TAKING BACK THE REINS
CHAPTER 1
March 2007
Monica sat quietly next to Alan's bedside; he had just been brought to recovery after having open heart surgery to repair a valve that had ruptured during his last surgery after the Hostage situation. Sitting there in a hospital gown and gloves, she couldn't feel her hands from where she hadn't released her tight grip on his.
Looking back on their history, all she could do is pray that she didn't lose the man she had loved for so long. There had been affairs, and marriages to others, but in truth, they had been meant to be together all along.
Her marriage to Jeff, her affair with his brother, they had been fate, bringing her to that boat, to him. Over the years, both had made mistakes but recently things had been settling down. Their children's lives were currently a mess, but she had to admit hope would always be there.
Hearing a sound, she saw Skye watching from the observation window the red head feeling guilty about the part her late husband had played in this mess, but Monica knew that Skye's love for Alan was real. Thinking on it, she tried to wave her in, but the woman refused. She had been quiet every since Patrick had informed her that Lorenzo would never recover, it had clearly been a difficult decision to turn off the machines keeping him alive.
With a heavy sigh, she went out and said "He would want to feel you here, go in."
"I can't. God, I can't do it, Monica." she said. "It's been days, what if he doesn't wake up?"
"He will, I know it and you want to know why?" she asked gripping the woman's hand firmly. "Because he is having nightmares, the man upstairs wouldn't be giving him bad dreams if he was going to take him from us."
"I don't have your faith, I have never had any." she said bleakly. "Jason was outside earlier, should I send him in?"
Monica was curious about that; Jason had been hovering around since the day that Alan had been admitted. There had a few notable absences, like the day Elizabeth Webber had almost died because her blood pressure had skyrocketed after a visit from Luke and the day that Jerry Jacks had been exposed as the man behind the Metrocourt Hostage situation.
"No, he will come in when he is ready. Where is Emily?" she asked. She had only seen her youngest daughter infrequently, she had instead been out looking for Lucky with his brother Nik, Luke's son had gone missing after a visit to his ex-wife. With the announcement of their engagement, the younger Spencer had returned, even if he hadn't been by much to visit Elizabeth since.
"I haven't seen her today." admitted Skye. She blinked while watching Alan then said "Monica, can you turn around?"
"Why?" asked the older woman.
"Should Alan be moving yet?" she asked.
Monica quickly turned then told Skye to go and find Leo, now! Heading in, she was torn between doctor mode and wife mode when she saw Alan reaching out for her. "Mo-monica, thank god."
With tears running down her face, Monica reached out and gripped his hand while trying with her spare to put on her stethoscope. The man in the bed let out a soft chuckle at the unintended comedic scene.
"Dr. Quartermaine, good to see you awake." said Leo Julian as he entered the room. "Now why don't we check you out?"
"Julian, I can't stand doctors who are so jovial. Now what is wrong with me?" asked the man lying flat in the hospital bed. He felt fine, but knew it would be a long road to recovery "And why can't I sit up?"
With a laugh, Skye stood in the doorway, wiping away her tears while watching Monica have to be forcefully removed from Alan's grasp.
Leo gave him the news. "You have been unconscious for two weeks, you had a heart attack and we were required to unblock your arteries and repair some valve damage. Your family has been driving me insane. Between your wife and daughter during the day, and your son at night, I have barely been allowed to check my patient and when you feel up to it, Dr. Winters wants to talk to you about what you have been dreaming if you remember."
Seeing Alan turn sallow and then tense, Leo moved to check on him only for Alan to push his hands away. "No, I am fine. Monica, where is Jason? I need to speak to him immediately, it's important. And Leo, you are getting on my last nerve, go away before I fire you."
Muttering that doctors make the worst patients, he left the room to have someone page Jason Morgan.
Jason was sitting in the waiting room, trying to listen to Sam but all he wanted to do was hop on his bike and get away as once again choices he had made in the past had come to bite him on the rear. Elizabeth was having his child, he wanted to shout it to the world, and instead he was sitting here listening to the woman whose life he had ruined.
Sam would never be able to be a mother, something she desperately wanted, because of his life and his choices. Rubbing his temples, he felt her reach for his hands and took them out of her reach. "Sam, I am a bit busy now, why don't you arrange a dinner for us, later. We can discuss your good news then. Okay?" He was feeling trapped, more and more each day as he realized that no matter what he couldn't do this, couldn't keep this facade of loving her up.
Seeing her tears flowing yet again, Jason wanted to howl in frustration. All he did was hurt her and it wasn't her fault that he had realized too late that he had had another chance to be with Elizabeth and had wasted it by not being honest once again.
Hearing his name being called over the PA system, he was quick to approach the nurse at the hub and say "I am Jason Morgan, someone paged me."
"Yes, Mr. Morgan. Your father is awake and requesting your presence." she said with a bright smile.
Sam went to find Alexis, knowing that Jason's sudden obsession with his father should soon be over now that the man was awake. Now if only that annoying whining pest Elizabeth Webber would be allowed to leave, she wouldn't have to track him down at GH every day. She knew better than to protest Jason's interest in his one night stand, she had learned her lesson. From now on, she would be careful to keep out of sight; it made things easier to work on the brunette with Carly's help.
Arriving in the ICU, Jason put on a gown, then entered the room. "Alan?" he asked the man in the bed, "What can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to say thank you for saving me." he said. Then looking down, he seemed to be making a decision then lifted his eyes. "No, that isn't all of it. Sit down, please."
Sitting down, Jason looked at the man in the bed, he had never really felt him as his father, had known it, but never felt it until he had learned he was about to become a father himself.
"I have been laying here, listening to people speak to me. Monica, Skye, Emily and two rather surprising people, you, and Elizabeth Webber have both been by as well. Since she was in a wheelchair, I am guessing she was hurt in the explosion."
Seeing his shock, Alan said "Elizabeth told me while we were being held, about the baby. I know, Jason. I have heard you during your visits here. You are about to make a huge mistake, one I can't let you make."
"If this is about a Quartermaine heir..."
"No, this is about you, doing what you do best. You are going to walk away from the woman you love, the mother of your child for what? A woman who slept with your worst enemy? A woman who would lie to you? Who would deliberately put herself in the way of one of your enemies so you would have to rescue her? A woman I can see in your eyes that you don't love, out of guilt?"
"She can't have kids, it's my fault. How can I tell her that I am in love with; with another woman, a woman who is pregnant with my child." he said feeling the guilt start to suffocate him again. "How can I bring a child into my world?"
"Let me ask you this, what makes your child with Elizabeth different than Carly's kids? Or Sam's child you were going to claim. The child Sam wanted to adopt?"
"Because it is Elizabeth's." he said softly. "You just don't understand..."
"You are right, I don't. You are walking away from sweetness and love for a woman who has never been completely honest with you." said Alan.
"Elizabeth, doesn't want me, she made it clear she wants a future with Lucky." He had had hope, but it had ended when he had heard the news about the engagement from Carly.
"No, no she doesn't. She has admitted that to me, thinking I couldn't hear. She thinks that she will always be second to Carly, to Sonny to Sam. That you love Sam the woman for whom you ignored Sonny's orders and beat up Ric Lansing, not her. Jason she is settling for Lucky, because she thinks you don't want a life with her, that it is all about the baby she is carrying."
Jason said "Maybe it is better that way."
"For whom, Jason; for Elizabeth or for yourself? Can you really be that selfish, to sacrifice your child's happiness for what? Peace of mind so that Carly will stay out of your hair? How long will that last?" he asked then answered his own question.
"Until Sam finds out about the baby, just what do you think she will do, Jason? Do you think she will walk away from a chance to be a mother your child? Or do you think she will press for custody and how long before you decide it would be easier to give in when she guilts you reminding you that she can't have kids. How long will it take to hurt Elizabeth by giving the woman she thinks you love her son. Jason, we both know that Carly will be pushing this, she is going to HATE that you have a child with Elizabeth, and why do you think that is?"
Shrugging awkwardly, Jason said "I would never do that to Elizabeth."
"Jason, a few years ago, I would have said you would never have covered up someone being high hitting someone you love, but you did that. And put the blame on yourself, that you didn't love her enough so her hitting the woman you did love was your fault."
Stung, Jason said "It's not the same thing."
"Jason, yes it is. Now go ahead and head out, but please think about this. Think about your son growing up calling Lucky Spencer daddy, think about the day that you take your daughter away from Elizabeth and give her to Sam. Because Jason, if you don't man up now, I hate to say it, but it will happen." said Alan as he laid down and closed his eyes hoping he had gotten through to his son.
Jason was walking down the hallway to check on Elizabeth when he overheard a conversation around a corner that made him stop and listen. "So are we in agreement?"
"Yes, thanks Carly. I just worry about Jason." said Emily with a sideways look at Elizabeth's room. "We both know how attached he is to other people's kids, and with Sam not able to have them, I worry he will mistakenly think he should claim Elizabeth's child.
"I am just glad we are in agreement that Jason hanging out with Elizabeth would be a mistake." Carly didn't agree with Emily's reason, but she did with the end of it. "I am just grateful that the test proved Jason wasn't the father, can you imagine the mess of a custody trial."
"I know. And Sam would be so hurt, how would she be able to handle Jason getting custody of Liz's baby?" said Emily. "I was so glad when I heard it was Lucky's. He needs this baby, being a parent will make him recover quicker. I was talking to him; they are talking about naming him after Luke and himself."
Over his dead body, thought a furious Jason as he swore to discuss this with Elizabeth. When Emily left, he was going to approach Carly when he saw Sam doing so. "Have you seen Jason?"
"No, why? Has he been hanging around Elizabeth again?" asked an annoyed Carly. "I thought I told you to do something about that."
"I have been busy, Carly. Besides, I heard Elizabeth accepted Lucky's proposal, she will be busy with him. What were you talking to Emily about?" she asked curiously.
"We were both thanking god that Lucky is the father of her youngest bastard. At least for your sake." she said.
"My sake? Why would I be happy about that?" Jason was actually proud of Sam, she had been envious of Elizabeth's baby, but she did seem to be getting over it.
"I wish it was Jason's. That way we could have claimed it, I mean we would have one. After all, Elizabeth can't afford an attorney and besides, Jason could just bribe the judge. I would finally have what I want, Jason's child, he would never leave me then."
Jason felt his stomach roll, then when Carly said "You have to be kidding, do you really think Jason would ever take a child away from it's mother?"
He got control of his nausea; at least Carly had some common sense. "With your help, I could have worked on him. We both know he does exactly what you tell him to." said an envious Sam.
"You don't get it that is only if Elizabeth isn't involved. Why do you think I have been helping you win him back? I will never accept Elizabeth Webber, she is the whole reason I lost Jason in the first place. You dodged a bullet, be grateful." snapped Carly. "If Courtney couldn't keep Jason away from Elizabeth, you don't stand a chance."
"Oh, please." said Sam rolling her eyes. "Elizabeth and Jason are barely friends; I have nothing to worry about. Jason will never walk away from me, after all I can't have kids and he knows it is because of his enemy. Your pal Courtney screwed up. After all the work she put into manipulating him, she lost him because she walked away expecting him to chase, I don't intend to make that mistake. I don't lose what belongs to me."
"Keep dreaming, Sam. If I want you gone, you are gone. I got rid of Elizabeth and he loved her. You, you are nothing, you had a chance but then you screwed Ric." Hearing footsteps, they saw Ric Lansing approaching and both left, never knowing that Jason stood there shocked to realize that maybe just maybe his father was right.
When Ric left Elizabeth's room, minutes later, Jason entered making sure the DA didn't see him. Touching Elizabeth's arm, he saw she was in a deep sleep and just kissed her forehead, leaving mere minutes before Lucky burst into the room and woke her up from a delightful dream where Jason had told her he loved her.
Heading to the penthouse to change clothes after a night at the warehouse, Jason saw the luggage in the entrance way and asked the geek coming down the stairs, "Are you sure you are ready to move out?"
"This, this delightful matched travel set belongs to the goddess, she brought it over earlier as she prepares to move back in." he said with a grin at Jason. "I was here earlier when she stopped in with them. She was most understanding that you asked me to stay with you. She said we could be good friends."
Jason's mind was racing, he had thought he had more time to plan this out, but it looks like he was going to have to figure things out quickly and quietly. But one thing was sure; Sam wasn't going to be moving in. Seeing the woman in question coming in with more luggage followed by several guards, he said "I have to talk to the two you. Gentlemen, could you take that luggage over to the spare penthouse for now."
Sam was cursing under her breath; Carly had said this was a good idea, that if it was done, Jason would be too inert to change things. "Sure, I was just telling Mr. Jackal, how I am grateful for his being here to keep you company while we were apart and how I hoped he knew that he always had a place with you. After all, his information kept me out of jail."
"Well, none of us are going to have a place to stay." he said trying to come up with a reason. Not being a habitual liar, it was hard to come up with something until he saw a picture of Carly and Michael and then he had it. "See, I am remodeling the penthouses since there is faulty wiring."
"But Stone Cold, I saw nothing wrong with the wiring, it is perfect." protested Spinelli.
"No, I am afraid it isn't. There has been some damage done to Sonny's old penthouse, and I decided that the penthouses needed a fresh start and hired a construction team to come in. It was supposed to be a surprise." Just not for them, he had already hired the team after talking to Alan the day before, he had taken a long ride and got what his father was saying.
Sam was excited, she had spent the night a few times and her mind kept trying to imagine where it was that Jason had slept with Elizabeth. "New furniture too?" she asked.
"Yes, and I didn't want to tell Carly either since she would want to put her own personal decorating stamp on it. So can you keep it quiet." he said playing on the rivalry he had heard between the two women. "I have arranged for a room for Spinelli until one opens up downstairs." Jason knew that he was going to pay for that one, but continued. "Sam, you are going to have to stay with your mother, I am afraid I will be crashing at Jake's. I need to keep an eye on something there."
Rubbing up against him, she said "We could stay there together."
"No, I slept with too many nameless women there over the years." he said knowing that Sam would run straight to Carly looking for a list. In truth, he had a room there but no intention of ACTUALLY STAYING THERE. Coleman had been very forthcoming this afternoon in answer to a few of his questions and Jason was not a happy man.
Two days later, Elizabeth was leaving GH with her grams when the elderly lady said "Dr. Quartermaine asked me to bring you by. I think he wants to thank you for saving his life."
Rolling her into the room, Audrey went to take care of the paperwork and to get Cameron from daycare. Meanwhile Alan staged another intervention.
"Thank you for coming Elizabeth. I will get straight to it. There is no way I am going to allow you to marry Lucky Spencer and name my grandson after him. If you even think of attempting it, I will help Jason sue you in court for full custody."
Tears started to flow, and then Elizabeth said feeling trapped. "I don't want to marry Lucky."
Alan froze, he had expected to hear about her owing the man, then asked "Then why did you say yes?"
"I have no choice." she said. "You don't understand, I have to marry him."
"Who?" he asked. "Who is forcing you into this?"
"I can't tell you, please Alan, don't do this to me. I can't lose me children. Please?" she begged.
"Elizabeth, I am sorry but you are not leaving this room until you tell me what is going on." Skye had come to visit with her father and had overheard the entire thing and got a sick feeling in her gut.
"I-we, well I thought that I had killed Zander a few years ago. Jason signed a piece of paper, saying he heard Capelli confessing. Someone has it. If I don't give in and marry Lucky, I will face jail time along with Jason and my son will end up in State Care and this baby, Lucky will get custody of it. I am just trying to hold off on marrying him until after he or she is born." she said rubbing her stomach.
Thinking on things, Skye was going to go to Luke for help, but froze when her father said "Luke, it was Luke. I heard you collapsed when he visited you."
When the sobs got louder, Alan said "Talk to me."
"I can't. I can't trust anyone. Don't you get it, if I tell Jason he will take our child, if I tell you, you might do the same. I can't trust anyone." she said. "I just can't."
"Elizabeth?" Seeing Skye there, the woman dried her tears and tried to play it off like nothing was wrong, but the red head stopped her. "Did you know that when Lorenzo died, I gained control of his power and money?"
Seeing her confusion, Skye said "No one is taking your child away. Not while I can do anything about it. First up, I hate to ask when I know your pregnancy is in trouble, but can you play along with this, at least for now. Don't worry I will come up with something. I only wish I could say that Luke wouldn't do this, but he would. He is trying to make up for the mistakes of the past with his kids and instead is making worse ones."
"Skye, what do you have in mind?" asked Alan.
"I can't tell you, I need it to be a surprise but I will say this, I am done." she said angrily as she got that her trusting someone led to this. "Elizabeth can you find stay at your grams until this supposedly happy day?"
"Yes, I can use Cameron and my pregnancy as a reason. But Skye, I don't want to put you in the middle of this." She wanted to believe she had help, but Elizabeth had been let down too many times.
"Elizabeth, who knew the truth about Zander?" she asked. Seeing her reluctance, Skye said "Luke overheard something we have to figure out how for my plan to work."
"Nik, Emily, Ric and Jason. Who knows who any of them told." she said with a heavy sigh.
"Fine." she said then when Audrey returned and had taken Elizabeth home, Skye debated with herself then said "Are you ready for a few more of those home truths we have been talking about? This time from me to you?"
Nodding, Alan laid back and said "Go for it."
"Emily is going to be a big problem. I don't know the why but she wants Elizabeth with Lucky very badly. She is pushing them together in spite of knowing there is a good chance Elizabeth loves Jason and that he loves her. I have heard her talking to Carly about it while wandering the hospital."
"Carly, I rue the day that young woman came to town." said Alan. "If she is involved, Sonny is as well."
"I know. And that is why I am going to use the business that Lorenzo left me to deal with this." she said grimly. "I have to make Sonny think that the best way to keep his territory is for Jason to be involved in Elizabeth's life.
Jason read the yellowed invitation that his sister had just handed him beaming broadly. "I was hoping to make sure to give this to Sam and you, Jase. Elizabeth and Lucky are getting remarried next week.
That his sister could walk in to his office and know that he would be hurt and still do this, shocked Jason almost as much as the word on the paper hurt him. "Uh, thank you. I am sure Sam will be busy with her new job."
Jason was grateful for that job; it kept her out of his way while he decided how to deal with her. Unfortunately she knew too much about his business and that geek was starting to get on his nerves with the constant goddess talk. He was concerned about how good the geek was. Stan said he seemed brilliant at code, which meant he could be a threat if hurt.
"Jason, what is so important that I had to come to the office right away?" asked Sonny annoyed.
"We have a problem. I dealt with it, turns out that kid that Max was suspicious of got access to our files. I have changed up everything, but we need to talk about it." In truth, Jason had used the kid who he already knew was dirty as an excuse to prevent Sam from finding out anything. The shipping info and the books were all at a different location and even the shipments were coming in to different ports.
"Good, but how did he get access?" snapped Sonny.
"Sam, actually, as she was leaving he got in." he said knowing that Sonny would soon demand her exit when he found out how public her new job was.
"How?" he asked.
"Sam came to see me today, wanted to show me something outside. Her coat caught in the door, he slipped in while it was unlocked. I had no idea until I had gotten rid of her."
"Was it a set up?" he asked. Sonny was getting nervous, little things were happening and Ric Lansing's father had been seen in town. Trevor worked for the Zachara family and none of them wanted that crazy bastard here.
"I wish I could say no, but Sam has been acting a little off since learning she can't have kids." Jason said pretending reluctance. In truth, he had been having to duck out even from the room at Jake's. He had been there mere minutes, really onto the change clothes when she had shown up set to seduce him.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth was furious to discover that Lucky had been moving her stuff over to his parent's house one suitcase at a time, excited at the idea of trying again. "Lucky, I need my grams help with Cam."
"We are making a fresh start, how can we do that if you are living with Audrey. I am sure you can handle him or why can't he stay here for a month?"
"Lucky, he knows I was hurt, he needs reassurance that Mommy is alright. He has already spent too much of his young life away from me." she said. "Now, I am going to stay here, besides the wedding is in a week. I am going to be too busy to be moving the rest over until afterwords."
Not happy, he left. Calling Emily he asked her to go and see Elizabeth. "She is acting strange again."
Emily looked longingly at Nik and Spencer then thought about it, she knew that she had to do this, Lucky and Liz needed her to help them realize that they belonged together. Arriving at the Hardy's, she saw Elizabeth was ready to take a nap. "We have to find you a wedding dress, come on sleepyhead."
"Emily, Elizabeth just got out of the hospital, she isn't up to going shopping." pointed out a puzzled Audrey. "It might be better to go and pick up a catalog and bring it here."
Pretending to yawn, Elizabeth said "Maybe the shop at the Metrocourt would lend you the dresses for me to try on." She needed to appear cooperative so she said "Besides, this way, we can find you a dress as well."
Em frowned but went to the shop; thanks to Carly they let her take the dresses out. She ran into an excited Sam who gave her the news about the penthouse and said to keep it away from Carly. Emily returned to the Hardy residence full of the good news. She was just about to spill when Audrey entered the room and said "Elizabeth, Skye Quartermaine is one the phone, something about baby clothes."
Elizabeth quickly fell into the story the red head had come up with. "She said she had both boy and girl clothes from before Lilarae was born, she offered them to me, since I was remarrying Luke's son." she said pretending to smile. "Em, do you have some time this week to go with me to get them?"
"Uh, sure." she was slightly relieved; maybe just maybe she was overreacting to what she saw at the hotel when it exploded between her brother and Elizabeth. Maybe it really had been nothing more than the result of being trapped together. "We can do it next week, after the wedding."
"Fine." said Elizabeth as she went to take the phone. Talking to Skye she quickly decoded the real message and gave a quiet sigh, she wasn't sure she was going to be awake at midnight, but she would do whatever it took to free herself from Luke's blackmail. She was shocked to realize that Skye had been on the level.
The red head had gotten the letter that Luke had somehow stolen from the police station, without his even knowing it. Her former friend thought he was still advising her on Lorenzo's business, while she was slowly gathering information about Jason and Sonny's. He had no idea that she was aware of the codicil to Lorenzo's will, nor that she intended to use it to free Elizabeth from the life he was forcing her into so that he could have unlimited access to funds.
She knew that the best way to make sure that Elizabeth didn't marry Lucky was to end to this permanent lock crap. She was also slowly pushing things so that her brother woke up to what he was losing. First up was hiring a PI she had heard of from Pine Valley, he had come up with some very unsavory things about Sam McCall, things that made Skye wonder just what she was up to in town.
Meanwhile Elizabeth was finding it hard not to flinch every time Lucky kissed her. She was also annoyed with his constant habit of trying to send Cameron out of the room or asking for him to stay with Audrey for a while to give them time together alone. She had had enough earlier that day and had snapped that she didn't intend to let her son be away from her for that long and sure enough within an hour of the conversation she had had a visit from Nik, inviting him to stay and play with Spencer.
She had dryly pointed out that a four year old and a newborn didn't have a lot in common, making the Prince look less that regal standing there with a dropped jaw and bugged out eyes. Emily had tried to I don't want you to overdo it routine and the you need no worries and less stress. She didn't understand the why but she did know that Emily had slowly stopped being her friend.
Hearing a knock on the door, she opened it to see the same self-serving friend standing there, "Elizabeth, how are you?" she asked brightly.
"Fine, but I was just about to lie down for a bit, why don't you come back later." she said and closed the door in her face. One more day, she reminded herself, just one more day.
Ignoring Emily knocking, she went upstairs and crawled into her bed, wondering why her life was going to crap. She had seen Sam earlier that day, the woman had been quite happy to congratulate her on figuring out that Jason didn't have feelings for her and for choosing a man more her level in Lucky Spencer. It had taken everything in her not to claw the cold brown eyes out of her head.
Jason was talking to Sonny when Carly blew into the room. "Sonny, when is our divorce going to be final? Jax is going to be arriving at the end of the week, he says he has a really big surprise for me and I want to be free of this mess you created."
"I talked to Jordan; our annulment will go through tomorrow. Now I need you to leave, we have to talk about some business."
"Fine, Jason, why don't you come over to dinner tonight, the boys have missed you." she said. Sam had said she hadn't seen Jason that much this week and Carly didn't want him out alone, she was scared he might go and see the muffin faced whiny loser and she couldn't allow that to happen.
Cynically Jason wanted to ask had the boys has missed him or was it because she didn't like not knowing his every step but instead just said "We are going to be busy all night. Why don't you ask Lulu, she could use a break from her dating life?" Besides, this way he wouldn't have to hear from the geek about how he trailed her on her date via the Internet when he used him to create a false trail for Sam.
Once she had left, he asked Sonny "What do the families want?"
"With all of the current things going on, they want to discuss what is behind them and the situation with the Alcazar territories, I said that since they are in ours, we will be making a deal with Skye once she is out of mourning."
Jason said "I know that Max saw her with Trevor and Ric, are you sure that she is going to do what you want her to?"
"Yes, she isn't capable of running this business and Ric has been busy with his father." said Sonny confidently. "You need to change into a suit so that we can get going. Luke said he was going to be there tonight with Skye. That should give you an idea of what she is going to do. Luke said he would steer her in the right direction."
Knowing that Luke was more than likely in it for himself, Jason had misgivings but he had no idea how right he was. Arriving at the back of the bar, they were frisked then let into the room. Sonny was shocked to see Skye with no Luke. Instead there was another woman there. A hard looking brunette who seemed to have a leash on Trevor Lansing from the way he twitched every time she spoke.
Giordano Sandoval who was the more senior of the five families invited everyone to sit down. "We have much to discuss tonight. First, I would like to introduce the two women with us, this is Claudia Zachara she is here as her father's representative. I talked to Anthony earlier, he has agreed to the plan I am putting forth."
"This is Skye Chandler; she is the late Lorenzo Alcazar's widow. She came to me recently asking for advice." The hard looking men all sat down while Trevor stood there looking like he had swallowed broken glass.
"Now, we have a conundrum, Mrs. Alcazar doesn't want her late husband's territory, but she made it clear that she refuses to allow Mr. Corinthos the territories as it was a bullet from him that killed her daughter's father. As for the will of the late Mr. Alcazar, that creates another problem. He left his estate divided between his infant daughter and his late fiancee's younger sister."
Most in the room looked around wondering what this meant. "Lorenzo made it clear that this woman was to inherit half of his territory upon her marriage. We, I decided that she is to marry one of two men. John Zachara, the younger son of Anthony or your partner, Mr. Corinthos."
Jason tensed when Sonny smiled then said "I am seeing someone." He knew they would assume he was talking about Sam, but that could work out in his favor since Sam was a known quantity in his life.
"Yes, the rather well used Miss McCall, she is unacceptable. I did some research and deem her to be rather... unsavory." he said. "I have arranged for young Mr. Zachara to move to Port Charles and the two of you are to compete for the young woman. May the best man win." he said. Jason didn't care who she was, it was going to screw up his plan to get with Elizabeth and his child, Sonny would have to just accept that he wouldn't be ordered into marriage, not again.
"Now on to the other matter, Mrs. Alcazar has decided to remarry, she has someone in mind. I have given her permission to do what she wants when she is ready. But we do have one lovely potential bride left, so that there is no in fighting in regards to the territories, Miss Claudia Zachara has agreed to marry the man of my choice."
Sonny didn't like this. He had Sam all but threatening him to help her win Jason with what she had on their company, he had Skye planning on remarrying and he knew that her half of territory would go to her spouse. With the Zachara woman's marriage his own business interests would be weak. He had to figure this one out.
"Mr. Corinthos, I do believe that you are currently getting your fourth divorce from your current wife. Would that be a correct statement?" Don Sandoval looked at Sonny with hooded eyes.
Sonny started sweating; he didn't like this at all. "No, however I am hoping that Caroline and I reconcile."
"That is a shame, but I have decided that in exchange for sparing your son's life, you will marry Miss Zachara." The large man with the hooded eyes waited for it, so that he could use Corinthos being off guard to get what he wanted.
"Don't you dare threaten my son." snapped the Cuban. "What happened to children being protected?" Jason was glaring himself, as he tried to figure out why a man who was so family oriented was suddenly threatening kids.
"They are until they go to the police academy and work for them. I am talking about your illegitimate son Dante Falconari." Jason didn't know the name, but from the look on Sonny's face it was a possibility.
"My son? What are you playing at?" he blustered then listened while Dano explained. Furious at the woman who betrayed him, he said "If I marry Claudia, what do I get?"
"Money, part of her father's territory and your son free." said the godfather. "In exchange she gets a husband who is capable of running things for her and a faithful one at that. Because if you break the sanctity of your marriage, she gets everything back and you have to offer up ten million dollars."
Jason was relieved to be off the hook when Sonny gave in. Skye hadn't named her possible husband but since he was her brother, he wasn't on that list and the younger Zachara could have this other woman, he didn't care. Ignoring the suggestion that he seriously think on things, Jason was on his way out the door when he overheard the next part.
"Mrs. Alcazar, you said this Webber woman is getting married tomorrow. You need to understand that if that marriage doesn't take place, I am going to give John the go ahead to romance her but I refuse to interfere otherwise." said Dano.
Webber? Jason had to have heard that wrong. Looking at Skye he thought about it and knew that that was why Luke wasn't here. She didn't want him getting wind of this. Walking away, he stopped then told Sonny he would be right back. "I'm in."
"Good, may the best man win." said Dano as he walked to his limo and let out his well restrained laughter. The red head had been correct in her estimations; his opinion of her just went up a notch. Now all that was left was to slowly but slowly take over the Corinthos territories. Morgan would be allowed to leave if he won the heart of the woman pregnant with his child, but if he didn't... then young John would be granted the freedom he seemed to long for so desperately.
Why else would he have agreed to this, romancing a woman pregnant with another man's child? He had no illusions about the younger Zachara, that young man loathed his father and was only part of this to protect things from Lansing and or Corinthos. He had been furious to learn his sister part of the plan only for Claudia to talk privately to him then he quickly acquiesced.
Meanwhile Elizabeth was sitting in a room with five of her so called closest friends, yet none of them seemed to realize she was going through the motions. Emily seemed ecstatic about the wedding taking place the next day, Robin just seemed drunk and the other three were just working on getting that way. When Kelly left with a hot looking pool player, Robin moved into the seat next to Elizabeth.
As she drank some more, she bided her time. Next to leave was Lainey and one of their fellow nurses then Emily got a call. "You know, if you don't want to go through with this, you shouldn't."
Looking at the woman, she said "You aren't drunk?"
"No, I am just faking it rather well. Something is up with our good friend Miss Emily Quartermaine, strange calls, this obsessive need for you to marry Lucky and then this sudden best friends thing with Sam McCall and Carly. So tomorrow, if you get up there and need some support before walking out, look to me I think you need a friend." she said hugging her when she saw Emily returning.
Whispering thanks to Robin, Elizabeth quietly let Emily herd her to the Brownstone where Lulu and the rest of the Spencers were waiting minus Carly.
When Sonny finished ranting, he told Jason he was in charge. "I have to head to Bensonhurst and sort this out. And deal with Sam, find out if she has anything concrete on us and cut her loose." He then told Max to drive him into the city.
Jason was trying to keep calm as he realized that all he needed to deal with was Lucky. Sam and Carly could go hang themselves. He had reworked the penthouse into one large one with an outside play area for Cam five large bedrooms and the medical room. All he had to do was pray, something he hadn't done in years.
Heading to Jake's, he saw his sister leading Elizabeth to the waiting limo and couldn't help wondering what was up with her. Even Nik had noticed and called him questioning it. Heading up the stairs, he could smell the perfume that Sam frequently wore and tiptoed back down to where Coleman was.
"Remember the deal, she is to be told you saw me leave with a tall blond and you only saw the back of the head." he said. Then Jason slipped out the door that had no cameras watching it. He had suspected that she had the computer geek keeping tabs on his movements, this proved it.
Arriving at the Quartermaines, he slipped in through the side door and went to find a room. No one suspected where he was truly sleeping at night, not even his biological family. Early the next morning, he committed yet another cardinal sin and bribed a priest with a new roof then went home to get dressed to attend a wedding.
Just as he was leaving Jake's he saw Carly arriving in a limo. "Jase, I can't go to this dreadful wedding alone. You HAVE to come with me."
Wanting to make sure that he understood that his supposedly closest friend, the woman who claimed to have his best interest at heart was planning on personally forcing him to witness the wedding she knew would break his heart, he asked "What wedding?"
"You know damn well what wedding. My cousin's to the so called love of his life." she said not adding the poor pathetic annoyance who had almost trapped him into marriage. She wanted Jason there so that Elizabeth had no illusions, that Jason could care less she was marrying that loser Lucky. Carly was not going to take no for an answer.
"Carly, I am busy. Why do you think I am wearing a suit?" No need to make it too easy for her, he thought to himself. When she whined and persisted, Jason gave into what he had already planned on doing. His intentions were to stop the wedding, if by no other means than having a fake priest.
Lulu entered her parent's house, trying to disconnect from that pest Spinelli. He had been trying to impress her, when he had found the DNA test. There was no record of the father, but she was damn curious as to who Elizabeth had betrayed her brother with. She couldn't believe that Elizabeth would cheat on Lucky when he had been ill, to hurt him like that while he had been working so hard to become clean so he could be a good father.
Fuming, she demanded to be let in to see the bride, but her father distracted her and Lulu soon found herself in her mother's living room seated with the rest of the guests. While she wouldn't publicly humiliate Lucky like that, she was going to have a word with Elizabeth afterwords, how dare she do that to Lucky and she would refuse to rest until she got the name of the man.
Seeing Spinelli trying to reach someone frantically, she took his phone away and tossed it in the downstairs toilet. Hearing the geek yelping, she pushed him into a seat just as her father and brothers walked into the room vowing to find out what he knew immediately after the ceremony.
Hearing the harpist begin to play, Lulu looked around and saw a few guests that surprised her. Skye with an older gentleman, Jason Morgan with her cousin, she guessed that Bobbie had threatened Carly to get her there. And a red headed woman who seemed to be rather well dressed to be there; seeing Maxie there, she scowled at the blond who just glared right back from where she was sitting behind Skye and her date.
Elizabeth returned her phone to her tiny purse then went back to the bedroom where Emily, her jailer was waiting. She didn't know what was up with her, but it had become a sad state of affairs when she no longer felt like a friend and more like a guard dog. Feeling a twinge, she said
"Is Robin still in the hall?"
"Yes, is it the baby?" asked Emily. "Should I get Lucky?"
"No, I just need her for a minute. Then can you get my bouquet, I just realized I am going to look bare without in coming down the stairs." she said pretending to be happy. Robin slipped in and Emily went to find the flowers.
"Elizabeth, are there back stairs to this place?" she asked looking around and trying to recall, but it had been years since she had been to the Spencer house.
"No. Look, can you sit close. I think this is going to get ugly." she asked. "I am worried about the baby."
"Don't be. I will stick close. I am glad you are coming to your senses." said the doctor. "Now let me check your blood pressure, just in case."
"In case of what?" asked Emily as she came in holding the white roses. Elizabeth lifted her arm and Emily once again asked about Lucky.
"No, it is just a precaution since after the ceremony we are going to be dealing with so many guests."
With the start of the music, Emily pushed Robin out of the room, then turned to Elizabeth and said "Don't break his heart this time. I don't think he will recover again."
Once the woman had left, Elizabeth whispered, "Like it was my fault he got addicted and cheated on me."
Heading down the stairs, she saw Skye's smile like a beacon and the blue-black hair of the man next to her and breathed a sigh of relief. Skye's small sneeze as she passed her, gave Elizabeth a sense of relief, but she almost missed it when she saw Jason sitting next to Carly.
She felt her heart breaking but couldn't help being glad that at least he hadn't brought the woman he loved to the wedding. Arriving to the front, she heard the sound of a chair scraping then turning saw the odd sight of Lulu and some strangely dressed kid giving a speech about marriage and love that made no sense.
Luke glared at his daughter, then turned to the priest and said "Sorry padre, younger sibling, you know how that is. Doesn't like the spot light on others for too long."
Elizabeth was a bit surprised at the rather earthly once over from the young priest but the whole thing got even stranger when the man started talking about the stars and their closeness to earth. When he then started rambling about winter, she thought Luke was going to blow a gasket while Lucky just looked a bit confused.
Wondering what Skye was up to, she couldn't help thinking this would be the longest ceremony where the wedding didn't take place in years. When the man asked if anyone had a reason why this wedding shouldn't take place or to forever hold their piece, she was shocked when Nik stood up.
"I would like to say a few words, if you don't mind. Marriage, is supposed to be for the long haul, it isn't something that should be done out of obligation, I have done that and it was a disaster. Nor should it be the fulfilling of a promise made when one is young. We grow and change. Good thing or I would still be chasing after Robin." he said with a laugh that Emily didn't seem to like.
"Nor should marriage be about debts, when you agree to marry someone, it should be about love, trust and most importantly about soul mates." with that he sat down to glares from a few of the guests. Emily chiefly among them.
Carly felt herself grip Jason's arm, she was getting weird vibes from the room and was beginning to think that this wedding wouldn't be happening. Bringing Jason might have been a mistake if little miss muffin decided to run.
"So, if no one else wants to speak, shall we let the man begin." asked Luke.
"Actually, I do have something to say." Said Skye. "Luke, why are you so gung ho for this wedding to take place?"
"Excuse me?" asked a blinking Emily. "Luke only wants what is best for Lucky and this isn't the place for your attack."
"What about what is best for Elizabeth?" she asked her adopted sister.
"Elizabeth is what is best for Lucky." she said only to see a few people getting restless in their chairs. Several of the guests had grabbed the glasses of champagne on that side of the room, as they watched the wedding turn into a complete mess.
"No, not what is best for Lucky, what is best for ELIZABETH. You do recall ELIZABETH, your best friend. It is best for her to be with a man who is a recovering addict, a man who shoved her down twice since she has been pregnant."
Audrey stood and looked at her granddaughter and asked "Is this true, did Lucky push you?"
When she nodded yes, Luke said "He didn't mean it, he was high then, He has been clean for months."
"Luke, why don't you answer my question, or maybe Emily could." asked Skye while Jason wondered when his oh so simple plan started to blow up in his face.
Looking around, she said "What no answer, how about this one. Emily, you know Lucky cheated on her, yet you are pushing them to re-wed. Why haven't you said yes to Nik yet, didn't he do the same thing? Why is Elizabeth supposed to forgive when you haven't?"
"You don't know anything, Skye." snapped Carly.
Lulu desperately wanted to accuse Elizabeth, but Spinelli was dragging her to the door, and fighting him didn't seem to help. Once outside she asked why did you do that.
Not wanting to admit that he had already known about the affair from Sam, he didn't want his new master, Stone Cold to be dragged into the middle of this. He had the need to rescue women, according to Sam and he didn't want him to forget what he owed the love of his life.
Inside, all were watching things like it was a tennis match.
"Wrong Carly. We both know why you are here and it isn't familial devotion. So sit down and take a minute to use that brain of yours. Maybe it will explain to you where you went wrong." snapped Skye.
"Elizabeth do you honestly want to marry Lucky yet again? Asked Skye as she moved closer to the door.
The moment of truth was here and Elizabeth took a deep breath and said "No."
Turning to Lucky, she said "Lucky, I tried to tell you at the Metrocourt then afterwords, but first Emily then your father intervened."
"Why not, why don't you want to marry me, what about our child?" he asked. She could see how lost he was and wanted to make things better, but knew she couldn't.
"Lucky, I don't love you anymore. I only said yes because your father was blackmailing me. He threatened to take away Cam. I am sorry." she said pulling off Laura's ring. Trying to hand it to him, she found he was refusing to take it.
"No, put it back on. You and I belong together. We have since we were fifteen." he said pleading with her while Luke gritted his teeth. "We have a permanent lock, remember. I helped you deal with your rape, we... we … you owe me."
"No, Lucky I don't. I have more than repaid any favors I owe you years ago." she said wishing this was being done privately. She knew that Skye was worried about his losing it, but she was feeling naked with what had to come next. "Lucky, I am sorry, but I had a DNA test done. My baby, it isn't yours. The night of the blackout..."
"You SLUT!" He yelled his temper erupting and making him forget the witnesses. "Who is he? Who did you screw, how could you? You know that I was trying to get clean and yet you cheated on me."
More than a few guests were worried but they didn't need to be as Jason went to move forward only to be stopped by Nik who whispered "Let him show himself for who he really is, otherwise this will never end." Nik was sick of this back and forth and knew it had to end.
"He calls her one more name and I am going to break his jaw." he warned.
"You, you do remember what was going on that night, don't you. I had seen you at Kelly's with your drugs supplier, Maxie Jones. Then later on in my own bed, my bed, Lucky, that is a low one even for you." Said Elizabeth growing stronger when she saw people weren't looking at her shocked, except the Spencers.
"So whose bed did you end up in that night, letting me apologize when you don't deserve it, how could you?" Said Lucky glaring at her then the crowd that didn't seem too friendly towards him, considering he was the wounded party.
"Don't deserve it, don't you even go there. I never wanted to marry you again, why are you attacking me, I WANTED to tell you the truth. WHY AREN'T YOU YELLING AT YOUR FATHER FOR THIS FARCE?" She shouted.
Lucky looked at her and said "You could have said no. You chose to say yes."
"Lucky why don't you ask Luke why he was so hell bent suddenly on being a good father and insisting on this marriage." asked Skye who then said "Because he knew a secret, one that he heard from me. I trusted him with something, something I asked him to look into. Instead he found a way to take advantage of the situation in a way that is uniquely Spenceresque ."
"What situation?" snapped Lucky. "What are you talking about and who invited you to this wedding? I know I didn't and there was no one else who could have."
"You do know that you weren't the only person getting married Lucky, that even though I didn't chose the gown, the flowers or even the location or the groom. I was forced to be part of this," said Elizabeth. "I invited Skye when I learned why your father decided to take an interest in your life all of the sudden."
"See, Elizabeth is about to become a very rich woman and your dad knew it. She is to inherit part of the Alcazar estate from Lorenzo." said Skye. Carly's head turned to fast everyone could hear the bones snap.
"What, is he the father, did you decide sleeping with your cop husband wasn't good enough, so you screwed a mobster?" sneered Lucky.
Jason stood on the sidelines only stopping from intervening when he saw Elizabeth give a weird grin then say "No, actually I didn't sleep with Lorenzo, he was related to Sophie, Annie's daughter."
Carly recognized the name and swore under her breath while some of the newer guests tried to figure out who Annie was. She had been married to Lorenzo; she knew how wealthy the man had been and knew that Elizabeth Webber now owned several properties that Sonny would want. She had to get Jason out of here.
"So, anyhow, your father found a loop hole in the will, one he decided to exploit. Too bad for him his insurance policy went up in flames." said Skye. "Elizabeth, I had my babysitter take Cameron out of here, are you ready?"
Looking around, she turned to Skye and said "More than ready."
When she started walking back down the aisle, Emily stopped her and said "How dare you?" Emily went to slap her face only to find her arm in a tight grip. Looking up she said "Jason you are hurting me."
"If you had connected I would have done more than hurt you. I don't know what is going on with you, but I think that it is time you take a good look in the mirror. I know everything. Plotting with Carly, here and making plans behind my back with Sam, yes, I know all of it." he said seeing the two women squirm.
Elizabeth had gone quickly, but she should have stuck around, the party got even better when Jason looked at Lucky and said "Elizabeth was being kind; I have no worries about your addiction. Go back to swallowing pills, go get drunk, either way stay away from her and our ..." he bit the hand that covered his mouth as Carly figured out what he was going to do. There was no way he was lying and saying that kid was his to protect Elizabeth Webber from her mistakes.
"OUCH!" shouted Carly.
"Child, yes what Elizabeth didn't say is that the baby she is carrying is ours. Your father is one of the reasons we hadn't come forward." he said. Carly got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Then looking at Jason's face she felt like passing out when she realized he was telling the truth.
"That hot little number you are in love with has nothing to do with, yeah right. You are probably just waiting, now you can take the brat away from her. Well, I hope you do, she doesn't deserve to be a mother." said Lucky while Nik just closed his eyes wishing Jax was here already with the proof about the explosion at the Metrocourt.
"You bet that is what he is going to do, I will hire him the best attorney." crowed Carly only for Jason to turn to her and glare at her.
"Carly you even think about that and I will make every single lie, every single dirty deed you even talked about doing become public. I know everything, I kept quiet, for Elizabeth, but no more and go find your new best friend Sam, I left her a voice mail making things clear yesterday." vowed Jason. Walking to the door, he said "Spencer, you played and you lost. Now I would suggest you do another one of your disappearing acts."
Luke picked up one of the vases and tossed it as he got that all his plans for his family were going to go up in smoke. Now what was he going to do? He owed Lansing for putting pressure on his son to get Lucky reinstated with the police department and that man had made it pretty clear the price was the docks and the cannery.
TBC