I slept with is possibly a member of a crime family–oh and his sister is related to me…yeah…that might not go over well.”

Courtney bit her lip and looked away. “I know–but aren’t you big on honesty?”

“You know…you’re not supposed to convince me to tell him. You’re supposed to be on my side,” Elizabeth muttered.

“Sorry,” Courtney shrugged.

“Look…I think I need to think about this for a while, y’know, before I make any decisions.”

Courtney stood and headed for the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ve got the day off, but you’re closing right?”

“Right. See ya. Thanks again for all your help,” Elizabeth said, honestly.

Kelly’s

She knew Courtney was right. That was the biggest problem. She knew it wouldn’t do any good to keep this information from Jason, but part of her just wanted to keep their friendship tension free for awhile.

They’d barely managed to get past her sleeping with Zander without Elizabeth bringing up that she and he might have family in common or that he might be more than the former drug dealer they’d thought he was.

There was also the factor of Marisa–the sister that Elizabeth wouldn’t mind finding. She had so little family–her mother, Marcia, who she hadn’t seen in five years. Steven, the doctor brother she never talked to. Sarah…the whore extraordinaire that Elizabeth refused to talk to. Audrey, the grandmother who couldn’t understand her choices and had stopped trying.

And then there was Carly. The new sister who she’d already disliked.

She could use a sister who she didn’t know and had no history with.

She also knew her chances of finding this sister were slim to none unless she swallowed her pride and asked for help. And she was in a position where she could go to her brother-in-law–and she knew Sonny would help her.

But if she went to Sonny, Jason would find out. And he’d be hurt that she hadn’t gone to him.

But she didn’t want Jason to think she was using him. She’d done that so much the last time he was in town–she wanted a chance to be with him, but she didn’t think that would be possible unless she tried to put their friendship on a more equal footing.

She finished wiping down the tables, lost in her thoughts and didn’t even notice when Zander entered the diner.

“Hey.”

She stopped and looked at him, the irritation and exhaustion written in her face. “We’re closed, Zander.”

Zander drew closer to her. “I haven’t seen you around Jason all that much. Why is that?” he asked.

“I’ve been working,” Elizabeth muttered moving away from him. “Could you please go?”

“Your big bad mob enforcer didn’t want you did he?” Zander taunted. “I bet you wish you hadn’t been so quick to dump me.”

In about five seconds she was going to lose her temper and she didn’t think she’d be responsible for her actions. “My relationship with Jason is none of your business. Leave me alone.”

She grabbed her purse and headed for the door. “I have to lock up. Now go.”

Zander glared at her one last time before stalking out the door. Elizabeth sighed and followed him, stopping to lock the door.

She was about to walk in the opposite direction when Jason stepped out of the shadows. “Hey,” he said.

“Hi,” she said, surprised.

“I wanted to see if you needed a ride home,” Jason explained. “But I…I saw Zander and–”

“I am about this close to knocking his head off,” Elizabeth fumed, interrupting him. “He keeps coming in and insinuating that I made a mistake in dumping him. Dumping him would mean we actually dated and that’s just ridiculous.” She broke off and smiled, embarrassed.

Jason was unable to keep the small smile off his face. “So, you need a ride home after all?”

“Sure,” Elizabeth replied. She hesitated. “I actually have to talk to you anyway.”

“Oh?” Jason asked, leading Elizabeth to his bike. He handed her the helmet.

“Yeah…and it’s really important. Do you have time tonight?” she asked, anxiously.

Her expression worried him and he nodded. “Yeah, sure. Your studio?”

“Yeah,” Elizabeth agreed.

Studio

Elizabeth grabbed the folder off the table and leaned against it. Jason folded his arms and stood in the middle of the studio. Whatever she needed to say, she’d say in her own time.

“I debated about telling you this,” she said finally, “but we’ve always been honest with each other.” She looked down at the folder full of the newspaper articles. “You remember that letter I gave Carly and Sonny about my father?”

“Yeah,” Jason replied.

“Well, it was from a woman named Carmen Alcazar,” Elizabeth replied. “She and my father had a daughter together, named Marisa. Carmen was married to my father’s best friend, Ramon. They had four children, including Marisa. Apparently, Ramon was involved organized crime in New York City and was killed back in the eighties after I think he and Carmen divorced. His son Luis took over for him and his younger brother disappeared after being charged with first degree murder.”

Jason knew the name–but he didn’t let on to Elizabeth. He needed to run this by Sonny before letting Elizabeth know anything. “Elizabeth–”

“Courtney offered to help me find Marisa and we went searching anything we could find and we found all these articles.” She opened the folder–on top was the article about Alejandro fleeing the jurisdiction. “Courtney found a picture of the younger brother.” She handed it to him.

Jason took it and looked down at the article. He wasn’t really good at photographs, but he could tell the guy in the picture was familiar. He looked up at her.

She bit her lip–she knew he had trouble with pictures, but she’d been hoping he’d able to recognize him and she wouldn’t have to say his name. She hated bringing Zander up sometimes. “Courtney and I seem to think it looks a lot like Zander.”

He looked back down at it and this time he could see it. “Yeah…I can see it a little.”

She bit her lip. “I just thought…you know…you ought to know if he’s Alejandro, y’know…I figured you might appreciate it in case…” she stopped and looked at him. Honesty is the best policy, she chanted. “I didn’t want you finding out another way and thinking I kept it from you to protect him.”

Jason didn’t say anything for a few minutes but when he finally did, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Can I tell Sonny about this?” he asked. “Because you’re right–we do need to know.”

“Sure,” Elizabeth said. She shoved the folder at him. “This is all the information we found actually. Take it–it didn’t help me anyway.”

Jason set the article inside the manila folder and set it aside. “So, how are you going to find your sister?” he asked.

She grimaced. “I have no idea. We were hoping to find anything in the New York papers, but the most we came up with was her birth announcement. Courtney and I are at a dead end.”

“You weren’t going to ask me?” Jason asked.

She flushed and looked away. “I would, normally but…” she stopped and shrugged.

“But what?” Jason pressed.

“I didn’t want you to think I was using you,” she admitted. She clasped her hands in front of her and looked at the floor. “I did a lot of that last year and I’m trying really hard not to do it anymore.”

“Elizabeth–” He stopped, knowing it would do no good to argue with her when she’d made up her mind to blame herself. “What if I offer to help?”

“I don’t know,” she said, hesitating. “Would you?”

“I’ll help you find your sister,” Jason told her.

She grinned and her eyes lit up. “Thank you!” Elizabeth was so excited that she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him for the first time since the whole Zander debacle. He was startled but wrapped his arms around her waist.

The hug lasted a few seconds too long and she pulled away abruptly. She turned and headed for the lone clipping she’d kept out of the folder. She kept her back to him long enough to take a deep breath and get her breathing under control. When she turned back around she held out the article. “This is Marisa’s birth announcement in The New York Journal.”

Jason took it from her and looked at it.

Marisa Alda Alcazar was born at 7:56 a.m. on September 21, 1982. She weighed 6 lbs. and 8 oz. She is the youngest and only daughter of Wall Street whiz Ramon Alcazar and his wife Carmen, nee Galvez.

“And this was the only mention of her?” Jason asked.

“Yep.” She nervously wrung her hands. “We looked in all the major newspapers in the area, but there was nothing else. After Marisa was born, the only Alcazars mentioned are Ramon, Luis and Alejandro. They don’t mention Carmen, Marisa or the other twin, Enrique.”

“Well, you said they were divorced, so it’s possible Carmen got custody of the other two children and moved,” Jason replied. “I’ll do some checking.”

“Thank you so much,” Elizabeth said gratefully. “It really means a lot to me.”

“It’s no problem,” Jason told her. He smiled at her and she couldn’t help but return the smile. She missed how easy it used to be between them before she screwed it up.

At the thought of Zander, Elizabeth frowned and looked away. She bit her lip. “I just wish there was something I could do for you–you’ve done so much for me, Jason.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

She walked towards. “Yeah, yeah, I do. I know you don’t think so, but I feel like I do.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I can never erase my mistakes. I can’t take them back as much as I want to. I just hope that in time you forgive me.”

“Elizabeth, there’s nothing–there’s nothing to forgive.” He looked at her carefully. Choosing his next words carefully, “You and I…we weren’t together. We didn’t have any sort of understanding. You could gone back to Lucky and I wouldn’t have the right to be mad.”

“This isn’t about having the right to be mad.” She pushed her hands through her hair and looked at the ceiling. “This about me doing something stupid. Something I wished I could take back. I know you have to be mad.”

“Elizabeth…it’s not that I’m mad. I just don’t understand it. I don’t understand the things you do sometimes. You’re always trying to make everyone else happy and take care of everyone else. When…when was the last time you did something to make you happy?”

She didn’t answer for long time. She bit her lip and turned back around to face the table. He stuck his hands in his jeans and waited. When she finally spoke, her answer stunned him.

“That night when I found Sarah and Lucky.” Her voice was barely above a whisper and yet, he had no trouble hearing it. “When I brought you back to my studio and I kissed you.” She turned around to look at him. His face was unreadable–his eyes dark. “I kissed you because I wanted to. Because I had been dreaming about it since the day I walked away from you in the park. Since that day in your room. That was the first decision I made that was for me and me alone.”

He looked at her, the surprise etched in his features. “Then…why–why did you…” he stopped, not sure how to ask the question, and not completely sure he wanted to hear the answer.

“Because I was angry that night. I wanted our first time to be completely about us, and not about my anger. I explained that to you then, but I guess I need to clarify it.” She looked down. “I slept with Zander because I was reaching out for something. I don’t know what, but he was there. It was nothing more than sex. It didn’t mean anything to me. He was my friend at one time, but I regretted it the moment it was over.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “And the second I opened the door to you the next morning, all I could think about was making sure you didn’t know.”

“If Zander didn’t mean anything to you, then why did you fight so hard for him?”

“Because I thought…I thought you didn’t want me anymore.” She swallowed hard and focused on his eyes. “I decided that I didn’t want to be alone. It was a mistake and I never should have put any trust in him.” She swiped at her eyes. “I was stupid and I was trying to make it right, and I failed. I made it worse.” She hugged herself. “I lost you.”

“Elizabeth, you didn’t lose me. I’m right here. I’d never turn you away.” He stepped towards her and she closed the distance. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him. He pushed away slightly and let his hands cup her face. He used his thumbs to wipe away her tears. They locked eyes. He started tilting his head down.

This wasn’t like the other times–this wasn’t out of anger and she wasn’t going stop him. She was going to kiss him and it was going to be for the right reasons. Their breaths mingled and his lips brushed hers.

And then his cell phone rang.

She hesitated but Jason didn’t–his mouth settled over hers and she returned the pressure. If he wasn’t going to let the cell phone interrupt them–well, neither was she.

The incessant ringing didn’t stop and he eventually had to break contact and answer it. “Sorry,” he apologized, digging into his coat pocket for the cell.

She could only blink in response as he answered it.

“Yeah?” he said. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” He hung it up and looked at her. “Elizabeth–”

“I know you–you have to go,” she said, finally finding her voice.

“We need to talk,” he told her. He kissed her on the forehead before leaving. She stared at the closed door for a few seconds.

“Oh yeah,” she murmured. “We definitely need to talk.”

Kelly’s
“I told you,” Courtney said triumphantly the next morning during the breakfast shift.

Elizabeth just shook her head and poured a cup of coffee. She set it in front of a customer who set down a dollar and left for a table. “Courtney, don’t make me regret I told you.”

Courtney laughed. “Come on, Elizabeth, you know you’re psyched.”

Elizabeth couldn’t help it–she grinned and looked at her. “Okay, maybe little.”

“A little?” Courtney teased.

“All right, all right,” Elizabeth said, “A lot.” She took a deep breath. “Anyway, he offered to help find her, so this is good news.”

“With Jason’s help, we’ll definitely find Marisa,” Courtney agreed. She turned, her back to the counter. “So, do you think he’ll tell you if he finds out Zander is Alejandro?”

Elizabeth’s face paled and Courtney frowned. “What’s the matter?”

“Hello, Courtney.”

Courtney froze and slowly turned. “G-good morning, Zander,” she stammered. She held up the coffee pot. “Something to drink?”

Zander glared at Elizabeth. “No. In fact, I don’t want anything. I’ll be leaving.” A second later he turned and stalked out of Kelly’s.

“Shit, I am so sorry,” Courtney said. “I really didn’t think–”

“It’s all right,” Elizabeth said quickly. “It’s a mistake I probably would have made. Don’t worry.”

“Really, I am sorry–I should have known better.”

“Courtney, I’m okay and I’m not mad. It was a mistake–I know you didn’t do it on purpose.”

Elizabeth pushed past her to go wait on a customer. Maybe Zander hadn’t heard the entire conversation. Maybe she and Courtney were safe.

But just to be sure–she’d tell Jason what had happened as soon as her shift was over.

And maybe they could have that talk.

Docks

Elizabeth pulled her purse strap higher on her shoulder as she headed down the steps. She was on her way to the penthouse, intent on finding Jason. If he wasn’t there–well, she’d have to go see Sonny. She couldn’t wait much longer to let someone know what had happened earlier that morning.

She was rushing so fast that she didn’t even see Zander until she crashed into him.

“You should watch where you’re going,” Zander said, shoving her away from him.

“Z-zander–” Elizabeth stuttered. “I’m sorry…I wasn’t looking.”

“You should.” Zander folded his arms and glared at her. “You should also learn to mind your own business.”

Oh, no. He had heard. She swallowed. “Zander, about what Courtney said–”

Zander grabbed her arm. “Who else knows?” he bit out.

“N-no one,” Elizabeth stammered. “Let me go.”

“If you tell anyone else,” Zander threatened, “I will make you regret it.”

“She said to let her go.”

Zander turned his head and cursed.

Carly Corinthos stood at the foot of the stairs, with her guard just a step away. She smiled at Zander and crossed her arms.

Carly had debated on whether or not to step in at first–but she knew that Will, her guard, would certainly say something to Sonny about the scene and he’d wonder why she hadn’t done anything.

It had nothing to do with Elizabeth being her sister.

Carly took a step forward. “Let her go, Zander…or I’ll have Will deal with you.”

Zander glared at Carly for a few minutes before abruptly letting go of Elizabeth’s arm. “Remember what I said,” he growled before stalking away.

Carly raised her eyebrows. “You certainly have a way with men.”

Elizabeth rubbed her sore arm. “Bite me, Carly,” she muttered.

“Mrs. Corinthos?” the man who’d been standing with Carly said. “Mr. Morgan is on his way.”

Carly spun around. “What?” she snapped. “Will, who asked you to call Jason?”

Will shuffled his feet. “Well, Mr. Corinthos made it clear that if Ms. Webber needed help, to call Mr. Morgan immediately.”

Carly glared at her half-sister before taking a deep breath and smiling sweetly at guard. “Will, be a sweetie and call Jason to tell him he’s not needed.”

“Actually, Will, I do need to speak with Jason,” Elizabeth spoke up, “so don’t worry about it.”

“Uh…” Will’s eyes darted between the two women. His loyalties were definitely torn–his orders were to take care of Carly Corinthos and abide by her wishes, should they be within reason of course. But it had been stressed by some of the top men in the organization that Elizabeth Webber was a top priority in Jason Morgan’s life and if she needed him, she got him.

Luckily, Will was saved from making a choice by the appearance of Jason at the top of the stairs.

“What’s going on?” he asked immediately, his eyes flicking to Carly, suspiciously.

“Hey, knock it off, I didn’t even do anything,” Carly said, a little hurt.

“No, no,” Elizabeth said. “Carly actually helped.”

“She did?” Jason asked.

“I did?” Carly asked.

She gave the blonde a small smile. “I don’t really want to think about what would have happened if you and Will hadn’t showed up.”

Jason’s eyes narrowed. “Elizabeth, what happened?”

“Zander Smith,” Carly replied. “He had her by the arm and wouldn’t let go. All I did was threaten him with Will.”

“And he let go,” Elizabeth said. “So, thank you.”

“Yeah…you’re welcome.” Carly shifted. “Well, as much fun as this is, I’ve got a dentist appointment I’d rather go to. So…” she motioned to Will. The two headed up the stairs and out of sight. Jason turned to Elizabeth.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Elizabeth shrugged. “I got my answer.”

“Answer to what?” Jason asked, grasping her arm and examining it.

“I’m fine,” she murmured. “It’s just sore.” She looked up at him. “He’s Alejandro Alcazar.”

“How can you be sure?” Jason asked, not letting go of her arm.

She bit her lip and looked away. “I wasn’t sure–but I thought Zander might have overheard a conversation. I was on my way to find you and tell you when I ran into him on the docks. He told me I needed to mind my own business and not to tell anyone else.”

Jason finally let go of her arm. “A conversation with who?” he asked.

“Courtney.” Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. What if he goes to Kelly’s?” She turned, intent on heading to the diner, but Jason grabbed her hand.

“She’s got a guard,” Jason told her. “Max won’t let him near her if I tell him not to.” He fished his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. He did this all with his left hand, his right never letting go of Elizabeth. “Max, it’s Jason. How’s everything at Kelly’s? Okay…don’t let Smith within fifteen feet of Courtney. I’ll explain later. Thanks.” He hung up. “She’ll be fine.”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said, breathing a sigh of relief. She watched him put the cell phone back into the back pocket of his jeans. “I’d hate for something to happen to her just because she was helping me.”

“Speaking of that, I think I got a lead on your sister,” Jason replied.

Her eyes lit up. “Really? What?”

“Are you busy right now?” Jason asked.

“No,” Elizabeth replied. “I just got off work.”

“Let’s go for a ride,” he said. “And we can talk.”

And she suddenly got the feeling he was talking about more than just a lead on Marisa.

Vista Point

Elizabeth leaned against the railing of the observation deck. “It’s beautiful here–I don’t think I ever realized this place was here.”

“It’s supposed to be the highest point in the city,” Jason replied.

“I’d love to sketch it,” she replied. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “So, you said you found out something?”

“Yeah. It’s not much,” Jason told her, “but it’s a start. Carmen and Ramon divorced in 1983. She took her maiden name of Galvez and got custody of Marisa and Enrique. The two kids both took the name Galvez, as well.” He put his hands in his pockets and met her eyes. “But it’s obvious that Carmen didn’t want to be found–we haven’t found any trace of them yet.”

She sighed and looked away. “I guess it was too much to hope for that Marisa would only be a plane ride away.”

“I’ll find her, Elizabeth, I promise.”

She offered a smile. “I’m grateful for any help you can give me, but if you can’t find her it’s all right. I understand.”

He took her hands in his. “I wanted to talk about last night.”

She bit her lip and looked down at their hands. “What about last night?” she asked, trying to stall. The last thing she wanted was to be let down with a I-Just-Wanna-Be-Friends speech.

“I’m not going to apologize.”

Her head jerked up. “What?” she asked.

“I’m not sorry I kissed you,” Jason said.

“Yeah…well neither am I, honestly,” Elizabeth admitted. Her cheeks flushed as she continued. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to kiss you last night.”

“What about right now?” he asked, taking a step closer to her.

“I’d like that,” she confessed, her voice low and breathy.

He leaned down and their lips touched. Almost instantly, her hands were in his hair, dragging him closer. Her mouth opened underneath his and deepened the kiss.

His ever present cell phone interrupted them again and he didn’t even bother to muffle the curse as he broke away to dig it out of his pocket. “Yeah?”

Elizabeth moved away, giving him some privacy for the phone call. She leaned over the railing and peered out at the town, running the last few minutes through her brain. Could it be so simple? Could she and Jason get past the hurt she’d caused and the mistakes she’d made in only a few days?

“We have to go back,” Jason said, coming up behind her. She straightened and turned. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she said. “Besides, I’m suddenly inspired to do some sketching.” She headed towards the parking lot, but he grabbed her arm.

“I still want to finish this,” he said.

She tilted her head to the side. “We can do it in ten words or less,” she said, suddenly feeling brave. “I want to be with you, Jason.”

“I want to be with you, too,” Jason told her.

“That wasn’t too painful, was it?” she teased.

“Not as bad as I thought,” he replied, a half-smile on his face as he tugged her towards him for a brief kiss. Pulling away, he said, “Come on. I really do have to go.”

Corinthos Penthouse

Carly heard the door downstairs close and she was down the steps in a flash. “Is it safe to come down now?” she asked.

Sonny turned and frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me what happened on the docks today?” he asked.

Carly shrugged. “It didn’t seem important. I mean, Jason came. The situation was resolved.”

“Carly.” Sonny sat and just shook his head. “Zander Smith obviously sees Elizabeth as a threat for some reason and you broke in on that. I don’t want to give him a reason to go after you, too.”

“It was kind of weird,” Carly admitted, sitting next to her husband on the couch. “I mean, I thought she and Zander were friends.”

“Yeah, the last time I checked they were,” Sonny replied. “I wonder what’s changed.”

“Well, maybe Jason can tell you,” Carly said. “Elizabeth said she was looking for Jason, I assume she told him.”

“So, you stepped in to help your sister,” Sonny said, patting Carly’s knee, unable to keep the smile off his face.

Carly grimaced. “Well, if I hadn’t and something had happened to the princess, then you just know Jason would never let me get away with it.”

“So it had nothing to do with you being related to her?” Sonny asked.

Carly glared at him. “Stop staying that. It’s just wrong.”

“What’s so wrong about it?” Sonny asked. “Elizabeth is a good person–I think if you gave her half a chance you might find out that the two of you could get along.”

“Get along?” Carly snorted. “Co-exist maybe, but we’ll never get along, and you’d ought to get used to that.”

“It’s just…neither of us have a lot of family,” Sonny reminded her. “I’ve got you, Courtney, Jason and Michael. You’ve got me, Jason, Michael and now Elizabeth. You never know–you might learn to like her.”

“Don’t make me hurt you.”

Kelly’s

Elizabeth and Courtney were both working the evening shift the next day and they kept looking up every time the door swung open, both hoping desperately that Zander Smith wouldn’t come through them.

“I hate this,” Courtney muttered, coming to stand next to Elizabeth behind the counter. “It’s absolutely dead in here now and all I can think about is Zander.”

“Jason said we were safe as long as we stay here,” Elizabeth replied. “Max is taking you home and Jason’s picking me up. Everything should be fine.”

“AJ absolutely hates that Max takes me home, but I keep telling him–at least it saves us bus fare, right?” Courtney sighed. “I love him, but he’s always so sure Jason’s out to beat him.”

“At least he’s consistent,” Elizabeth replied.

“Yeah.” Courtney gave her a weak smile and then looked towards the doors. “One of us is going to have to clean up outside.”

“I know.”

Neither of them made a move.

“If you think if I ask Max to you know…stand outside with me, he won’t think I’m a complete baby?” Courtney asked.

Elizabeth shrugged. “Well, his job is to protect you.”

“True. But I hate being a burden. I brought him coffee on the house and he kept trying to pay for it.”

Elizabeth smiled. “I know–the guards can be so polite. Francis used to guard me and we used to argue all the time. He refused to accept free coffee and I refused to be called Miss Webber all the time. We compromised after about a week–he paid for half the coffee and ended up calling me Webber.” Elizabeth laughed. “I’ll never forget the first time Sonny heard him do that. The look on his face.”

Courtney giggled. “I just don’t understand why they have to be so formal.”

“Well, a lot of them are used to Carly,” Elizabeth confided. “And she’s not the easiest person to be around.”

“I can imagine.”

The door swung open and both women tensed. When it was only Carly, Courtney sighed, visibly relieved.

Carly stalked forwards, hands on her hips. “All right, Princess, I want answers.”

“Answers?” Elizabeth echoed. “What are you talking about?”

Carly’s eyes narrowed. “It’s been bugging the hell out of me since yesterday. What crawled up Zander’s ass and died?”

Courtney and Elizabeth exchanged glances. Jason told her the information was only on a need-to-know basis, and somehow Elizabeth didn’t think Carly’s insatiable curiosity counted.

“Look, I’m just gonna find out on my own, so save me the trouble,” Carly said. She slid onto a stool. “Besides, he probably hates me now since I stopped him from throwing Elizabeth in the water.”

“I think you’re exaggerating,” Elizabeth remarked dryly.

“Whatever. So since I’m probably in just as much danger as the two of you, you might as well tell me.”

Courtney looked at Elizabeth. “She’s got a point.”

“Look, Carly…Zander’s not who he says he is,” Elizabeth told her. “He’s someone else, a person with a different name and past. He found out Courtney and I knew, so we’re a little jumpy.”

“So who is he, really?” Carly asked, eager to gossip.

Elizabeth shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.” She hesitated. “Did Jason tell you he’s helping me find Marisa?”

Carly frowned. “Marisa?”

“Yeah Our other sister,” Elizabeth replied. “Jeff and his best friend’s wife had an affair and she had a daughter.”

“He certainly got around, didn’t he?” Carly asked, wrinkling her nose.

“Remind you of anyone you know?” Courtney asked sweetly.

“Bite me, blondie,” Carly muttered.

The doors swung open and Zander stalked in. “Just who I wanted to see.”

“H-hi,” Courtney stammered. She held up a coffee pot. “Coffee?”

Elizabeth jabbed her in the side. “Stop offering him coffee,” she hissed.

Zander stuck his hands in his pockets. “Did you tell Morgan what you know?” he asked bluntly.

“Does it matter?” Elizabeth asked.

Zander frowned. “If you stay out of my way, you’ll be fine,” he told her. “Just don’t get any more mixed up with Morgan.”

“Why in the world are you telling me this?” Elizabeth asked, mystified. “In front of Sonny’s wife, no less.”

Zander smirked. “Sonny trusts Carly about as far as he can throw her, so I’m not worried.”

“Hey!” Carly exclaimed.

“Look, Liz, I’m not going to go out of my way to hurt you,” Zander said. “You’ve been a good friend and Emily would never forgive me.”

“But going after her brother is okay?” Carly asked sarcastically.

Zander shrugged. “All’s fair in war, babe. Emily would understand it’s just business.”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “You don’t really know Emily very well, do you?”

“Well, if you open your mouth to her, I’ll just tell her that you slept with me,” Zander said.

Carly gasped and whipped her head around. “You did what?” she screeched.

“I made a mistake,” Elizabeth said, her teeth gritted.

“I’m just saying–bad things are gonna happen,” Zander said. “And you don’t want to be anywhere near Morgan when it all goes down.”

“What are you going to do?” Elizabeth asked.

“It doesn’t matter.” Zander walked out, letting the door swing shut behind me.

“Okay, that’s creepy,” Carly said, jerking her thumb towards the door. “He basically told us he’s gonna make a move against at least, Jason. He has to know Sonny will believe me if I tell him this. I’ve got witnesses and for some reason, my husband trusts you.”

“It’s like he wanted us to know,” Courtney murmured. “You think that’s part of the plan? To make sure you’re prepared and then find a way to blindside you anyway?”

“It’s possible,” Elizabeth said. “But Zander doesn’t have the resources to pull off anything big and Roy’s not like that. He’s not going to go after Jason for no reason.”

“Well, he did burn down his pier,” Courtney reminded her.

“Well, Roy tampered with the coffee,” Carly interjected. “But I agree with Courtney, he wanted us to know he’s up to something.”

“Which means he thinks he can’t be caught,” Elizabeth said.

“He’s got to be working for someone other than Roy,” Carly replied.

“But who?” Elizabeth asked.

“And why?” Courtney said. “I mean, if he wanted Sonny’s territory, he’d go after Sonny.”

“He’s made it personal,” Elizabeth said. “He sees Jason as a threat, someone he has to beat.” She glanced at her co-worker. “It’s almost like AJ. Except Zander’s a little more impulsive.”

“And AJ doesn’t have any real balls to pull anything off,” Carly said. “Sorry, but it’s true.”

Courtney shrugged. “I don’t want to argue about AJ. But you’re right, I think Zander definitely sees Jason as someone he’s got to beat, especially now that you’re dating Jason.”

Carly glared at the brunette. “You’re what?” she asked.

Elizabeth folded her arms. “And to think we were getting along.”

With a start, Carly realized the other woman was right. The three of them had been so busy dissecting Zander’s behavior, she’d forgotten all about making fun of the other two.

And the really worrisome thing?

Carly had been enjoying it. She loved scheming and it was always fun to try and decipher what someone else was up to. It’d been fun brainstorming with the two women.

With her teeth gritted, she said, “If you hurt him, I’ll kill you.”

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in surprise but nodded. “Fair enough.”

“So, Zander basically thinks you chose Jason over him,” Carly said, bringing the discussion back to the original topic.

“I’d say so,” Elizabeth agreed. “Because, I guess, in all fairness I did.”

“He’s jealous,” Courtney said. “And he’s already hot-headed and impulsive. Adding jealousy and anger into the mix is a volatile combination.”

“I’m going to tell Sonny about what happened tonight,” Carly said. “But I think we ought to keep our suspicions to ourselves.”

“Carly,” Elizabeth said. “We–”

“No, you see, Sonny doesn’t value my opinion in matters like these. You might get through to Jason–he doesn’t think women are useless like my husband,” Carly said, smirking. “But the second Jason would tell Sonny one of us came up with it, he’d laugh it off. He’s infuriating like that.”

“So we need proof,” Courtney said. “But how do we get it?”

Carly smirked. “Simple. We use our best resource.” She locked eyes with Elizabeth. “He’s already got a weird loyalty to you through Emily. Use it.”

“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said, hesitantly. “I don’t want to hurt Jason.”

“I get that, but you don’t have to lead him on,” Courtney said. “Carly’s right–Zander almost trusts you. He’s also emotionally involved with you, at least he thinks he is. You could get him angry enough to let something slip.”

“All right, but if I get caught, I’m blaming you,” Elizabeth told Carly.

“Fair enough,” Carly said. She eyed the two women. “So, we’re putting aside our differences?”

“Temporarily,” Courtney said. “I love to fight with you, it’s the highlight of my day.”

Carly laughed. “Yeah, I do make arguing fun.”

“Yep. You’ll argue until you turn blue in the face,” Elizabeth said, grinning. “It doesn’t matter how invalid or trivial your points are. Until you win, you won’t shut up.” Her eyes sparkled. “And I’m the same way.”

Carly grimaced. “I guess we have that in common,” she said grudgingly.

“Well, what do you know?” Courtney asked, grinning. “Sisterly bonding.”

“Bite me,” Carly snarled.

This entry is part 1 of 3 in the Fiction Graveyard: The Sisters

Kelly’s: Dining Room

Elizabeth Webber gave her co-worker a weary smile as they passed each other in the crowded dining room, each wielding a large tray.

“I hate the lunch rush,” Courtney Quartermaine complained.

“Deep breath,” Elizabeth advised. “You get used to it after a while.” She came to a stop in front of a table and started setting plates out. Once that was done, she did a quick check of her section before heading outside to check on the courtyard tables.

She stopped just outside the doorway at seeing Jason Morgan and Carly Corinthos seated at one of the outdoor tables. It was the first time she’d seen Jason since her disastrous attempt to explain her encounter with Zander.

She was about go in and ask Courtney to cover the table when Carly noticed her. “Hey! Can we get some service?”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and pulled her order pad out of her apron. “Sorry. It’s the lunch rush,” she apologized as she approached the table.

“My mother owns this restaurant,” Carly replied, snidely. “You should remember that.”

“Carly.”

Carly’s eyes snapped to the man in front of her. “What? I’ve always thought she was a rotten waitress.”

“Thanks but no one asked your opinion,” Elizabeth snapped–her patience being pushed to the limit. “What can I get you?”

Carly glared at her nemesis and folded her arms. “Haven’t you heard of the phrase ‘the customer’s always right?'” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Carly,” Jason warned again. “Just order.”

“Look, I really don’t know what crawled up your ass today but I’ve got a diner full of hungry dock workers and only Courtney and me here today so get your head out of your ass and order or get out.”

“How dare you–”

“Carly,” Jason said again. He looked to Elizabeth. “I’ll have chili and coffee. Carly?”

Gritting her teeth, Carly said, “Number three and a Coke.”

“Fine,” Elizabeth replied. She finished writing the order and disappeared into the diner.

“I take it you finally shoved the twit to the curb,” Carly said, flicking an imaginary piece of lint off her nails.

“Carly–don’t start,” Jason said.

“I always said she wasn’t good enough for you,” Carly continued. “I mean, she’s a little girl, Jase–”

“Carly–”

“And I think you deserve someone a lot better. She jerked you around so badly the last time in town–and I’m glad you finally wised up.”

“I really don’t want to have this conversation again,” Jason said. “You wanted to meet me for lunch. What did you want?”

“You don’t have to be so rude,” Carly replied. “I’m just saying she’s not even pretty–she’s got pasty skin and limp hair–”

Carly’s soda slammed down in front of her face, startling them both. Elizabeth shoved Jason’s coffee onto the table, her lips pulled tightly.

“Look, I am sick and tired of this,” Elizabeth snapped. “I really don’t know what I did to you, so why don’t you just take a swing and we’ll get this over with.”

“What?” Carly said incredulously. She traded looks with Jason who just shook his head, indicating she was on her own. Carly shoved her chair back and stood, towering over the trembling waitress in her heels. Elizabeth didn’t back down–she just raised her head so she was glaring at the older woman. “Are you challenging me to a fight?”

“No,” Elizabeth said. “I told you to take a swing. There’ll be no fight. Because one swing is all you’re getting before I knock you on your ass.”

“Look, princess, it’s not my fault you threw Jason away–”

“You’re right it’s not,” Elizabeth replied. “But it’s also none of your damn business. What happens or doesn’t happen between me and Jason is between us–and you don’t even factor into that decision.”

Carly put her hands on her hips. “You finally ready to admit you were an idiot?”

“I don’t have to explain myself to anyone,” Elizabeth retorted. “I have to live with my decisions. They may be bad ones–they may be stupid, but they’re my decisions.”

Jason finally stood up. “That’s enough–”

“Back off,” Carly barked without even glancing at her friend. “I think the princess and I are about to come to an understanding.”

“What did I ever do to you?” Elizabeth demanded. “Was it the fact that I helped Jason when he wouldn’t let you? Is that what this all boils down to you?”

“Elizabeth–”

“No, in fact I’ve gotten over that. It’s that you don’t seem to understand what you gave up–”

“Carly–”

“Oh, I understand all right,” Elizabeth replied, crossing her arms over her chest. By now Carly and Elizabeth seemed to have forgotten Jason’s presence, and he stopped trying to interfere. “I understand exactly what I did wrong–but that’s my problem. Not yours.”

“Listen you little–”

“Elizabeth!”

Courtney’s voice broke through the fighting and Elizabeth turned to see Courtney through the open door. “Yeah?”

“Your grandmother’s on the phone. She says it’s urgent.”

“My grandmother?” Elizabeth frowned. “She’s visiting my parents.”

“Yeah. She’s calling from overseas,” Courtney replied. “I’ll cover this table until you’re done.”

“Thanks.”

Without giving Carly or Jason a second though, Elizabeth rushed inside the diner and Courtney approached Carly.

“Did Elizabeth take your order or were you too busy yelling at her?” Courtney asked.

“Look–” Carly began, all set for another round.

“She took the order,” Jason answered. “And she just brought us the drinks.”

“Okay.” Courtney disappeared inside and Jason turned to Carly, who at least had the decency to look sheepish.

“What?” she asked, taking her seat and extracting a napkin from the holder to clean up the soda that had sloshed out of her cup when Elizabeth had slammed it on the table.

Jason sighed and sat across from her. “Haven’t I asked you repeatedly not to rip into her?”

“Look, I can’t help it if she irritates me,” Carly said.

“All I ask if that you don’t provoke her, all right?” Jason asked.

Before Carly could answer, Elizabeth rushed out of the diner and fled the courtyard, Courtney dashing after her. “Elizabeth!” she called.

“What’s wrong?” Jason asked instantly.

Courtney sighed and turned to face him. “I don’t know. She was talking to her grandmother and all of a sudden she got really pale and hung up. She grabbed her stuff and left.”

Carly snorted. “Irresponsible–”

“Look, Carly, she was obviously upset,” Courtney snapped, the busy shift having sucked her normally good-natured disposition dry. “Not to mention having to deal with you–I don’t blame her.”

Jason stared out at the exit Elizabeth had disappeared from. Carly shook her head. “Don’t do it, Jase.”

“I just–” Jason turned to her. “Listen, I’ll stop by the penthouse and you can tell me later.”

“You’re going after her?” Carly complained. “After everything she’s done?”

“Good,” Courtney said, with a nod of her head. “Tell her I’ll cover her shift and that I hope everything’s okay.” She disappeared back into the diner.

“Jason…” Carly whined.

“I just want to make sure she’s okay,” Jason told her. “I won’t be long.”

“Yeah. Right. Until the little twit manages to suck you in again.”

“Carly.”

“Fine. Go. You’ll do it anyway.”

Elizabeth’s Studio

Elizabeth was curled up on her couch, her head buried in her knees, crying softly. The knock at her door startled her. “Who is it?” she called out, praying it wasn’t Zander trying to convince her to give their relationship a shot.

“It’s Jason.”

Elizabeth frowned and set her feet on the floor. She wiped her eyes and stood to cross the room. She pulled the locks free and opened the door. “Jason.”

“I was just checking if you were all right,” he said. He frowned, seeing the tear stains. “What’s wrong?”

She sniffled. “It’s–it’s nothing.”

“Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth sighed and looked down. “My father died.”

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged, still not looking at him. “It’s not important really. I haven’t even seen him for five years–not since I moved here. And he’s barely written.”

“Are you okay?” Jason asked, hating himself for asking such a stupid question.

“Yeah…” Elizabeth said softly. “I’m fine.” She frowned, noticing they were still in the doorway. “Did…did you want to come in?”

She saw Jason’s eyes go pass her and she knew he was looking at the couch.

The couch where she’d slept with Zander.

“I don’t…I don’t want to intrude,” Jason replied.

Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “Intrude? I’m the only person–” she stopped and looked away. “Oh. He won’t be coming by.”

Knowing it was wrong to be slightly cheered by that thought, Jason said, “Okay.”

She moved aside to let him in. After he’d entered, she shut the door behind him. “I’m sorry about that scene at Kelly’s. It’s just been a long day and Carly–”

“Carly doesn’t know when to quit,” Jason finished.

She gave him a tiny smile. “She’s just worried,” Elizabeth said. “She loves you so much, Jason. I should be glad she hasn’t ripped my hair out yet.”

He frowned. “Why would she do that?”

Elizabeth was suddenly restless and she moved around the studio. She took a canvas off the easel and set it on the floor and then headed over to the table to rearrange some sketchbooks. “Well, I figure that’s standard treatment for anyone who hurts her best friend.”

“Elizabeth–”

Uncomfortable with the topic, Elizabeth launched into something different. “The last time I even saw my father was right before he and my mother went to Bosnia. Sarah’s there, you know? She went there last week. I bet she’s glad she returned.” She picked up a pencil and started doodling on a blank piece of paper in an open sketchbook. She babbled to fill the air. “He just said ‘Be good, Lizzie. Don’t embarrass us.’ He didn’t even tell me he loved me or say goodbye. He just wanted to make sure I didn’t ruin the good family name.”

Jason pushed his hands inside his jeans. “I’m sorry.”

Elizabeth turned around and smiled a little. “He wasn’t always that bad. He used to take me out sometimes–just him and me. We’d leave Sarah and Steven at home and go out and do something.” She looked down at the sketchbook in her hands. “We stopped doing that when Sarah started being jealous and claiming Dad loved her more.”

He took a few steps towards her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Elizabeth said, nodding. “I’m–I’m fine. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him and we weren’t close anymore…” She closed her eyes. “I just wish I could have seen him one more time–said goodbye or tell him that I loved him, you know?”

“Do you…do you need anything?” Jason asked, leaning down to try and catch her eye.

Elizabeth set the sketchbook down and pushed her hair behind her ears. “My grandmother’s flying back from Uzbekistan–that’s where my parents were when he got sick.” She laughed a little. “Uzbekistan–I didn’t even think about it.”

“The globe game,” Jason remembered. “Right.”

She sighed. “Well, at least I’ve got a fact now. Uzbekistan– where my father died–” she broke off and her lower lip started to tremble. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Anyway, she’s flying back and we’re going to Boulder, where I grew up. My mother’s selling the house there so Gram and I are going to close it.”

“When are you leaving?” Jason asked.

“Um, a few days,” Elizabeth replied. “It’ll take Gram two days to fly back and then we’re leaving. I’ll probably be gone a week.” She sighed and moved away, putting some distance between them. “I hope Bobbie understands the short notice.”

“I’m sure she will. Is there anything I can do?” Jason asked.

“No, but thanks.” She cracked her knuckles. “Thank you for coming…I mean that. I thought…”

“You thought what?” Jason asked, frowning. “You ran out of Kelly’s–I was worried.”

“I thought we weren’t friends anymore,” Elizabeth answered softly. “You’ve just…you haven’t come into Kelly’s lately and I never see you and today you barely looked at me.”

“We’re always friends, Elizabeth,” Jason assured her. “It’s just been…I didn’t want to run into…” he stopped and shrugged a little.

“Zander’s not speaking to me,” Elizabeth replied. “He, um, can’t seem to grasp the concept of a one-night stand.”

“One-night stand?” Jason echoed.

“Yeah…he thinks I led him on,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m not sure what he’s talking about, but, well…there it is.”

He didn’t know what to say that so he just nodded. “Well…I sort of just left Carly at Kelly’s, so I should probably get back to her.”

“Right, yeah,” Elizabeth replied. She headed for the door and pulled it open. “Really…it means a lot to me that you came.”

“Call me if you need anything,” Jason told her.

“I will,” Elizabeth said gratefully.

Webber House

Their house in Boulder, Colorado hadn’t been lived in since Jeff and Marcia Webber had gone to Bosnia, but they’d kept the property. Jeff had always intended on returning, but after his death from a sudden sickness in Uzbekistan, Marcia made the decision to close the house and sell it.

She asked her mother-in-law to do so, and Audrey readily agreed. So, Audrey flew home, stopped in Port Charles long enough for Elizabeth and they flew to Boulder, Colorado.

Elizabeth went to her old room first before she did anything else and marveled at the way it’d been decorated. It still looked like it had the day she’d left to stay with the Johnsons. Posters of boy bands and Madonna, Jewel…her desk covered in scraps of papers and some sketches. She smiled at the sight of a crumpled pack of cigarettes peaking out from underneath a pile of clothes on the floor.

She wrinkled her nose and leaned down to pick up a white tank top from the floor. “I can’t believe I left all this stuff here.”

Audrey peeked in and grimaced. “Oh, darling. I think you’d better take this room. It might be a while.”

Elizabeth smiled at her grandmother over her shoulder. “Sarah’s room has already been cleared–she did that before she went to medical school. And so is Steven’s. I’m sure my parents room is pretty much in order.”

“You’re probably right. Well, I’ll take the downstairs if you’ll do the upstairs,” Audrey said.

“All right,” Elizabeth agreed. She went downstairs to grab some of the cardboard boxes to pack up the rest of her stuff. She started by tossing what clothes were on the floor into a box, intent on taking it to the Laundromat and washing them before she decided what to do with them.

After clearing the floor, she started organizing her desk. The sketches hadn’t been very good–she’d only been starting then. They were mostly of boys and the scenery. Most of them she was going to throw away.

It took Elizabeth most of the day to clear out her room while Audrey had finished both the dining room and the kitchen. They left to have dinner and spend the night at their hotel.

The next day, Elizabeth tackled her father’s study while Audrey worked on her mother’s downstairs. Most of the files in her father’s office were outdated patient files which Elizabeth packed away in case someone ever wanted to track them down.

She was clearing the shelves of the office when a book fell open. Elizabeth stopped and frowned when she realized the inside of the book had been hollowed out and inside lay a packet of letters.

Overcome with curiosity, she sat down and slipped off the rubber band holding the first stack together. She unfolded the top letter.

March 15, 1972

Jeff–

I got the tickets for the plan. You made the reservations right? Carmen’s excited–she says it’s the last vacation before the baby and she’s determined to find you someone perfect.

Ramon

May 25, 1972

Jeff–

I can’t believe we’ve already separated. After four years as roommates, it’s strange to be sharing an apartment with Carmen by myself. It’s always been the three of us. New York City’s amazing–and I just know things are going to be great. How’s Los Angeles?

Carmen’s starting to show–we’re sure it’s going to be a boy, but we’d welcome a girl. Call or write.

Ramon

September 13, 1972

Jeff–

It’s a boy! Luis Ramon Alcazar came into the world at 8:35 a.m. this morning! Carmen’s beautiful and the kid’s gorgeous if I say so myself.

How’s medical school going? Meet anyone?

Ramon

December 25, 1975

Jeff–

It was great to see you last month. I hope you’re in town again soon. I heard about some job openings at this hospital in this town called Port Charles. It’s about an hour away–you’ll be able to see us more often. Carmen’s pregnant again–I know she’d love to have this close. Let me know.

Ramon

The rest of the letters were only one or two lines before they stopped abruptly just after Elizabeth was born. She thumbed through the remaining letters, trying to find out more about Ramon Alcazar. His wife had given birth to three more children: fraternal twins, Enrique and Alejandro as well as a daughter, Marisa. The letters vaguely mentioned Jeff’s own family, when he’d married Heather Graham, had Steven, the end of his relationship with Heather, meeting Marcia Clare and having Sarah and Elizabeth.

She was reading the last letter when she realized it was two pages stuck together. She separated them and read on with trepidation.

December 31, 1981

Jeff–

Ramon knows. He’s known since before you went to Port Charles. In fact, our affair was the reason he recommended Port Charles. He knew Barbara Spencer was working there–he intended on the truth about her past coming out and your relationship with her coming to light. He wanted you to be humiliated by the fact you’d had a relationship with a prostitute and had a child with her. Ramon was furious about the affair–he just wanted to humiliate you as he’d felt you’d done to him.

He didn’t know Barbara had given the daughter up and he didn’t count on neither of you owning up to the past. I suppose the anger had blinded him to those possibilities.

He found out Marisa is your daughter shortly after she was born–the blood types didn’t match. We’re separated. I know…I know you won’t leave Marcia, but I thought you ought to know.

Love,
Carmen

“Elizabeth? Elizabeth?”

Audrey’s voice broke into the fog that seemed to descended over her after reading Carmen Alcazar’s letter to her father. Jeff had a daughter with Bobbie Spencer and a child with his best friend’s wife.

A daughter with Bobbie Spencer.

Christ.

“Elizabeth?”

She looked up from the letters she’d been reading to see Audrey at the door. “Sorry, what?”

“Did you want to go for some lunch?” Audrey repeated. She frowned. “Is everything all right, darling?”

Elizabeth glanced down at the letters and then back at her grandmother. “Everything’s fine,” she lied smoothly. “I was just reading these old letters of Dad’s.”

“Oh.” Audrey smiled. “Who are they from?”

“A friend of his from college,” Elizabeth answered. “Did you hear of Ramon Alcazar?”

“There’s a name I haven’t heard of in a while.” Audrey smiled. “He and Jeff were good friends in college as far as I knew–but I never really knew him. Once Jeff moved to Port Charles and found Steve, he rarely had time to go see Ramon and his family. Eventually, I think they fell out of touch.”

“Really.” Elizabeth set the letters on the desk. “How about that lunch?”

It took another two days to finish closing the house. Audrey arranged for a real estate agent to take care of selling the house and the pair returned to Port Charles. They’d sold most of the furniture and put almost everything into storage. Elizabeth had packed her remaining belongings and was taking them home.

The letters from Ramon and Carmen Alcazar weren’t far from her mind.

Corinthos Penthouse

Elizabeth bit her lip and stepped off the elevator. She turned right and headed for Sonny and Carly’s penthouse. A guard stood outside–not the usual Johnny but someone new.

“Hi,” she said. “I’d like to talk to Carly.”

“Who are you?” the man asked brusquely.

Elizabeth clutched the packet of letters in her hand a little more tightly as she said, “Elizabeth Webber.”

The second her name had left her lips, the guard’s stance relaxed a little. “Oh. Ms. Webber. Of course.”

Of course? Elizabeth frowned a little. “So…can I see her?”

“Right.” He knocked on the door and Sonny’s voice floated through. “What is it, Marco?”

“Elizabeth Webber to see Mrs. Corinthos.”

The door pulled open and Sonny peered out. “Elizabeth?”

“Hi,” Elizabeth said. She shifted her feet. “Is Carly here?”

“Yeah.” Sonny frowned. “Why do you want to talk to her?”

“Do you always grill your wife’s visitors?” Elizabeth asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You and Carly hate each other,” Sonny said.

“Yeah…well, this is important,” Elizabeth replied. “Can I see her?”

“You’re not going to hurt each other right?” Sonny asked with a grin.

“Sonny, I really don’t have time for this,” Elizabeth said becoming irritated. “I just need to talk to her and if you won’t let me in, I’ll just wait for her to come to Kelly’s. I have a lot–”

“Okay, okay,” Sonny said, backing off. “Sorry.” He stepped aside to let her in. Elizabeth breezed past him and waited for him to close the door. “Carly!” he called.

Carly appeared at the top of the stairs. “What is it?” she asked. Then her eyes zeroed in on Elizabeth. “Well, well, well…if it isn’t the little twit.” She walked leisurely down. “You ready for round two?”

“Save it, Carly,” Elizabeth said. “I need to talk to you.”

“This ought to be good,” Carly said, crossing her arms. “What is it, princess?”

“My father recently died,” Elizabeth began launching into her prepared story. “And when I went to clean out his office, I found these letters–” she held out the packet but Carly didn’t take them. “They’re mostly from his college roommate, this guy Ramon. Well, the last one is from Ramon’s wife, talking to my father about their affair–”

“And why do I care?” Carly broke in, bored.

“Because the letter mentions my father’s relationship with Barbara Spencer and their daughter which she gave up for adoption,” Elizabeth snapped.

Carly stared at her for a few minutes before she started to laugh. “Oh my god. That might be the funniest thing I’ve ever heard of!”

“Fine,” Elizabeth shrugged. She handed Carmen’s letter to Sonny. “Give her this when she stops being immature.” Elizabeth turned around and left the penthouse.

Curious, Sonny unfolded the letter and began to read it. His eyes bulged at the contents and he looked up at Carly. “Uh, Carly?”

Carly paused in her laughter. “What?”

“The, uh, letter sounds pretty legit,” Sonny said. “And I don’t think Elizabeth would, you know, lie about this.”

Carly snatched the letter from Sonny and scanned it. “So Elizabeth’s father was a slimy guy who cheated on his wife. It doesn’t mean I’m his daughter.” She grimaced. “Or Elizabeth’s sister.”

“I just…I think you should check it out before you rule it out, y’know?” Sonny said.

“I get the feeling that if I don’t–you will,” Carly said. Sonny shrugged and gave her a small grin. She sighed. “Fine. I’ll talk to Mama, but I think it’s all just a big misunderstanding.”

Kelly’s

“You poor thing,” Courtney said, wrinkling her nose. “Related to that…to that…”

“Woman?” Elizabeth volunteered as she refilled someone’s coffee cup. “Yeah, well I think it’s probably a misunderstanding but I had to find out.”

“Well, I’m sorry about your father,” Courtney said. “You know, Jason rushed right out of here that day.” She gave her co-worker a little smile. “I think someone has a crush,” she continued in a singsong voice.

“I think someone has drunk a little too much coffee,” Elizabeth murmured. “Jason doesn’t get crushes–”

“He gets people killed.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes and counted to ten before opening them again. “Good morning, Lieutenant. How are you?”

Lt. Marcus Taggart folded his arms on the counter and leaned forward. “Tell me you’re not mixed up with Jason Morgan.”

“You know, Lieutenant,” Elizabeth began, “I think I can handle my own choices. Can I get you anything?”

“A cup of coffee,” Taggart said. “To go. You know, Elizabeth, my partner Alex Garcia–he knew Lily Corinthos well.”

“Good for him,” Elizabeth murmured, filling his cup.

“Lily–as in the wife of Sonny who was blown up.”

“Here we go,” Elizabeth muttered as Courtney leaned forward.

“You know, I’m not my brother’s biggest fan, but I do know what you’re doing is next to harassment. If Elizabeth wants be friends with Jason Morgan or Sonny Corinthos, that’s no one’s business but her own,” Courtney said. “So back off.”

“Well put, Quartermaine,” Elizabeth said, smiling broadly. She looked back at Taggart. “What she said.”

“Elizabeth, I just don’t understand what a sweet girl like you would see in–”

“Ugh,” Elizabeth groaned. “Why do I find myself constantly having to defend my own decisions? Look, Taggart, you’ve usually been nice to me and I appreciated that, but you’re crossing a line now. Back off.”

“Fine,” Taggart replied. He put some money on the counter and took his coffee and left.

“God. Do people always just butt in?” Courtney asked watching the cop leave.

“Frequently,” Elizabeth replied. “Thanks for helping–but it never gets through. He’s just one of the many people who think I’m too delicate for Jason.”

“The many people?” Courtney replied.

“Yep. There’s Carly, who thinks I’m not good enough for him–but if you ask me, she just doesn’t want anyone around him–and there’s my grandmother, who doesn’t necessarily think I’m delicate–but that I’m too good for Jason, which is absurd–and then there’s Lucky and Nikolas, but since I’m not talking to them right now, it doesn’t even count.” Elizabeth shook her head. “You might be the only person who understands.”

“What’s to understand?” Courtney asked. “He’s a great guy–looks great in jeans–” She gave her friend a sly smile. “Be lucky I’m married and totally head over heels for my husband.”

“Honey, you couldn’t have him if you tried,” Elizabeth giggled. Her eyes narrowed suddenly. “Which you won’t.”

Courtney shook her head. “He’s not my type, really, Elizabeth. I know what happened with Sarah and Lucky…and believe me–I would never do that to a friend.” Courtney grinned. “Besides, he’s only got eyes for you.”

“I hope that’s still true,” Elizabeth murmured.

Zander Smith took a seat behind the counter. “So, Liz,” he began.

“Oh, what you’re speaking to me now?” Elizabeth said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, I just think you’ve had some time to think about what happened,” Zander began. “And that you understand what a mistake you made.”

“Oh, I understand all right,” Elizabeth said, throwing Courtney an incredulous look. “I made a mistake but it wasn’t the decision not to date you.”

His eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Look, Zander,” Elizabeth said, trying to be gentle. “You’re a good friend–but I don’t see you that way.”

“Oh, I get it,” Zander said, standing and glaring at her. “You don’t want one of Sonny’s lackeys–”

“You don’t work for Sonny any more,” Elizabeth reminded him.

“You’d rather have the big boy,” Zander continued.

Elizabeth sighed wearily. “Zander, why do we have to keep having the same conversation over and over again?”

“Just admit it–I’m not good enough for you and you’d rather be with Jason!”

Elizabeth gritted her teeth and Courtney rolled her eyes. “Get over yourself,” she said, scathingly. “God, you’re the second person to jump down her throat about Jason today. Why don’t you all just back off? She doesn’t want to date you–why the hell should she have to give you a reason?”

Elizabeth looked at the blonde. “Thank you, Courtney.”

Zander glared at Courtney before turned around and stalking away.

“God,” Courtney said. “Could this day get any worse?”

Carly entered and made a beeline for the counter.

“I had to ask,” Courtney muttered.

Carly slapped the letter down on the counter. “All right, listen you little twit. My mother has confirmed this little story which means I….am…” Carly stopped and took a deep breath, looking like she was choking on the words. “Related to you.”

“That looked painful,” Courtney said.

“Bite me, Skipper,” Carly snapped before looking back to Elizabeth. “But under no circumstances does this mean that I like you, that I want to bond as sisters or that I even want to get to know you better. I just want to know what you want from me.”

“I don’t want anything from you,” Elizabeth replied. “I just wanted to check it out and see if it was true. Now I know.”

“So you won’t be coming to me begging for money?” Carly asked, her eyes narrowed. “Because I wouldn’t give it to you.”

“And I wouldn’t ask,” Elizabeth snapped.

Carly glared at her for another minute before saying, “Sonny, however, is a different story. The man loves family and since Barbie over here refuses to be part of his–he’s leaping at the chance to include you. He wants you over for dinner tonight.”

“I only refuse because he’s so damn full of himself,” Courtney muttered. “Everything is about Sonny. Sonny thinks he’s the center of the universe.”

“Knock it off,” Carly said. “So, are you coming or what?”

“And pass up the chance to eat Sonny’s food and annoy you?” Elizabeth grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Carly’s eyes narrowed. “I hate you.”

“The feeling’s completely mutually sweetie,” Elizabeth said, smiling sweetly.

“And I’m not inviting Jason, so don’t think that’s gonna work either,” Carly said.

“That’s nice,” Elizabeth replied.

“Be there at 6 or Sonny will have a cow,” Carly said before turning around and leaving.

“Well, that was enjoyable,” Courtney said. “So, you really are related to her.”

“Apparently,” Elizabeth replied.

“God. And I thought being related to Sonny sucked…but you’re related to Carly…that just makes me feel better.”

“Thanks. That’s real big of you.”

This entry is part 1 of 3 in the Come Clean

He waited until Ric had left her alone in their apartment before he knocked on the door. This conversation didn’t need to be heard by a man who’s first instinct was deception.

He would do what his sister asked of him–but only when he heard Elizabeth tell him that she wanted him to do it. Something about the scheme didn’t feel right. Not once during Emily’s plea had she ever said Elizabeth wanted to cover-up it up.

It’d always been Ric thought or Nikolas said or the baby deserves better.

He’d do anything for his sister–except something that so clearly wasn’t her business. If Elizabeth wanted to get away with Zander Smith’s murder, he would sign the statement that would clear her and accuse a dead man. But if she wanted something different, he’d do that.

Because she deserved the life that she wanted.

It was a few moments between his knock and the opening of the door. She was dressed in a long white maternity nightgown with a matching silk robe untied over it and she tilted her head to the side a little. “Hey,” she greeted a little surprised to be seeing him at her door at all–much less at eight o’clock morning.

“Emily came to me,” Jason Morgan said after a moment. “And the whole time she was talking, I never once heard anything about what you wanted to do. So…is this what you want?”

And Elizabeth Lansing was so surprised to hear someone ask her that instead of deciding for her that she started to cry.

Emily Bowen-Quartermaine knocked hesitantly on Ric Lansing’s office door and was startled when his voice came from behind her.

“Sorry, I’m running a little late,” the attorney said smoothly as he unlocked the door and entered. He flipped on the light and moved towards his desk, setting his brief case down.

Emily shut the door behind her. “I talked to Jason and he said he’d get back to me about it.”

Ric pulled off his jacket slowly, a frowning stretching across his face. “Why does he need to get back to you?”

“Jason’s not comfortable with lying–no matter whom he’s doing it for,” Emily said shortly. “He’ll do it but he needs to think about it. Don’t be so picky, Ric, I’m doing this for you.”

“No, you’re doing this for Nikolas but you should be doing it for your best friend,” Ric replied with a glare. “You remember her, right? Kind of short, pregnant, blue eyes, brown hair?”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Right, I forgot. Because I look out for my fiancé, it means I don’t give a damn about Elizabeth. Whatever, Ric.”

“No, because you’re using Elizabeth to get your fiancé acquitted of murder and you’ve been using her friendship with you all along to get what you wanted. You lured her to Wyndemere under false pretenses so you could accuse me of murder. Does her well-being ever enter your mind, Emily? Do you ever think about how nauseous that launch trip makes her? Do you ever remember that she’s pregnant and really doesn’t need the stress?”

“I know my own best friend, thank you very much and I’m not doing anything for Nikolas that she wouldn’t do for you or for anyone else she loves,” Emily said sharply. “You’ve known her for barely a year and she’s been my best friend for years. Let’s remember who has the upper hand here.”

“Yeah, Elizabeth would do anything to protect the people she loves but she wouldn’t do it at the sacrifice of someone else that she loves.” He sat down and snapped open your briefcase. “I have no use for you right now. Get out.”

The tears didn’t last long and she invited him inside. Elizabeth belted her robe before gingerly sitting down. “I kept quiet about it until I couldn’t anymore,” she said softly.

“You’re pregnant and I’m sure Zander did something to provoke you,” Jason said simply. “I don’t blame you for not coming forward immediately.”

“But once Nikolas was arrested, I knew–I knew that I had to do something. And I told Ric. I thought–I thought he would support me in confessing but he just wanted to forget it.”

No surprise there, Jason thought bitterly. But he kept his thoughts to himself.

“So I told Emily and Nikolas but they were only interested in how it could clear Nikolas.” Elizabeth looked away. “I don’t think Emily even once asked how I was or if I was okay.” She blinked, as if not realizing that’d she said that part out loud. “After I was in the accident, I tried to tell Lucky–I mean…he’s a cop, he’d have to listen to me.”

“But he didn’t.”

“No. He just…he just went along with Ric and the others. They want to pin this on Detective Capelli because he’s already dead but I don’t–I don’t think that’s fair. I mean, I know he was a dirty and corrupt cop and it’s not like he wasn’t capable of cold-blooded murder. He did lock you to a pipe in a burning building but–” She shook her head. “It just doesn’t feel right to do that. Yes, I’m pregnant and no, I probably don’t need the stress of a trial but I’m a lot stronger than I look and besides–I don’t want to be treated differently because I’m having a baby. I committed a crime and I should pay for it.”

“So you don’t want to cover it up.” Jason stood and nodded. “Yeah, somehow I thought so.”

“But what am I supposed to do? Ric’s the DA, Lucky’s the cop and neither of them will listen to me or even take my statement. There’s no one who will listen to me,” Elizabeth said softly. She stared at her hands. “It’s like I don’t exist. What I want doesn’t matter.”

“It does,” Jason assured her. He thought for a moment. “Okay. Okay, I know what to do. If you want my help, you’ve got it. If you want to come forward and take responsibility, I’ll help you do it. If you want to cover it up, I’ll do that. Whatever you want to do, Elizabeth.”

She frowned. “Why would you help me?” Elizabeth asked. She stood and looked at him warily.

“Because you would do it for me if you could,” Jason answered without hesitation. “Because you’ve spent the better part of your life helping people get what they want and I think it’s time someone did that for you.”

She nodded. “Okay, then. Yes, I want to come forward. What do I do?”

“Get dressed. The first thing you need is a good lawyer.”

Justus Ward entered Jason’s penthouse. “I don’t have a lot of time; I’m due in court at noon.” He set his coat over Jason’s desk chair and was already halfway through his next sentence before he noticed Jason wasn’t alone in the room.

Elizabeth Lansing was standing next to him, looking very anxious. She’d changed into a pair of jeans and a black sweater with sleeves that were a little too long for her and she was currently playing with the hem, curling it inside her fist.

Justus looked at Jason before looking back at Elizabeth. “What’s going on here?”

“Elizabeth needs a lawyer,” Jason said simply. “And you’re the best one that I know.”

“Well, thanks, Jason but–I’m sorry, Elizabeth, I thought you were married to one. If you need legal advice…?”

“Ric isn’t interested in giving me the advice or help that I want,” Elizabeth informed him quietly. “I need someone who will listen to me.”

Intrigued, Justus motioned for her to go on. She took a deep breath. “I killed Zander Smith.”

This information caused Justus to blink and then frown. This tiny woman who probably didn’t weight more than a hundred pounds soaking wet when she wasn’t pregnant was telling him she’d bashed a known violent criminal over the head and killed him. “I’m sorry…can you give me some more specifics?”

“I…Zander was the father of my child and he’d been giving me a lot of trouble before his death. I wanted him to sign over his rights–” Elizabeth hesitated. If she was going to trust Justus Ward, he needed the whole truth. “Ric wanted him to sign away his rights so that we could raise this child ourselves and Zander didn’t want that. Not at first. Ric practically blackmailed him into doing it and he did sign the papers.”

“If you didn’t want your husband to be the father, why not say so?” Justus asked.

“Because Ric has this little quirk of not being able to hear me when I speak,” Elizabeth said dryly. “Anyway–he signed the papers and we thought that was the end of it. The night of the fire, I got a call and Zander asked me to come to the hotel. I did. He’d stolen the papers from Ric’s office and refused to give them back unless I convinced Emily to leave town with him.”

“And when you wouldn’t, he became angry.”

“Yes–well, he turned away and said that I could kiss my baby goodbye.” Elizabeth closed her eyes and took another deep breath. “I–I couldn’t think clearly after that. I know he didn’t mean he’d hurt the baby b-but I didn’t know that he was innocent of the things he was running away from and pressed against a wall, Zander’s capable of anything, you know? All I could think about was not letting him hurt me or the baby. I g-grabbed something from behind me and hit him. I didn’t even know he was dead until Ric told me so.”

“Clear case of self-defense,” Justus nodded. “Any lawyer fresh out of law school could do this. Why aren’t you talking to your husband about this?”

“Ric doesn’t want me to come forward and neither does anyone else I’ve talked to about this,” Elizabeth told him. “They’d rather I cover it up.”

“But you told Jason and he’s obviously going to help you confess,” Justus nodded, looking at Jason with obvious curiosity. Having been away for five years, he had no idea of the friendship that had existed between them and the idea that Jason would put himself out to help a friend of his sister’s had him thinking.

“That’s where you come in,” Jason said. “Will you help?”

“Sure. I’ll need more details and I’ll need to figure out exactly who to go to down at the police station for her to make her statement seeing as how Mac is still out of commission and they haven’t named an interim commissioner. Not to mention, the DA can’t do it since–as you said–he’s not interested in seeing you come forward. With Brian Beck and Andy Capelli both dead, the PCPD is seriously understaffed.”

“Tell him about Lucky,” Jason prompted.

“I don’t want to get Lucky in any trouble,” Elizabeth protested.

“Lucky Spencer? Is he also in on this cover-up?” Justus inquired.

“Yes, but–not by choice. He’s just doing what Ric’s telling him to do. We could go to him,” Elizabeth said hesitantly. “I think so.”

“Let me make a few calls and see if I can’t get out of the custody hearing at noon.” Justus looked at Jason apologetically. “No offense, man, but that hearing is a waste of time. The judge is going to rule for joint custody today. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

“It’s what’s best for the kids anyway,” Jason sighed. “They’re just too angry with each other to see it.”

“Yeah, so I’m going to see if someone else can stand in for me. Let me go do that and I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes.”

“But you’ll help me?” Elizabeth asked.

“Not only will I help you, Elizabeth, but I’ll have you at home, free and clear, before your baby’s born,” Justus promised. “I never lose cases and like I said–any lawyer with half a brain could do this. I don’t understand why your husband–an officer of the court–won’t just plead this down to a misdemeanor.” Justus’s eyes lit up with a little bit of mischief. “Maybe he’s not the guy to be DA after all.”

Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest that statement but closed it when she realized she agreed with him. “Thank you, Justus,” she told him gratefully. “And thank you, Jason. I really–I really appreciate this.”

“I’ll be right back,” Justus told them.

Emily was silent when she walked into the study at Wyndemere. Nikolas was seated behind his desk and reading the paper. He set it down. “Did you tell Ric?”

“Do you think I’m selfish?” Emily asked instead. She sat down stared at the wall behind him. “Uncaring? Self-centered?”

“You’re not going to want to ask that question of the man who’s so crazy in love with you that he thinks you walk on water,” Nikolas remarked as he joined her on the couch.

“I’m serious, Nikolas,” Emily pushed his shoulder and sighed. “It’s just–all this time, I’ve been justifying the way I’ve been acting by the fact that I love you and I’ll do anything to see you cleared of the murder.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Nikolas replied, tucking her hair behind her ears and trailing his finger down her jaw line.

“There is if my actions hurt my best friend,” Emily said softly. “Ric said some things today that really made me think. He said that while Elizabeth would do anything to protect someone…she’d never do it at the sacrifice of someone else.”

“That’s true but that’s not what you’re doing either,” Nikolas argued.

“Isn’t it?” Emily asked pointedly. “We convinced Elizabeth to come here the other day and bring Ric with her. Did either of us consider the fact that a trip on the launch at this time of year is really choppy and with her pregnancy…it’d be more difficult than it would be for us?”

Nikolas hesitated. “Well, no…”

“And when she was in here yesterday…she came here because she was upset about you, Nikolas. That you might pay for her crime. And all I said was that if this could clear you…” Emily’s voice faltered. “She’s my best friend in the whole world, Nikolas and she’d do anything for me. I didn’t even ask her if she was okay. I didn’t ask how she was doing with this knowledge. I haven’t asked her about the baby in weeks. And every time we’ve seen each other lately, we’ve argued.”

Nikolas exhaled slowly. “Maybe we’ve been a little wrapped up in each other,” he said. “That’s not a bad thing but…no, you’re right. Neither of us have been the friend she deserves.”

“We didn’t even think to go after her yesterday when she left. If Ric hadn’t gotten that call about the accident…we wouldn’t have. And…you know…Jason said something that’s really resonating right now. When I finished telling him everything and outlined what we needed him to do…he asked what Elizabeth wanted.”

“She wanted to confess,” Nikolas said. “But I thought we talked her out of it.”

Maybe,” Emily said softly, “or maybe we just talked over her. Maybe we weren’t listening.”

He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “Then maybe it’s time we started. What do you say we give her a call and ask?”

“That sounds like a good idea to me.”

An hour after Justus left the penthouse, he was escorting a somber Elizabeth into the police station. Despite some protestations from Justus, Jason followed them in.

“Who are we going to be talking to?” Elizabeth asked as Justus pulled open the door to the squad room.

“A blast from the past,” Justus remarked cryptically. The second he stepped foot inside, a Hispanic man got up from a desk and crossed to him. “Justus Ward, I see you’re still on the other side,” the man remarked good-naturedly, offering his hand.

“Alex, it’s good to see you again. I’m sure you recognize my client, though she has grown up a bit since the last time either of us saw her.”

“Of course,” Detective Alex Garcia said with a smile. “Elizabeth Webber.”

“Detective Garcia, it’s such a surprise to see you again,” Elizabeth said, instantly at ease with the man who’d originally investigated her rape. “I thought you’d transferred to Los Angeles.”

“I did, but the department has taken several bad hits these last few months and they transferred me back. I’m actually Captain Garcia now,” he said, with a bit of pride. He frowned seeing Jason Morgan behind Elizabeth. “Aw, and I thought you could do better than Lucky Spencer. Apparently I was wrong,” he joked.

There was no scorn in his voice though she knew he meant what he said. “Actually, Jason’s just a friend. Ric’s my husband. It’s Elizabeth Lansing now.”

“Okay, then. My good faith in you has been restored.” Garcia turned to Justus. “You didn’t say much on the phone except that Ric Lansing could not be involved in anything that was going to happen. Dara Jensen was just appointed ADA so I asked her to come down. She’s waiting in the room now.”

“Okay, Elizabeth are you ready for this?” Justus asked.

Elizabeth nodded firmly. “I’m ready.”

Lucky emerged from a back room, escorting a drunk. He put him in the cage and crossed to Elizabeth and Jason. “What’s going on?”

“I’m doing the right thing, Lucky,” Elizabeth told him. “Please don’t argue with me.”

“I thought we talked about this,” he said, quietly, stepping past Garcia.

“Yeah, you did. You talked about it. Everyone talked about it. Except me. And now I’m doing what I think is right.”

“Could you excuse us, Officer Spencer?” Garcia asked politely. He stepped aside and held his hand out to motion towards the interrogation room. Elizabeth and Justus followed him into the room and Jason moved after them. Lucky held up a hand to stop him.

“You were supposed to make a statement, not change her mind,” Lucky said coldly.

“I didn’t have to change her mind. You just weren’t listening.”

He pushed Lucky out of his way and entered the room. All the seats at the table were taken so he stood behind Elizabeth, knowing that Justus had already negotiated his presence.

“Good morning, Elizabeth,” Dara said. “You know…you put Lucky Spencer in Justus’s seat and it almost feels like we turned back time, huh?”

Elizabeth managed a weak smile. “I really would rather slit my wrists than go back to that time in my life.” She cleared her throat and glanced at Justus for her next move.

“Elizabeth Lansing is here to make a statement. I want it on the record that she came in on her own accord with no insistence from the department and that she is cooperating fully with the officers of the court,” Justus remarked.

“Of course. Now…what is this matter pertaining to?” Dara asked, setting the tape recorder in the middle of the table.

“The murder of Zander Smith,” Elizabeth said softly.

“Sheryl, can you tell Miss Jensen that I need to speak with her as soon as possible?” Ric asked Dara’s secretary as he passed by her desk.

“Sure, Miss Jensen is in the interrogation room taking a statement,” Sheryl replied with a smile. “I’ll give her the message.”

Ric doubled back and frowned. “What statement? I don’t have anything on the schedule from the department.”

“Oh…well…if you’d like, I can call and check.” Sheryl had already picked up the phone and was dialing. She spoke to someone for a few moments and placed the receiver back on the hook with a little confused smile. “She’s talking to your wife.”

Ric’s face drained of color and he dumped the files he’d been looking at on Sheryl’s desk, taking off for the stairs.

Not more than ten minutes later, he burst into the squad room and stalked across the room, stopping short at the little window. Elizabeth was inside, seated next to Justus Ward.

And Jason Morgan was standing behind her like her own private guard.

“I tried to stop her but she wouldn’t listen to me,” Lucky said from behind him. “It’s too late anyway. They’ve been in there for almost a half hour.”

“Why didn’t you call me immediately?” Ric demanded, whirling around. “Do you know what’s going to happen now?”

“If this is what Elizabeth wants, then who are we to say differently?”

“Oh, come on, she’s not thinking straight. She should be thinking about the baby, not her own damn conscience.”

The door opened behind them and Dara and Jason stepped out first. Justus exited and Elizabeth and Garcia rounded it out.

Elizabeth was just in front of Garcia and her hands were behind her–leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was handcuffed. “Ric,” she stated. “What are you doing here?”

“Captain Garcia, my wife has been under a lot of stress with her pregnancy. I don’t know that she can held accountable for what she says,” Ric said immediately.

“Elizabeth is of sound mind and body,” Justus assured Garcia and Dara. “Can we just get this over with so I can get my client home?”

“Your client?” Ric demanded. “What the hell is going on here?”

“I’ve got the arraignment for an hour, you’ll only have to be in the cell until then,” Dara promised. “And you don’t have to wear the cuffs after you’re in there.”

“Thank you…for all your help,” Elizabeth said softly. Garcia led her away then into the back where the holding cells were located.

Ric lunged after them but Jason shoved him back. “You’ve done enough damage, don’t you think?” he asked coldly.

“I’ve done enough damage?” Ric repeated incredulously. “My pregnant wife was just led away in handcuffs and I’m the one who did the damage.”

“If you’d just let her come forward when she originally told you, this might have gone a little easier,” Dara sighed. “Officer Spencer, I need you to put DA Lansing under arrest for obstruction of justice.”

This entry is part 2 of 3 in the Come Clean

I’m shedding
Shedding every color
Trying to find a pigment of truth
Beneath my skin
— Come Clean, Hilary Duff

Elizabeth rubbed her hands. The handcuffs hadn’t been on very tight–in fact she’d barely felt them at all. But she knew it would take a long time to erase the memory of the cold steel against her skin.

“The State vs. Elizabeth Lansing, the charge is involuntary manslaughter,” the bailiff announced.

Justus put a hand under her elbow and helped her to her feet. The judge looked up from the file, his eyes falling on Elizabeth’s obvious pregnant state. “Okay, let’s make this quick.”

“Your Honor, my client is an upstanding member of the community who has never been in trouble a day in her life. We ask that she be released on her own recognizance.”

The judge frowned and looked to Dara. “I’m sure you have an objection.”

“Actually, Your Honor, we don’t believe that Mrs. Lansing is a threat to the community, to herself or even a flight risk. We find no fault with her being released ROR.”

“Well, seeing as how the woman is accused of hitting the father of her child and leaving him to die in a fire, I’m not inclined to release her at all.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she looked at Justus, panicked. “Justus–”

“Your Honor, my client was not aware that the fire would start and by the time she arrived, Zander Smith’s body had already been removed from the scene. She could not have warned anyone. If you’ve read her statement, surely you can see fit to–”

“I don’t have to see fit to anything. I’m not the trial judge, Mr. Ward and there is no jury here for you to convince. The defendant is to be held without bail pending the grand jury hearing. Next case.”

“Your Honor,” Justus called. “This is an abuse of the justice system–”

“‘Next case,” the judge repeated.

Lucky moved from them and took Elizabeth’s arm. “Come on. I’ll take you to an interrogation room. You won’t even have to see a cell.”

“I’m going to file an appeal,” Justus promised. “The grand jury hearing will be soon, Elizabeth. Don’t worry.”

Elizabeth couldn’t speak, couldn’t blink. The cold, harsh reality of her decision to come clean was setting in. She could spent the rest of her life in jail. She could have her baby in jail. Ric could raise her child and it would be years before she was able to see her.

Lucky felt the violent trembling set in and wrapped an arm around her waist as he led her from the room.

“What the hell is going on?” Justus demanded of Dara as she joined him and Jason at the defense table.

“I don’t know. He’s never held a woman without bail–much less a pregnant woman. Someone got to him.”

Jason narrowed his eyes. “I thought you arrested Ric.”

Dara sighed. “The charges were thrown out about ten minutes before you got here. I didn’t have time to say anything. But you don’t think her own husband–”

“You know Ric, this is his MO. As long as Elizabeth does what he wants, he’s got no problem. But the second she goes against him? He’s a control freak.” Jason shook his head.

“Look, she cannot spend the night in jail,” Justus said firmly. “Can you get a grand jury hearing today?”

“I’m not sure,” Dara sighed. “But maybe we can head this all off. She pleads guilty to a charge of assault in the third degree. That carries a minimum of a year in jail but we can get the sentence suspended and she’ll go on probation for a while.”

“That sounds all well and good but a judge wouldn’t even give her bail–what makes you think you can get the sentence suspended?” Justus demanded.

“Well, someone bought this judge which means he has a price.” Dara shifted, uncomfortable with the conversation. “A price can always be higher.”

Both lawyers looked at Jason, who nodded. “All I need is a name.”

The door to the interrogation room was shoved open and Emily burst in. “You have either got to be the most foolish person I know or the bravest.”

Elizabeth tried to laugh but it soon turned to tears. “I just wanted to do the right thing.”

Emily sat down and reached for her hands. “You have to do what’s right for you and if this is right for you, then I support you. Nikolas is outside but they’d only let one of us in at a time.”

“Um…there’s a distinct and a very real possibility that I might end up in jail.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “And I think Ric’s helping to put me there.”

Emily shook her head. “No–he’d do anything to protect you–”

“As long as I was doing what he wanted me to do. Justus Ward told me that they think Ric paid the judge to hold me without bail. And if he can do that–he can pay a judge to do anything.”

“Well, I have money, too. Or at least I have a brother with money.” Emily nodded firmly. “And Lucky tells me that Jason hasn’t left your side all day–except after court. I bet he’s out there taking care of this right now.”

“I talked to Justus before you got here–I filed a petition to strip Ric of parental rights to this child. Basically–invalidate the document Zander signed giving his rights to Ric. Justus says that with Ric’s history, I have a good chance of getting it approved.” She took a deep breath. “If I go to jail, I want you and Nikolas to take care of my baby. I want to know that she’s loved and cared for and I trust you two with my life.”

Emily’s eyes filled with tears. “You won’t–” her voice broke. “You won’t have to worry about that. I promise, sweetie. You did the right thing by confessing. Now let us do the right thing by you.”

“Promise me, Emily. If I go to jail–”

“Of course we’ll take care of the baby,” Emily agreed. She kissed Elizabeth’s hands. “You can trust me. And you didn’t even have to ask.”

Jason strode into the living room. “What is it, Carly? I don’t have a lot of time.”

“I want to know where you were today,” Carly said, irritated. “The judge made his decision today and you–as well as Sonny’s own lawyer–were nowhere to be found.”

“Justus was with me,” Jason said simply. “We were at the police station.”

Carly frowned. “Did you get arrested? Why didn’t you call then?”

“I was there with someone else. She was making a statement to the police and she needed a lawyer and a friend. You know, Carly–I have a life separate from you and Sonny. I have a sister and I have other friends,” Jason coldly. He glanced at the clock on the wall. “And I have somewhere else to be–”

Carly caught his arm. “Jason–what happened to Emily? What did she need to talk to the police about? I know how important she is to you.”

“It wasn’t Emily,” Jason replied. He stepped back. “Elizabeth accidentally killed Zander Smith and instead of letting Ric cover it up, she wanted to confess. But at the time, no one was willing to let her. So when Emily asked me to sign a statement saying that Capelli had done it, I asked Elizabeth what she wanted.”

“And what? Now you’re trying to keep her bony little ass out of jail?” Carly demanded shrilly. “Elizabeth be damned–I needed you today. The judge gave us joint custody but Sonny still won’t let me see the kids–”

“Then have him arrested for violating a court order!” Jason exploded. “I can’t fix everything for you, Carly! Sometimes I have to do what’s right for me. I have to live my own life, damn it.”

“Oh–I’m so sorry that I’m keeping you from your precious Elizabeth,” Carly said scathingly. “God forbid, right? My God, what is it with you when it comes to that girl? How many times does she have to stomp on your heart before you get the picture?”

“It’s not about that–and you’re in no position to talk about people who hurt me,” Jason retorted. “How many times have you wrecked my life? How many times do you have to stomp on me before I get the picture about you?”

Carly paled. “That’s–that’s not fair. You love me, Jase. You take care of me. That’s always what you’ve done.”

“And it’s so inconceivable that maybe part of me still loves Elizabeth, still wants her to be happy? She’s pregnant, Carly. And she might go to jail for protecting herself from Zander. You know how it feels to be locked in a small room while pregnant. Do you really think it’s fair to wish that on someone else?”

“Oh, please, Ric will buy some stupid judge and by the time the baby’s born, you won’t even register in her mind. Don’t you get it, Jason? She knows how to play you–knows exactly what to say and how to say it to get you to come riding to her rescue–”

“She didn’t come to me. Not once has she come to me to fix a problem for her. She’s not you, Carly. I went to her. And you know something else? Ric bought a judge, all right–to keep her in jail. She’s not doing his bidding so he wants to find another way to control her. He had a judge deny her bail and if I don’t figure out a way to head him off, he’s going to have her in jail before I can do anything to stop it.”

“She married him–she knew exactly what he’d done and she married him again. Maybe she deserves to pay for that mistake.”

Jason scrubbed his hands down his face. “God damn it, Carly, how can you be so incapable of consideration for someone else? You married AJ! You set out to steal your mother’s husband and you nearly had me indicted for kidnapping! You turned Sonny into the Feds! And all Elizabeth did was believe that someone she loved had changed–I hardly think you have any room to talk. So why don’t you shut up and stay the hell out of my business?”

Nikolas glanced into the interrogation room before looking at back at Lucky. “If I ever get my hands on Ric Lansing,” he muttered.

“You’ll have to get in line. I knew he was no good for her. Why didn’t we try harder to talk her out of it?” Lucky demanded. He shook his head.

“Trying to talk her out of something is like talking to a brick wall.”

Audrey Hardy rushed into the squad room and took Lucky’s hand. “Where is she? Why didn’t she call me sooner?”

Nikolas sighed. “I’m sure she didn’t want to worry you, Mrs. Hardy. It’s all going to be okay.”

“But why are they holding her without bail?” Audrey demanded. “She’s pregnant–”

“We think Ric may have bought a judge,” Lucky admitted. “So…Jason’s out there fixing it.”

“Jason?” Audrey repeated. “What does he have to do with this?”

Nikolas cleared his throat. “We wanted to cover this up for her–take care of it. So Emily asked Jason if he’d sign a statement saying that before Capelli died, he admitted to the murder. Jason was willing to do it–but not before he went and asked Elizabeth if it was what she wanted.”

“And Elizabeth chose to come clean.” Audrey sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know if I should hug her or throttle her. Okay, does she have a lawyer?”

“She does,” Justus said from behind them. “Hello, Mrs. Hardy.”

“Oh…Justus…well I feel a lot better about this now.” Audrey touched Justus’s hand. “My granddaughter is all the family that I have left that gives a damn about me. You promise to take care of her?”

“I promise,” Justus remarked. “I just got back from Dara’s office. She’s bogged down in work because the mayor got wind of this situation and Ric’s involvement in covering it up and fired him. She’s now the DA.”

“That’s a good thing, though right? He loses credibility. No judge will listen to him,” Nikolas said.

“That’s what Dara’s counting on,” Justus replied. “She’s pulling every string and calling in every favor to get a grand jury hearing tomorrow but it looks as though the earliest we can get it is next week.”

“Next week?” Lucky repeated, horrified. “She can’t spend a week in jail!”

“Which is why as soon as we hear from Jason, we’re going to work on the deal. We need to know the judge will sign off on it before we make it.”

“What deal?” Audrey questioned. “I won’t let her spend another minute in jail if I can help it.”

“We want to have her plead to assault in the third degree and even though it carries a minimum of a year in jail, Dara wants to suspend the sentence and put her on probation but I refuse to make the deal until I know she won’t spend another day in jail,” Justus informed the older woman.

“And Jason’s going to make sure a judge signs it,” Audrey stated. “I’m not even sure I care about the method anymore as long as my granddaughter comes home.”

“Did you file that petition in family court?” Lucky asked.

“I did but family court’s so backed up we might not hear back for almost a month,” Justus replied. “Her petition would carry more weight if she was suing him for divorce.”

“Oh, she will be when I get through with her,” Audrey declared. “Lucky, tell Emily that I need to see my granddaughter. Now.”

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the Come Clean

Elizabeth looked up as her grandmother took the seat across from her. “Gram…”

“I heard it on the evening news, I believe you’re making the right decision and I want you to divorce the son of a bitch who’s keeping you here,” Audrey said briskly.

“I–” Elizabeth pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead. “Jesus, Gram, don’t you think I’m dealing with enough right now?”

“Exactly my point. Ric’s been fired as DA, he can’t do anything else to screw you over if you’re not in his life. Now–I know that you love him but I loved Tom Baldwin and that really didn’t get us anywhere, now did it?””

“He was fired?” Elizabeth said softly. “Why?”

“The mayor was faxed a copy of your statement and didn’t take to kindly that he tried to cover up a murder.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes. “Oh, God, I murdered him.”

“Elizabeth–”

“Gram–I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.” Her voice shook. “I thought–I thought Ric would understand I’m doing the right thing and support me but he hasn’t and now you want me to divorce him–”

“I want you to be safe, darling,” Audrey said softly. “You are doing the right thing and anyone who doesn’t see that should go to hell.”

“I love him, Gram–”

“But he doesn’t value you. He doesn’t trust you. He wants to control you.”

“No, he–”

“He wants you to come to him for help and you didn’t. You went to Jason. You know that had to infuriate him,” Audrey said gently.

“I didn’t go to Jason,” Elizabeth said defensively. “I don’t do that. I don’t expect him to fix my problems, Gram. He just showed up at my door this morning and he asked me what I wanted to do. I wanted to confess. He’s helping me but–”

“Darling, I know all of this.” Audrey sighed. “But Ric doesn’t. Ric just sees Jason. You can’t go back to him after this.”

“I know. But–”

“Justus says your petition to strip him of parental rights would carry more weight if you were divorcing him.”

Elizabeth bit her lip and closed her eyes. “I just–I want to find out about this deal before I make that decision.”

“It’ll work out,” Audrey promised.

“I deserve to go to jail,” Elizabeth whispered. “I killed him, Gram. Zander was the father of my baby and I killed him.”

“You were scared.”

“I knew Zander wouldn’t hurt me. Could never hurt me.” Elizabeth’s hands started to shake and she bowed her head. “I know that, I’ve always known that but–he was so desperate. He’d lost everything. Emily, his job, his freedom. I didn’t know what he was capable of anymore. I loved Zander, he was a good friend but he made so many bad decisions.” Elizabeth wiped her cheeks. “He was capable of violence so I know he could have shot that cop. But he was capable of kindness, of gentleness. He was so wonderful to me. He always was. I know he wouldn’t hurt me–”

“Elizabeth, you just said that you didn’t know what he was capable of. Do I believe Zander would consciously hurt you? No,” Audrey shook her head. “But people under pressure do things they wouldn’t otherwise. You were protecting yourself. Your child. And Zander would not blame you.”

Elizabeth took a shaky breath. “I know that here.” She gestured towards her head and then pressed the heel of her hand against her heart. “It’s here that I’m having the problems with.”

By the time Justus had drawn up the divorce papers, Jason had returned with more than what he’d gone for. A judge’s word that he would sign the deal. And the judge’s word that he would over ride family court and award custody of her child to Elizabeth just as soon as the deal had been placed.

“Can I see her?” Jason asked. Garcia nodded and moved out of the way, going over to Dara who was working out the details with Justus.

Jason entered the interrogation room and hesitated when he saw Audrey seated across from Elizabeth. “Hello, Mrs. Hardy.”

“Jason.” Audrey squeezed Elizabeth’s hands and stood. “My granddaughter and her friends have told me that you’ve been out trying to fix this mistake so that she can go home.”

“I have,” Jason confirmed. He shifted. There were few people in his life that he felt uneasy around–that made him feel like he should check his hands and make sure they were clean. His own grandmother, Bobbie Spencer and Elizabeth’s grandmother.

“And can she go home?” Audrey pressed.

“Gram,” Elizabeth protested weakly.

“Justus and Dara are working on the papers now,” Jason said dutifully. His eyes flickered to Elizabeth. “The judge agreed to strip Ric of his parental rights.”

“The family court…” Elizabeth hesitated. “It’s over?”

Jason nodded. “As soon as Dara files the papers, we’ll get you in front of the judge. You’ll be given a few years of probation and Ric has no rights to the baby.”

“And she’s filing for divorce,” Audrey revealed. “I won’t deny I forced her to do it but it was only a matter of time. He’s no good for you, Elizabeth. He doesn’t give a damn about what’s important to you.”

“I know,” Elizabeth said softly.

Audrey nodded and looked back to Jason. “Thank you, Jason. I know how much you care for my granddaughter. She’s lucky to have a friend like you.” She kissed his cheek and left the room.

Elizabeth blinked. “She must have taken some drugs or something,” she offered as an explanation. “She’s been acting oddly since she walked in here.” She cleared her throat and stood. “Thank you. For everything you’ve done since you’ve known the truth. It’s the first time in a long time that I felt like anyone has really listened to me.”

Jason ducked his head and looked away. “It was nothing you wouldn’t have done for me.”

Justus pushed open the door. “You ready to head over to the court? We’ll have you home in an hour.”

Elizabeth was in the squad room before she stopped. “I don’t have a home,” she said softly. “The apartment–”

“You’ll come with me,” Audrey said briskly. She took Elizabeth’s purse from her and pushed her towards the doors. “Let’s go.”

“How does the defendant plead?” the judge asked briskly.

“Guilty,” Elizabeth murmured.

“Your Honor, the defendant has never been arrested or charged with anything of this nature before. Her statement to the police leaves no doubt in our minds that she struck in self defense and did not intend for the victim to die. Autopsy reports say that Alexander Lewis aka Zander Smith died of smoke inhalation we request that she be sentenced to a year suspended with probation,” Dara recited.

The judge nodded and shifted in his seat. “That sound right to you, Mr. Ward?”

“Yes, sir,” Justus nodded. “My client came forward to cleanse her mind and wishes to go on with her life and raise her child in peace.”

“The investigation indicates the trail had gone all but dead,” the judge remarked. “You never would have been accused, Ms. Webber.”

Elizabeth nodded. “I would have known, sir.”

“I admire that. Honesty is hard to find in this seat these days. I can understand your reluctance, seeing as how you’re with child.” The judge smiled. “Defendant is sentenced to one year, suspended and four years of probation. Court is adjourned.”

On a cold day that March, Alexander Lewis was laid to rest next to his brother Peter and his father Cameron. His funeral was paid for by the Cassadine family and attended by only a sparse few. Emily and Nikolas, Elizabeth and her grandmother, Jason, Alexis and Justus.

His son Cameron Alexander Webber was born late that May and proudly named Alexander Lewis as his father.

Elizabeth told her son stories about Zander, about how he’d saved her from losing her mind during the horrible days in the crypt. How he’d listened to her, had cared for her and how much she missed him.

She thought that Zander would have liked that.

The End

1. Untitled Episode Tag, 14 February 2014 — Post-confrontation with Elizabeth/Britt. ETA: 22 February 2014

2. Shadows, Part 1 – The new Shadows is almost completed, and will be two long pieces. The first part will be posted 1 March 2014, and the second part, 8 March 2014.

3. The following stories will be expecting revised chapters to begin being posted 1 April 2014: Tangle, Daughters

4. The following stories are expecting updates to resume after 1 May 2014: These Small Hours, Daughters, Tangle

5. This summer, the following stories are expected to be completed: Daughters, Tangle, Shadows, These Small Hours.

6. New stories to be posted starting 1 July 2014: Untitled Revision of Poisonous Dreams, Fallen From Grace

Monthly Archives: February 2014

February 15, 2014

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