Surprise! Double Update Today. This Chapter concludes what I refer to as Volume 2A. Volume 2B will also be included in this book. I might in fact keep all future Volumes in this book. Not quite sure yet. Anyway, Enjoy!

Chapter IX: Second Chance

Ellison and Tessa drove in the back of Kris' car. "Damn." Kris groaned as she held her head in pain. Kris ran into a couple of trash bins outside of Sam's apartment. Ellison and Tessa ran out and rushed up the stairs to Sam's floor.

Ellison hesitated in front of Sam's door, unsure of what he was about to walk into. Tessa, however, was not as cautious and burst through the door. "Sam!" Tessa called out. Ellison hurried in after her. "Sam!" Tessa called out once more. Tessa saw one of Danny's toys on the floor and gasped.

"Danny!" Tessa cried as she ran up the stairs. Ellison looked around. There was Sam's phone, smashed to pieces.

"Oh Mom, what trouble have you gotten into?" Ellison whispered. He stood up and walked around. On Sam's desk he saw a photo of a bridge, one that she mentioned meant a lot to her and Jason. Suddenly, it all made sense. Ellison pulled out his phone and looked at Sam's text. "911, Bridge." Ellis reread.

Tessa running down the stairs tore him from his thoughts. "Danny's gone. I think Mom took both of them." Tessa worries. Ellison lifts the picture up.

"Well, luckily for us I think I know where they're headed." Ellis states. Tessa examines it.

"Yeah, Kris drove by that bridge as we were on our way here. Are you sure?" Tessa asks. Ellison nods. The two hurry down to Kris' car.

Kris pulled up near the bottom of the bridge. Ellison ran out. "Kris, you are in no condition to go up there. Call the police." Ellison instructs. Kris nods as she pulls out her phone. Ellison and Tessa ran up. They were met by the scene of Eliana holding Danny at knife-point with Sam watching in defeat.

Eliana turned and saw her children. "Don't step any closer!" Eliana warned. Ellison and Tessa raised their hands up defensively.

"We won't Mom." Tessa assured her.

"Mom, why are you doing this?" Ellison asked. Eliana shook her head.

"She took you two from me." Eliana stated. Tessa shivered. Partly by the scene, partly by the late January breeze. Ellison took note and turned to his mother.

"Mom, this is crazy. It is freezing out here. How about, Tessa takes Danny to Kris in the car down there, and I stay up here with you and try to work this out." Ellison suggests. Eliana shakes her head. Tessa steps forward.

"Mom, please. Like Ellison, Danny is my little brother. Your feelings for Sam should not go past her. Not to mention he is too young to be out here in this weather. Let me take him down to the car. Just him, please." Tessa pleaded. Eliana's lip quivered as Tessa stepped forward. Tessa outstretched her arms. To Tessa's relief, her mother let go. Tessa turned with Danny and walked down the path and off the bridge.

Ellison smiled. "See, now it's just the three of us. Let's just talk this out." Eliana teared up as she got behind Sam and wrapped her arm around her, walking closer to the edge.

"No, I'm done talking." With that, she stepped back, sending her and Sam over the railing. Ellison sprinted forward and caught them. He dug the front of his shoes in the snow in order to stop the momentum and keep himself from falling over.

He had Sam in one hand, his mother in the other. The knife fell fast into the water. Ellison's arms were strained, each muscle feeling as though it were being torn in half. This pain was clear on his face. He attempted to pull them up, but it was in vain.

"Drop her!" Eliana cried out. Ellison shook his head as he attempted to pull them up again.

Sam looked at Ellison in sadness, then looked to Eliana. "Ellison, do what you have to do." Sam urged. Ellison looked at the two with desperation.

"Sam, what are you talking about?"

"You can't hold onto us both for much longer. You need to let me go and save your mother." Sam clarified. Ellison shook his head.

"No Sam, I love you too. I love you both and I am not letting either one of you die." Ellison spat. Eliana looked at her son and gasped.

"What have I done?" She whispered. She looked to Sam and frowned. "Sam you can't do this. Sam I am sorry for the pain I caused you. God what was I thinking you have a baby." She paused to look at her son. "Besides, I need you to stay and look after my babies." She decided. Ellison's eyes begin to fill with tears.

"What?" He managed to get out. Eliana cried.

"Ellison, my sweet baby boy, I am sorry for ever putting you in this position. I am your mother, I should have looked out for you, but instead, all I ever did was look out for myself." Eliana admitted. Ellison put his head down.

"Mom, I know what you are saying, and no. I am not letting go of either one of you. I love you both and I will not let any of you die." Ellison repeated. Eliana chuckled.

"Ellis, I can feel your grip slipping. You can only save one of us." Eliana looked at Sam. "And it has to be you. You are the only one I trust to love my babies and care for them, the way they deserve." Eliana concludes.

"No, Eliana. Whatever mistakes you have made, it's because you're sick. You deserve a second chance, to be the mother to your kids that you've always wanted to be." Sam encouraged. Eliana smiled.

"I know, but don't you see Sam, this is my second chance." She looked to Ellison and smiled one last time. "I am so proud of the young adults you and your sister have become. Look after one another, protect one another. I am sorry for failing you in life, I only hope that you two learn from my mistakes." Ellison began to cry violently.

"Mom, please. I love you." Ellison whimpered. Eliana cried.

"That's all I have ever wanted. I love you too Ellis, and your sister. Never forget that." With that, Eliana let go.

"Eliana!" Sam cried out as she reached to grab her. However, Eliana was too far away. Eliana closed her eyes before hitting the surface of the icy, black waters and disappearing.

"Mom!" Ellison cried. He grabbed onto Sam with his other hand and heaved up, not about to let his mother die in vain. They fell to the ground, the safety of the bridge.

Just then, Kris ran onto the bridge to find Sam and Ellison laying down in exhaustion. Kris mouthed "Ellie". Ellison shook his head as tears began to fall down his cheek. "She didn't want me to make the decision, so she let go." Ellison explained. Kris nodded in understanding before kneeling down to hug Ellison.

"Then it sounds as if her last act was a selfless one. She finally proved that she could be the mother you two always deserved." Kris consoled. Ellison shook his head and burst into tears. Tessa arrived. She looked around and stared at the water. She then looked to Ellison.

"No." She cried. Ellison put his head down.

"I'm sorry!" Ellison choked, barely able to speak. Tessa ran to his side and hugged him.

"No, Ellis don't you ever blame yourself for this. You were great, remember that." Tessa assures him. Dante Falconeri appeared and watched as the group spiraled into depression. Dante let out a breath.

"Come on Sam, let's get you checked out." Dante suggested. Sam looks to the twins.

"I want to make sure that they are okay first." Sam explains. Kris nods.

"I'll take care of them for the night." Kris promises. Sam nods and leaves with Dante. Ellison's gaze had returned to the water.

"Rest easy Mom." He whispers. As the three began to leave the scene and head to Kris' car, her phone rang. Kris stepped away.

"Go on ahead, I will be there soon." She assures them. They go to the car, as Kris answers. "Jeremy?" Kris asks. She hears a deep voice on the other line.

"You called me to tell me that my daughter was in trouble." Jeremy reminded her. Kris cleared her throat.

"Jeremy, I guess I'm going to have to be the one to tell you this: Eliana just died." Kris informed him.

"What!" He cried out.

"Eliana attacked a young woman named Sam Morgan and her toddler. Ellison and Tessa tried to talk her down, but she only let Sam's son go." Kris began.

"Continue."

"Well, while Tessa was helping Sam's son, Eliana threw herself off the bridge it seemed. I don't know what happened afterwards, but Eliana fell into the water. The current is strong tonight. That mixed with the hypothermia. There's no way she could have survived that fall." Kris tells him.

"You were supposed to watch out for her. That was the deal." Jeremy scolded. Kris teared up.

"The cops kept me off the bridge. I wanted to help her. I did all I could for her."

"I helped you change your identity. It would be a real shame Marie, if your identity were to get out." Jeremy warned. Kris chuckled.

"It's Kris. Don't forget Jeremy, I have secrets about you too. Maybe I should tell Amara about the affair. I think she would be very interested to learn about our true connection with one another." Kris threatens. She hears a growl from Jeremy.

"Tread carefully, Kris."

"No, the deal is over now, so don't ever call me again." With that, Kris hangs up and returns to the teens in the car.

Seven Months Later

Tessa sat at the kitchen table as Sam placed a plate of dry eggs and extra crispy bacon in front of her. After that, Sam places down nearly burnt toast. Tessa looked at Sam with a small bit of amusement. "You're learning." Tessa teases. Sam looks at the blonde in slight embarrassment before motioning upstairs.

"Can you tell your brother that breakfast is ready?" Sam requests. Tessa nods and starts to head upstairs, thinking about the past half year. Tessa's mind wanders back to AJ, who was murdered in cold blood in April.

Though he had been part of the lie that hid her true parentage, Tessa did not wish death upon him. In fact, Tessa missed the days where she believed that AJ was their father. Though Tessa always knew in her heart that Jason was her dad, she figured that perhaps maybe part of AJ actually cared for her and her sibling.

However, no loss hurt her more than that of her mother. Regardless of any quarrel they might have had, she loved her mother, and would spend the rest of her life missing her. At that moment, a knock on the front door echoed through the house. Sam answered the door. Kris walked in and hugged Sam.

"You look good. I forgot to ask you last time but is Molly doing okay with the whole Rafe thing?" Kris asks. Sam nods.

"Well, obviously Molly misses him, but she is doing better." Sam explains. Kris nods.

"Well, I am ready for work talk, got my official Private Eye license and I am excited." Kris claps as she talks. Another knock interrupted them. "I got it." Kris offers. She gets up as Ellison and Tessa walk downstairs.

Kris opens it to see an older man with grey hair and blue eyes. "Kris." He greets. Ellison gasps.

"Grandpa Jeremy?"