He's Jason Morgan. It took him a year of stumbling around in the dark, wary of the deadly skills he found he possessed before he learned his identity. Nikolas and Elizabeth never found out who he was before he did, he'd asked Elizabeth to marry him, and he stayed when his identity came out…but in the long scheme of things and the inevitability that is JaSam…how much did it really matter?

Characters in this short story are the property of ABC/General Hospital.

Chapter 1

He's a grown man, but on account of how much of his life he actually remembered, he was only a year old. It was six in the morning and Jason had returned to the footbridge where he'd spent a majority of the night before, and previous weeks in fact - his troubled, jumbled mind trying desperately to compartmentalize recent events.

Almost a year to the day that he woke up in the hospital with no memory of his name or his life, Carly Corinthos, who he had formed a close bond with in the short time he'd known her, shocked his world and turned it on its axis when she shared DNA results that proved he was Jason Morgan. The conversation had not gone well, because despite the evident ridiculousness of him turning out to be some deadly, feared and revered Mob Enforcer who was married to Sam, and best friends with a guy he could barely stand to be in the same room with most of the time, 'Jake Doe' was happy and content. He was in love, had a family he'd give everything to, had made peace with the fact he may never find out who he was, and had the angel of mercy to go home to. He was NOT Jason Morgan!

But since when did DNA lie? Faced with the inevitability of it all, he'd had no choice but to accept the facts and try to put it all into perspective. He was married. He had two sons, family, friends, a life. He soon found out that he had life altering decisions to make and people to hurt.

Jason looked over the brushes that surrounded the calm little creek below him, the morning dew glistening as it disappeared beneath the early rays of the rising sun, and he found himself coming to terms with his decision. Making the least amount of changes to everyone's lives is what made the most sense. Sam and Danny had a new family, and from the last year that they'd spent as friends, getting to know each other, he'd seen how happy she was. She smiled all the time, and except for the few occasions when he'd seen her grapple with the memories and the loss of her late husband, she appeared to have moved on. His son was a happy little boy with a big sister who obviously adored him. They made a beautiful family that he was certain she'd always wanted.

Sonny and Carly and their children had moved on too. They lived their own lives now, and he certainly wasn't interested in being anybody's enforcer or lacky - so they would just keep it this way and all continue to live their separate lives.

Carly had grown on him and he found he enjoyed conversations with her and helping her to figure things out whenever she needed to talk. She was good people…misguided at times and stubbornly headstrong, but she had a good heart. She'd befriended him almost immediately and he'd love to continue to have her in his life as a friend. But she would definitely need to learn respect for his fiancé.

Elizabeth. She had become so important to him, and the way she had embraced him and welcomed him to her family, making them his too, had meant everything. She'd given him love and acceptance and a home. He loved her so much - wanted to marry her and build a life together. He was a lucky man…but he was a married one.

It was unreal to him that he was married to Sam. She was definitely a beautiful, tough, incredible woman, but she didn't seem much like his type. She was fierce and self sufficient…she didn't back from confrontation or from danger, had a tongue as sharp as a razor and didn't mince words…but anyone could tell that inside the hard shell lived a woman of substance. If he was honest with himself he'd have to admit that there were times during the course of the time he'd known her that he'd often felt more than just a mere attraction. Some little thing she did - the way she laughed, a particular angle her head would strike during conversation…he could see Jason Morgan's captivation with her - there were definitely things he found attractive about Sam Morgan. But she was somebody else's girl.

When he'd thought himself married to Hayden Barnes, Elizabeth had insisted that he tried to give his marriage a chance, even though they'd already started to fall for each other. He'd felt like he had a duty to at least try, but would've dropped Hayden like a hot habit if Elizabeth would've taken him. When the news of his true identity first broke, he'd been deathly afraid that she was going to insist that he tried to make things work with Sam too, but she didn't. She'd left the choice up to him that time. She'd reminded him that he was different now, that they'd built something strong together and that it wasn't something he should dismiss without earnest thought. They were in love. She was right. They were all different now and at different stages of their lives…it wouldn't really benefit anybody to try to rewind the clock.

So he'd called Diane Miller and asked her to set divorce proceedings in gear. He needed to free himself and Sam from old obligations and give them both a clear shot at new futures. Without each other. It was the right thing to do. So why did it make him sad in some way? Why did it feel like he was hurting himself by making that choice? Was it because of Danny? Maybe. He had a responsibility to his son…but then again, he didn't need to be married to Sam to be a father to Danny.

Danny. The sweetest little four-year-old he'd ever known. Okay, so he didn't know many, but if he did, he was certain Daniel Morgan would still be up there on the list. From the first day he'd met the little man, Danny had clung to his leg as if they'd known each other forever. He hadn't spent much time with Danny over the last year, but the time that he had was precious and memorable. He was a remarkable little boy and Jason was awestruck to find out he came from him. He had sons.

"There you are. Somehow, I knew I'd find you here."

He looked to the sound of the angelic voice of his lady love to find her walking towards him, a smile on her face as she greeted him after a long night at the hospital. She was so beautiful to him. So sweet and caring, a true angel of mercy. He found himself wondering, why, when he had the choice between her and Sam, he'd chosen Sam and not her. He remembered her telling Jake Doe that he'd wanted to keep them away from danger, so he gave them up…but it didn't make sense to him that the same hadn't applied for Sam and Danny. Hadn't they mattered enough to leave for their safety too? He couldn't see how they wouldn't have.

"Hey." He returned her sweet smile, noting how tired she looked. "You didn't have to come looking for me - I'd be home soon." He reached out and stroked her hair as she stopped in front of him and surrounded his waist with her arms.

"I know, but I couldn't wait to do this." She turned her head upwards and tipped to kiss his lips softly, then smiled even wider. "I've been waiting all night to do that."

He hugged her to his body and stared deeply into her eyes. "Me too. I needed that."

Her smile waned. "Why? What's got you out here thinking now? Are you having second thoughts about the divorce?"

He hurried to reassure the strain he could hear creeping into her voice. "No, nothing like that. It's the right thing to do - I want to marry you. It's just…" He released her and turned back to the bridge, bracing against outstretched arms. "I still don't remember anything about my life. It would be nice to know why I made some of the choices I did, what my motivation in life was. It would be nice to remember being with you before, making our son together. I'm just a little frustrated with the lack of memories, I guess. Nothing new there."

He felt her arms circle his waist and her chin press to his back.

"I know - you've always been the type of person who likes to be in control of your life, so I know how hard this is for you. Just know that I love you, whether you remember or not. I can tell you anything you want to know…we were always very close so I know alot about you. I can tell you all about our son and that magical time we spent together - brief though it was. Things always got in the way of us, but we would've been great together, if we'd only had the chance before. We finally do, we finally get to have our time, and I'm going to make you so happy, you'll never want to leave ever again."

"You already make me happier than I have a right to be."

The words were falling slowly from his lips but his mind's eye was playing what had to be a memory. She was holding him in the same way she held him now, her arms surrounded him from behind and her head rested softly to the crook in his back, giving him such peace, as he looked down to where she hugged him, her delicate arms and fingers wrapping him in so much love. He was smiling - her embrace always brought a smile to his face that relayed the warmth and happiness he felt in her arms. Tanned arms…with dark nail polish on her fingers…not the olive toned complex of Elizabeth's…nor her barely-there, pink hued fingernails. It wasn't her.

"Jason. What's the matter?"

He turned as her arms fell away from his waist. "What?"

Her brow furrowed in worry. "You just tensed up in my arms. What's wrong?"

He shook his head and took her hand, leading them away from the bridge. "Nothing's wrong. Let's just go home."

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Sam signed on the proverbial dotted line, then laid the pen down and sighed. She never thought she'd ever be here again….signing away her marriage to Jason. Jason. They thought they'd stay married forever, happy and in love, unlike anything she'd ever felt for anyone. But cruel, cruel fate always seemed to have other plans for their lives…so now here she was, looking at their marriage, their love - reduced to a piece of paper that detailed settlements and joint custody of their child.

She never thought that she would ever lose him…not even when she would watch him arm himself and leave for a confrontation related to his dangerous business. Now, to find out that as soon as she'd finally put his memory to rest, after grieving and hoping for years that he'd make it back to her…as soon as she'd laid her love for him to the corner of her heart engraved as his for eternity and said yes to marrying another man and giving Danny a father figure, he did come back. Only not really…since he had no memory of her, of loving her, of their years spent in a love to rival the greatest ever felt by anyone. He was back, but he wasn't really. He wasn't her Jason. He came back, and his first stop, his first connection, his first ties…much like his first child…were made with Elizabeth.

Figures. Sam rose from the table and walked over to the window of her mother's lakehouse, staring out at the rustling leaves of the huge oak tree by the water. Who else would be his first stop but the woman who'd darkened their doorstep for years, waiting anxiously in the wings to grab at any loose thread in their relationship that would unravel and break it apart? How many times had they done that dance, played that distasteful triangle? Who needed that tango again?

Sam turned back and picked her phone up from the table where it had just beeped next to the life she'd just signed away. It was a text from Maxie.

'Where are you? Everything's ready.'

She closed her eyes and turned her head to the ceiling as she thought about what she was about to do. It was the right thing for everybody. Jason was back but he wasn't her Jason. He'd made his choice and she had made promises to Patrick and Emma. They were counting on her to keep them, and Danny was happy and safe in their new little family. What she'd shared with Jason was a thing of the past that he couldn't even remember, and by all indications, had no interest in revisiting. He was happy. He was where he'd tried to be before, with the woman who had come between them more than once now for obvious reasons. He wasn't her Jason.

She typed 'on my way,' then grabbed her keys from the table and left the lakehouse, the signed divorce papers sitting where her mother would see them and file them the next day. She had a fitting to get to.

Kristina was on the other side of the door when she swung it open, her keys poised to enter the slot.

"Whoa!" Both sisters startled at the sight of the other.

"Where you off to in such a hurry?"

"Gotta meet Maxie. Catch you later." Sam was already on the way to her car.

"Wait - can I tag?" Kristina quickly locked the door and raced to catch up. "Where?"

"Crimson. She has some dresses for me to try." Sam got behind the wheel and started the engine as her sister jumped in the front.

"Wait, you have a fitting and you didn't invite anybody?" Her voice sounded hurt, then it took on a confused tinge as she asked next, "Whoa, whoa, you're still going to marry Patrick?"

Sam eased the car into traffic and kept her eyes straight ahead, refusing to meet the question in Krissy's, fearing she'd read everything in hers.

"Yes, of course I'm still marrying Patrick."

Kristina knew her big sister, knew that despite the front she often sported when it came to her true feelings for Jason, she was usually reserved but completely in love with the man.

"Sam, are you sure this is what you want? You and Jason are forever - do you think that will ever really change?"

"It has changed. Jason is marrying Elizabeth. He's made it quite clear he's where he wants to be…Danny and I will be fine. Patrick loves us, this is what's best for everyone."

"Yes, we know that Patrick loves you, but do you love him?"

"Of course I love Patrick, Krissy! What's not to love - he's a good man and he's been there for Danny and me. He's giving us a family and a home…what more could I ask for, for my child?"

"I don't know - what you have with Jason?"

"Had. What I had with Jason…he's giving that to somebody else now."

Kristina looked at her stubborn, strong, determined sister and though she always tried to hide it, the pain was clear to see for anyone who knew her. She was very much still in love with her husband, it was clear as day…and him being with someone else was killing her. But true to form, Sam would give Jason what she thought he needed and at her own expense. She would do anything for the people she loved, and that's exactly what Kristina could see her doing now….for Jason, for Danny, for Patrick…for everyone but Sam.

They entered the parking garage at the Metro Court and Kristina grabbed onto her sister's arm as she put the car into park.

"I don't think you should do this…not yet, Sam. I think you should talk to Jason again - give yourselves time to come to grips with the new reality before you do something this life changing and permanent.

Sam's eyes softened as she saw the raw concern in her little sister's eyes as she pleaded with her, and her heart ached as it did everytime she was reminded that she was a part of a really wonderful family. She loved them so much. She palmed her sister's cheek softly.

"It really isn't all that permanent, Krissy. I thought Jason and I were…and I just signed that away a few minutes ago. Life changes in a blink, whether you're prepared or not. I can't want somebody who doesn't want me, and I'm really not up for round fifty with Jason and his saint. He's where he wants to be, and I have to do what's best for Danny."

She opened the door and exited the car, rounding on the garage elevator as Kristina fell in line next to her.

"He doesn't remember you, Sam. You know things would be different if he did."

"Would they?" Sam punched in the floor number for Crimson and looked at her sister. "He doesn't remember her either - that didn't stop him from bonding with her, from committing to her. So what does that say about our connection?"

Kristina was silent on that one. Sam and Jason had always had the strongest connection she'd ever seen between two people, but it had obviously failed them both when they spent a year together and nothing happened. It was still hard to believe that they hadn't connected instantly, despite his memory loss, given the type of love that they shared.

The doors opened and they were greeted by a smiling Maxie Jones, Junior Editor extraordinaire.

"There you are, finally! Come on - I have the room all set up for you. We have some wonderful new gowns on loan from Milan - you're going to die when you see the ones I picked for you to try! Wait - what am I saying? Okay, Kristina's going to die - you're just going to look at them like they all look the same to you. Seriously, Sam - how can you not care about fashion? You look fabulous in this stuff - I have got to get you to dress up more! It was hard when you were married to the mob and jeans and t-shirt were all you sported, but now that you'll be a surgeon's wife, you'll definitely have more occasions to dress the part. I can't wait to take you on shopping trips to Tokyo and London."

Sam and Kristina followed meekly, exchanging knowing smiles as they allowed Maxie to rave on as Maxie does.

"I thought for sure you'd go running back to that slab of stone and drop Patrick like yesterday's newspaper, but I'm glad to see you're thinking about yourself for a change. I mean, don't get me wrong, I know Jason always loved you like crazy, but you have a different life now…one where you can be the real, beautiful you and dress up like the bombshell you are, more often. All that black you wore when you were with him - it just makes me want to kidnap you like they do with cult members and revamp your brain. Couture, love - embrace it - you look fabulous in it. How great are you going to look in this one?"

The sisters looked at the puffy heap of tulle with it's princess beads in disdain, then looked back at Maxie incredulously. She saw the looks and relented, placing the dress back on the rack.

"Fine - I kinda knew you'd hate that one anyway, but trust me, you will love these."

She was right. It took Sam all of twenty minutes to find the dress she'd marry Patrick in. It was simple and sleek with a modest neckline that fit the new mode she was trying to embrace. A surgeon's wife had to dress a little bit more conservative than she was used to, but she didn't mind. She was a mom now and had new priorities and a new outlook. Long gone were the days where she put Jason and his needs above everything and everyone…where she'd jump on the back of his bike and they'd lose themselves in the open road and in each other. She had a new life now.

Sam was staring at her reflection in the mirror, not overly loving it but not hating it either, when Maxie returned with the seamstress in tow. As the woman took measurements and pinned up the too long hem of the dress, Kristina's stomach growled.

"When you're done, Sissy - let's have breakfast downstairs. Maxie, come join?"

"No, thanks. I don't eat breakfast and I have a million calls to return." She was studying Sam's face in the floor length mirror. "You do like it, right, Sam?"

She lifted her head to meet her friend's worried eyes, and she knew she wasn't talking just about the dress.

"It's fine, Maxie. It's exactly what I need." She wasn't either. This was best for everyone.