Disclaimer: I own nothing from General Hospital which belongs to ABC and it's respective owners. I do not own Sherlock BBC, which belongs to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and it's respective owners. I don't own "Guard Me, Sherlock". That belongs to it's respective owners. Hercule Poirot is a creation of Agatha Christy, and not mine! This is only for pure amusement and imagination, and to hone my writing skills.

Summary: Elizabeth Webber broke the shackles of her past with true grit and a steel spine. She had stopped being what people expected of her, and lived by her own rules. But when obligations force her to return to Port Charles, the past threats the life she had built. But a mysterious man has a shocking proposition that may be the way to save her from the threats that arise, but what of the threat of losing her heart?

Pairings: (Surprise)/Elizabeth, mentions of Liason and Lucky/Liz

AU History: In a world where the reins of Deception were in Brenda Barrett's and Jasper Jax's hands, Elizabeth Webber was given a choice. A life free of those that would mold her into a fragile doll, and where she was able to flourish and grow into someone she wanted to be. She left Port Charles, and never looked back, until the end of her contract nears and Brenda wants her to do once last event. Old faces, old problems threaten to tear Elizabeth down from the life that she has built, but it is the surprising offer from Mycroft Holmes that could be her salvation or damnation.

Warnings: Will have a bit of violence, and bit of steamy smexy times, but nothing too explicit. If you want the explicit version you need to go to my AO3 account and read the one on there. Carly, Sonny, Courtney, Lucky and the Spencers hoard will not be likeable so if you like them then you need jump ship. Sam is a non-entity at this point and honestly, I doubt she will even make it into the story. LiRic (Elizabeth and Ric) never happened. Anything else will be made clear throughout the story so please enjoy.

DIFFERENCE IN GH CANNON: Carly had already pushed Jason at Courtney while Lucky was forcing Liz to play model for his mom while he played photographer, so Elizabeth didn't have Jason telling her the hard truths because he was wrapped up in the mess of Courtney/AJ thing.

Inspired by the "Guard Me, Sherlock" Game. It is an app available on all Andriod devices. Great game, I love it though waiting for tickets and such is a bit of a pain. Some dialogue and a little bit of the story plots from the game will be worked into the fanfiction, but have a GH twist and spin on certain things.

THE FACE OF DECEPTION

By ThroughtheMirrorDarkly

Chapter One

"The Return"

Elizabeth Webber's face was on billboards all around the world from New York to California all the way across the ocean to Japan and the Netherlands, and much more. Regardless of what the pictures advertise, the Face of Deception was instantly recognizable and sought after which is why it was such a relief that her contract was finally coming to an end. Brenda and Jax, as amazing as they had been, had known Elizabeth wasn't going to make her entire life as model, nor did she want to. The only reason she had agreed was for the freedom that came with it.

Of course, the original deal penned by Laura Spencer and Carly Corinthos had been more of selling of the soul than freedom, but as scandals happened, it came out that Laura really hadn't gotten control of the company through the proper channels. Documents or what not had been falsified and while the blond had sought to remedy that as quickly as possible, it had been all for naught because Jasper Jax had been more swift. Never one to squander an opportunity, the Australian "stole the company" and with his new wife Brenda—which infuriated both Sonny and Carly for very different reasons—had taken over quickly. They breathed new life into the dying company in a way that Laura and Carly had been incapable of doing. Carly had been short sightedness when it came to the potential that Elizabeth was, because she would always hate Elizabeth for ruining her chances with Jason though that was far from true. Carly had done that all on her own. Laura had the inability to treat Elizabeth as an individual without Lucky attached to her, and while Elizabeth was a talented model, Lucky's photography was subpar at best.

After the great upset, Laura decided to ask for a loan from the Quartermaine's to start her own company. It didn't work out. So after that, Lucky decided photography wasn't for him and the Spencer expected Elizabeth to follow. And that was the make or break moment for Elizabeth. She didn't want to be a model, even if she was good at it. It wasn't something that fulfilled her at the end of the day. Not in the way that painting did. But after months of telling Laura and Lucky she hadn't been comfortable and hadn't felt right with the modeling, they only decided to drop it all when they couldn't get anything out of it any longer and expected Elizabeth to just follow them like a dog on the leash.

It had been a cold, harsh slap to the face that made her wake up to reality.

If she continued to be a doormat, that's all she would ever be treated like. She would only be a lapdog, only good for doing what she was told, and was expected to have no needs or wants of her own. She was meant to cater to Lucky and his life, and Elizabeth just wondered how she became so desperate to be loved and belong that she nearly lost herself in the process? So Elizabeth went to Brenda and Jax, told them her feelings and they had listened. Two people that really and truly listened to her, and she had forgotten how nice that was to have someone willing to be in her corner. Jason Morgan, her former friend, had once been that person, but he was too wrapped in the messy divorce of AJ and Courtney at the time. She hadn't known what truth there was to Jason having an affair with Courtney, and hadn't wanted to. There had…been something between her and Jason, and to think of him with someone else—back then, not now—had been difficult. Maybe it was hypocritically considering she had been with Lucky, but when were feelings ever easy to make out?

The Spencers had been wroth with anger. They considered what Elizabeth was doing as a betrayal, and Elizabeth realized how wrong she had been about them. A real, supportive family would have been happy, despite the circumstances. It showed her how little in the grand scheme of things that Elizabeth had meant to them, and they hadn't talked since the big blow out at the Nurses Ball back in 2001. Emily—Elizabeth' former best friend—had chosen a side so quickly, without even bothering to hear Elizabeth out that it still left Elizabeth reeling to this day when she thought about it. Nicolas had remained neutral for Laura's sake, but it was clear he disapproved of the Spencer Clan's actions. If only he felt strong enough friendship for Elizabeth to actually to have her back. She had kept in touch with Nicolas for a couple of years, but steadily the phone calls and letters grew fewer and fewer until contact ceased all together.

Audrey, her grandmother, had been certain that Elizabeth would fail. She had went on and on about how much of a mistake Elizabeth was making leaving a sure thing like Lucky behind for a wild dream—never mind the fact, Audrey had been so supportive when it had been Lucky's dream. After Elizabeth had left, Audrey had moved to California to be taken care of by Sarah, Elizabeth's older sister, because her health started to fail. No matter how many times Elizabeth reached out, Audrey had never wanted to speak to her. All she got was a mockingly regretful Sarah told her that Audrey refused to even hear her voice over the telephone, and threw out the letters and gifts Elizabeth sent. It had been the one regret that lingered with Elizabeth.

She hadn't even got to go to the funeral because she had been told to stay away by her mother and Sarah.

Elizabeth drew in a deep breath, the warm summer air wafted off the chopping waters and she pulled herself out of memory lane, harshly. She didn't have time to muse on the past when her future was what was important. She looked around the pier and at the faded red number '51' on the side of the building, and couldn't believe that it had been nearly seven years since she had been in Port Charles. Every familiar corner brought up memories leaving her nostalgic, but she couldn't deny the wariness that tapped along her spine like cold fingers. She knew that with familiar corners there would no doubt be familiar faces, and she wasn't sure she wanted to face them at all. Why should she? Her past didn't and shouldn't define her now.

But that wasn't her biggest issue right now. Her big issue was the well-meaning friend Epiphany Johnson. Epiphany was a dark skinned goddess and plus sized fashion designer who didn't take shit from the industry or anyone, defying the set rules of what "beauty" had been deemed by society and rewriting the book on modeling. She also had an unhealthy obsession with meddling in her friends' love lives. (Or in Elizabeth's case, lack thereof.) "Sex is good for you Elizabeth. It release endorphins in the brain that make you happy and reduces stress. Every healthy hot blooded woman should have some mind blowing, curl your toes, make you forget your name kind of sex at some point in their life. Don't worry, honey, I'll find you just the man that will be sure to satisfy," Epiphany had told Elizabeth, on one of their girl's nights out.

Elizabeth hadn't thought anything of it, until she was informed by Epiphany through text message that she had been set up on a blind date. Her! On a blind date! God only knew the last time she had been on a date. Dating hadn't really been in her plans, nor did she have the time to have a steady relationship. She didn't do one night stands. After the almost one night stand with Zander which had been more awkward and embarrassing than anything else, Elizabeth had sworn off flings forever. She just couldn't do it, she couldn't have sex with no emotions attached to it.

She knew that Epiphany meant well, but romance just never came easy to her. Add into the fact that she knew nothing about the man whom she had been set up to meet, and needless to say that Elizabeth was a nervous wreck. This was supposed to be her down time, damnit! She didn't have to worry about shoes that didn't fit, slipping on the catwalk, whether or not she was photogenic today, or the acting career that people speculated that she would soon have after a few guest roles on shows like Once Upon a Time, Supernatural and Arrow. She played Irene Alder an investigator on the mystery show, Mid-Fall Murders. It was a mini-series and despite its popularity, it did not get picked up for a third season. Not to mention the people bothering her about her short stint as a guest star on Days of Our Lives who wanted her role become permanent and her to be paired with Greg Vaughn's character Eric. Her character's name had been Evelyn, and the shipper name for them was Ever, and don't forget the hashtag on twitter.

That dream would sadly not be because once her contract was up by the months end, she would never step foot in front of the spotlight ever again. She intended to live a life so notoriously boring that the legit paparazzi would leave her alone and only the occasional trash magazine would photoshop her images in an unflattering light and accuse of some kind of nonsense. She hoped it had something to do with aliens; those were the ones that made her laugh the most. But back to the matter at hand, she shouldn't be so twisted up into knots over this, right? What could go wrong on a blind date?

Oh, hell, why did she have to put that thought into the universe? Now everything that could go wrong would.

"Elizabeth?" A voice came from behind her, and even though it had been so many years, she could still recognize the whiny and snotty tone that was Lucky Spencer's natural way of speaking. At least, the Lucky after his great return, the boy before had been soft spoken and so different than what came home.

See! She sent a petulant look into the sky before she drew in a breath to steel her resolve, and plastered a big fake smile on her face before she turned to face Lucky. He wasn't alone, though his company wasn't someone that Elizabeth frankly liked and didn't make her any less annoyed. It was Gia Taggert, the dark skinned beauty had been in the running for the Face of Deception and had a good shot at it until she had been caught with drugs in her purse. Apparently the rigorous routine that Laura had demanded had been too much for the younger woman and she needed something to give her a boost to manage to survive. Her brother had been disappointed and got her into a rehab program right away.

She looks good and healthy, Elizabeth noted. That was good. While there was no love lost between the two of them, she would never wish for anyone to fall prey to addiction. She was glad that the young woman had gotten sober, and seemed to be staying that way. But seeing so many young women fall into the same lure that Gia had over her years as a model, she could see the signs of Gia's past written in her skin and face. Drugs left a mark on the body and soul—sometimes, it barely shows like in Gia's case, and other times it was unmistakable. "Gia, Lucky. This is a surprise," Elizabeth greeted, neutrally.

"Yeah," Gia drawled out, her eyes narrowed. Her dark eyes were slightly accusing as they swept over Elizabeth's body—from her designer shoes to expensive coat—almost like she was saying, That should have been mine. "This really is a surprise. What on earth could you be doing back in Port Charles? Shouldn't you be somewhere…I don't know doing a coffee commercial?"

It was a slight jab, but Elizabeth had heard worse and from much better. "Brenda wanted me to do one last charity event here at the MetroCourt. Port Charles is where I got my start, and it's where everything should come to an end," divulged Elizabeth, with a polite tone. She wanted to make it clear she wasn't back here to pick up her old life, but merely out of obligation to Brenda. She didn't want to give anyone a leg to stand or allow for rumors to have any merit, though she knew that would hardly stop them from flourishing. Those who loved rumors, hated a peaceful life and Port Charles was anything, but peaceful.

"An end?" Lucky blinked. He had looked over Elizabeth with a look that she hadn't liked at all. In fact, it had made her skin crawl. It was like a dog salivating after a piece of meat hanging in a butcher's shop. "What do you mean an end? I thought you were so successful."

Elizabeth allowed the scorn in his voice go unanswered. "Modeling was never a forever thing for me. It wasn't what I originally wanted to do," she replied, easily. It hadn't been what she wanted, but it had helped her gain connections in the world of modeling and art. She intended to open her own gallery. Her own artwork—what few pieces she had managed to paint during her busy schedules—were in a gallery already, and a few pieces had sold, earning money for charity. She wanted to create art in painting, photography and work with others to cultivate up and coming artists. This was her dream.

Gia snorted. "Do you have any idea what some people would do for your kind of life? And you are just throwing it away. No wonder Audrey was so disappointed in you. You squander every opportunity you are ever given," the other woman said, nastily.

Elizabeth supposed it was too much to hope that things would stay civil. "Is that supposed to hurt me? Make me angry or upset?" She questioned, her tone carefully light. She saw a flash of surprise on the other woman's face. She was used to the hot tempered girl that had a cutting thing to say to anyone who tried to hurt her, but she had outgrown that a long time. She had learned to patient and calculating to deal with pettiness and ugliness. "You don't know me, Gia. You don't know my life. You didn't even know me back all those years ago. Tell me, why would I value or need the opinion of a person who doesn't know me or doesn't matters to me?"

"Elizabeth, you have no right to talk to Gia that way," Lucky defended, glaring at her.

"You are right. I have no reason to treat Gia with the politeness that she decided that I just wasn't worth, but I am a bigger person and the high road has the best view," Elizabeth smiled, thinly. She wasn't in Port Charles to play nice or make friends. She would give as good as she got, and if someone had a problem with that then tough shit. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have to check on my reservations at the hotel."

A blatant lie, but she'd use any excuse to get away from the pair. She went to walk away when Lucky caught her by the elbow, and held her back. A sensation rippled across her body—revulsion and anger at him daring to touch her—and it took every fiber of her being not to knock him on his ass. "What are you doing?" She demanded, jerking her arm free of his grasp. "You don't just grab people like that."

He had the decency to look a little bit ashamed, but he straightened his spine. "I just wanted to ask you before you ran away if you wanted to have lunch," said Lucky, with what he thought was a suave and charming smile. "Since you're back in town and finally free from being under Jax's thumb, I figured perhaps you'd like to go out on a date."

Elizabeth just stared at him, and wondered what fresh hell she just stepped into. Was he serious, right now? Seven years and they hadn't spoken. The conversation they just hadn't been exactly nice. It had been cool and distant and despite all of that, Lucky had the gall to hit on her? Her eyes narrowed into slits, and she stared hard at Lucky. He hadn't grown up at all. He may have physically aged, but she could see by the look in his eyes that he was still the same angry boy that was dangerously possessive, and wanted the world to give him what he thought he deserved. And Lucky had always believed Elizabeth belonged to him. That stupid permanent lock.

"Are you serious right now?" Gia snarled. "You are asking her on a date right in front of me?"

"What's wrong with that?" Lucky gave her a clueless look.

Elizabeth looked between the two, and then slowly turned around while the pair bickered, hastily making her escape. Yeah, that was something that she just did not need to get into the middle of. She didn't know exactly what kind of relationship was going on—Gia thought it was exclusive, and Lucky apparently thought otherwise—but just no. She wouldn't take Lucky back in a million years, even if Gia hadn't been in the picture. He wasn't the boy she used to know, and she wasn't the girl that needed help out of the snow. She had outgrown that relationship, and while she valued the pre "resurrection" time she had with the original Lucky, she couldn't stand the person that he had become.

But she didn't think that would stop Lucky from making things complicated for her.

God, help her.

Elizabeth had disappeared out of sight, like the unwanted ghost that she was. Lucky and Gia walked away from the pier, their shouts echoing all around them and no doubt the police would be called for some kind of domestic dispute. But if one thought the docks were abandoned then they would be completely wrong. Someone else was there, lingering in the shadow and had watched the entire scene with wrath filled eyes. This simply would not do, the person thought, nearly foaming at the mouth with anger. Of all the people to stroll back into this town, it had to be her. Rage and bitterness cut through the watcher's cut like a white hot knife. Hands clenched at their side, they decided then and there that they would do anything and everything to get Elizabeth Webber out of Port Charles.

No matter what it takes.

She had made it back to her hotel without another encounter, thankfully. She had taken a long luxurious bubble bath, allowing the tension to be soaked away before she dressed in her fluffy robe, ordered dinner and was now sipping on a glass of wine—she wished she had tequila, and some limes to be perfectly honest—while speaking to Brenda. Brenda was supposed to get a vacation, but there was a huge undertaking of setting up the "Face of Deception" contest as well as handling negotiations with a new company interested in investing in Deception, so she couldn't leave Paris right now. Epiphany would be there in a week or so, because she was catering the charity event, but still that left Elizabeth alone with what felt like vultures form her past. And God help her, she could feel them circling around overhead.

She couldn't wait to leave Port Charles, and this time to leave it in her rearview mirror permanently.

"You do know if you tell Epiphany no, she won't be mad," Brenda stated, her voice crackling over the speaker phone breaking the silence of her hotel room. "Canceling a blind date is hardly the end of the world."

Brenda and Epiphany were the only ones that could push Elizabeth out of her comfort zone, and when Elizabeth gave a firm "no", they never made her feel bad about it. They respected her and her decisions, even if they tried her to get her to broad her horizons and try new things. Sometimes, Elizabeth wondered if they had a board filled with ideas, and just threw darts at it to choose what idea they would next bring to Elizabeth. Seemed like the dart landed on "blind dates" this go around, and if there was anything that could make her feel more anxiety than a blind date, Elizabeth had yet to find it.

"I can handle it. I just want to make sure my blind date doesn't turn out to be a nightmare waiting to happen. You sure this detective guy would be willing to help, Brenda?" Elizabeth asked, hesitantly.

"Of course, he will be!" Brenda reassured her, her tone very positive with a slight coy undertone. "I mean, if I had a choice I would really get Hercule Poirot to take your case, but he is busy on a case in London right now. There have been these horrible murders going on. The media has dubbed them the ABC Murders."

"Yeah, I heard about that," Elizabeth shuddered, remember the pictures that had been splashed all over the new. "You said you would have chosen Hercule over Sherlock? Is it because he is the better detective?"

"Hmm. I would say they are pretty on par with each other. Similar yet differing methods of how they solve cases, but at the end, I would choose Hercule merely because he has a more…mellow personality. Sherlock can be a bit…abrasive at times even though he means well," Brenda replied, thoughtfully. "Also there are lines that Sherlock is willing to cross where Hercule is far more reserved when it comes to a case. If your blind date turns out to be a dud, you might need someone to cross a few lines. Although I reiterate that I don't think Epiphany would set you up with someone who is a complete psychopath."

"So an incomplete one would be just fine?" Elizabeth sassed.

"We all have our flaws," Brenda chuckled, mildly.

Elizabeth was about to speak again when she heard a noise like a door opening on Brenda's end of the phone, and she heard a muffled voice in the distance speak. "It's alright. I don't mind it being this late. I am just glad we have finally gotten time off together after all the craziness. You can leave the spaghetti sauce, noodles and wine out by the stove, Jax. Once I'm off the phone with Elizabeth, I intend to start dinner," Brenda addressed her husband, with soft adoration in her tone.

It was almost sickeningly sweet how Brenda and Jax, even after all these years were still gooey-eyed over each other. Without Sonny or anyone else bringing in drama, the two were able to establish their relationship on a firm steady foundation and it flourished into something damn near unstoppable. The two had taken over the fashion world by storm, and had been a Cinderella sensation that made people love and hate them. And Brenda learned how to cook! Like actually cook, not burn things! Elizabeth had been shocked, too, when she learned the other woman had taken lessons and they actually worked.

"Anyways, Elizabeth, don't worry about your blind date. Sherlock can be a bit of a git at times, but I do believe he will take your case. He will, at least, hear you out and the worst he could say is no. I'll get you a meeting set up with Sherlock, okay? I will text you the time and place when I know where he wants to have the meeting," Brenda said, her tone soft and reassuring. She normally was sassy and self-confident with everyone, but only a few got to see her softer side.

"Alright," Elizabeth sighed, her nails rapped against the table top where her half-finished meal sat before her. The chicken parmesan was really delectable, but with the foreboding feeling in the pit of her stomach, she just couldn't finish it. She'd put it in the mini fridge for the morning because she abhorred wastefulness. "I really wish that Epiphany hadn't set me up at all."

A soft little noise came over the phone that screamed of exasperated fondness. "We just want you to be happy, Elizabeth. You've been so busy trying to be free, and away from people who would use you that you haven't looked for someone who wouldn't."

"That's not true. I have you, Jax and Epiphany," Elizabeth denied.

"Yes, you have us at your back, but no one at your side. No one that is at your side to weather whatever storm comes you way. Just us who get in called in when the aftermath has settled in," Brenda countered, smoothly. Elizabeth could almost see the red head nodding empathetically to emphasis her point inside her head. "You need a person—not just any person, but the one that will be there until the end of the line."

She set her fork down onto the plate noiselessly, and emptied her glass. "And you think that Epiphany's blind date is going to be that?" Elizabeth asked, flopping back carelessly.

"Maybe, maybe not," Brenda said, breezily. "But you'll never know if you aren't looking. You needn't go in with eyes wide open, but not closed so tight that you can't see what is potentially in front of you. Besides, with Sherlock Holmes on the case, you'll have an answer quick on what kind of man your date is, so what's the harm?"

The coffee house was always quiet. Only people that knew Sonny or Jason, or were a part of that business actually came in to buy coffee. Even few stayed and loafed around. Courtney was one of those poor souls that didn't seem to have anything in Port Charles besides her friendship with Carly and Gia, and sibling relationship with Sonny. She had burned the bridge with Jason when she had dared to cheat on him with Nicolas Cassidine, and ended up pregnant—after she was told by doctors that her becoming pregnant would never happen. She tried to milk it for as long as possible, testing waters with both men and deciding who she wanted to be the baby's father. In the end, she didn't get her chance to mess with any DNA results to match her wishes because Nicolas and Jason had it done at a private laboratory, far beyond Courtney's reach.

And Nicolas was founded to be Spencer's father.

Courtney clung to her marriage with all her might, and told Jason that he hadn't minded to raise Michael, why should Spencer be any different? Those words held them together for a few short months until Jason caught her kissing Nicolas again, and the next day his name was on divorce papers. And what could Courtney do to fight them? She cheated, had a child as proof of her infidelity, and even with Carly and Sonny's backing…Jason still held all the cards. So she signed the divorce papers, and it had been three years since then. Nearly four, and she still hadn't given up hope that Jason would one day see how good they had been and give her a second chance. It's why she hung around this dump, allowing Carly to talk her ear off in the hopes that if she was around Jason a lot then it would wear down his resolve. She even wore her best clothing that made her cleavage look spot on, and short skirts that showed off her toned athletic legs.

And yet he resisted. She knew it had to do something with that trollop, Nadine.

The blond doctor, who in Courtney's opinion was too waif and meek to really satisfy Jason, had been hired by Jason to be all call for any "emergencies" that might crop up in the "coffee business". She was bet that there was more to it than that. She had seen some of the guards looking at Nadine, and would bet her last dollar that she had spread her legs for the lot of them. It was always the sweet, innocent ones that were the biggest sluts, and they weren't even any good at it. No, Jason needed someone with talent and that would be willing to do anything for him. And that was Courtney, not simpering little Nadine. She had been working her brother to get Nadine fired, but he had been no help really.

"Jason hired her. It's his call." That's all Sonny would say.

Courtney nearly rolled her eyes at Carly going on about Kate being a bitch in heat and how she should stay away from Sonny, but restrained herself. Honestly, she was beginning to believe that Sonny and Carly enjoyed the run around. Sonny cheated or Carly cheated, they would be at each other's throats and break up, ugliness ensued with everyone close caught in the crossfire. Then something would happen, a softening on either side and they came rushing back together, tearing up anyone else who was in the way to jump each others' bones. It was pathetic. If Jason had cheated on her like that then Courtney would never ever get back together with him.

The bell above the door dinged, and Gia came charging in. Courtney didn't know if her and Gia were really friends, but the mutual hatred for Elizabeth Webber bonded them tightly. They had both been with men who had the nastiest little problem with pining for the brunette, even after she was gone. She had even tried to burn that horrible painting "The Wind", but Jason had caught her. She played it off like she was going to move it somewhere else, and at first, she thought he believed it. But when she went to go after the painting again, it had been gone. He had put it away so Courtney couldn't touch it, and that had made her furious. It was also the trigger that had her kiss Nicolas for the first time. As for Lucky, he had never been quiet about how he always expected Elizabeth to come crawling back one day. Gia should have known a man who liked to yammer on about an ex like that clearly had issues and wasn't over them. She set herself up for heartache, but that wasn't Courtney's problem.

"Jeez," Courtney asked, with a snort, "who pissed in your cheerios?"

"Elizabeth Webber."

Instantly, the demeanor of the blondes at the table changed. Both their expressions twisted into something unpleasant, but it was Carly who in a shrill tone, voiced that displeasure, "What does she have to do with anything? She's a million miles away, unless you are telling me that Lucky is back to preaching the virtues of little miss innocent and claiming Jax took her away from him when we all know that Lucky drove her away with his craziness last time."

"She was a million miles away," Gia corrected, her voice deadly calm. "She is back in Port Charles as of last night."

"What?" Courtney's mouth dropped open in horror.

"You are kidding me!" Carly sneered.

"Nope. Lucky and I ran into her at the docks," Gia stated, disgruntled.

Courtney gritted her teeth together. "Let me guess, she's picking up right where she left off. Making moon eyes at Lucky, and soon she'll do the same to Jason. She always wants to be in the middle of a love triangle, and have men pawing at her like she is some prized pet," the blond snipped, the insult falling off her toxic tongue so naturally. There was a time that Elizabeth had been a friend to her, her conscious reminded. But what remained of Courtney's conscious was buried underneath heaps of selfish ambition, and could not be heard over it all.

"Actually, it was Lucky with the moon eyes," Gia reluctantly admitted, with a hint of sorrow in her dark eyes. "Elizabeth ran off as soon as he hit on her, and she looked horrified that he even did."

Carly considered that with a shrew gaze. "She is probably playing hard to get with Lucky because she wants to go after Jason first."

"Like hell she will," Courtney said, crossing her arms over her chest.

It never occurred to anyone, save for Gia, that perhaps Elizabeth had no romantic notions towards either man, and that a woman's sole existence in life wasn't just to chase after men. But what did occur to Courtney was that Elizabeth Webber was dangerous. She had a firm foot in Jason's heart—friend or more—and that just couldn't be tolerated.

Not one bit.

END OF CHAPTER!

1.) Greg Vaughn as you probably well know played Lucky Spencer for a while on General Hospital after two other actors, and now he plays Eric on Days of Our Lives (a role originated by Jensen Ackles.) This was my little nod to him. While I never supported Lucky and Liz after his return from "death", I could not deny that Greg Vaughn and Rebecca Herbst had chemistry. Not as much as Liason and Lusam had in my opinion, but damn writers ignored the gold mine they had right in front of them. Ugh.

2.) If you have a loved one that is abusing drugs, do want you can for them, but always understand that what they are doing is not a reflection on you. They chose to use the drugs—for whatever reason—and they have to get better for themselves. You can push and guide them to a good decision, but ultimately, it has to be them that make the effort. You can't do that for them. If you are using drugs and want to stop, please look into the many rehab facilities and hotlines that offer support. You are stronger than the substance, and you can win your battle, you just have to believe in yourself and don't give up.

RRs are appreciated.