A/N – Thanks for the comments! Leasmom – Yes, Jason knows about Helena. Sonny told him.

ghfan51184- On the show, Jason wouldn't have shown growth when he got back. Remember, when he became coherent after 5 years, it was like it was yesterday. No time had passed for him. Also, he didn't try to take what was rightfully his from Drew. He totally backed off. He gave them the company and the penthouse. It was Drew that had the attitude and could care less that he took Jason's life. I don't think BM was a placeholder. Steve's return was unplanned. Honestly, I hated Drew's version of Jason. It was like a new character. I'm just not a BM fan. I don't think they intended to just screw BM over though. They were writing for him and gave him a storyline. Sometimes, they don't do nice things to your character, it's not a personal thing. Look how Liz is written. They aren't trying to screw Becky over, they just suck as writers. Sam being in the middle made it hard to reunite the brothers (Drew's attitude). Also, on the show, Jake is just too young to want to be in the mob. Maybe it's something they can do down the road. Jake already knows what Sam did. Thanks for reading!

A/N - Chapter 26

Cam sucked in a deep breath. "Emiliana? What are you doing here?"

Tears pricked her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Cam's attention jerked to Carlos. "Why is she here?"

"Her father is Salvatore. It was buried so she could go to school without being bothered."

"Is that why I thought I saw guards sometimes?"

She nodded.

"Jesus… Was it a lie?" They aren't together anymore but he still needs to know if it was real.

"No. My father never knew about your connection to Maximus."

He eyed Carlos. "So, you took her to use her as bait?"

"Cam, we took her to level the

playing field. We're hoping to make an exchange."

Cam shook his head. "So much for no women and children."

"Cam…"

"No mom, this is wrong."

"Cam, too many people are dying over this. We're not going to hurt her, but if we can just stop the violence to buy us some time, we can save Max and Maximus and stop the senseless killing."

"She's right," Emiliana said. "I don't agree with my father's acts of revenge. He loves me and I may be the only one who can stop this. My brothers are bullies and are probably encouraging him."

Cam sighed. "Where are you putting her?"

"Ken will be her guard. Where she goes, he goes," Francis said. It's not that he doesn't trust Cam but he's young and emotional. "Put her upstairs in the green room."

Ken nodded and led her away with Cam on their heels.

"I think that was the right move," Jason said. Usually, he wouldn't go there, but things seem to have disintegrated.

"I want this to be over."

Drew yawned. "I think I have jetlag."

"Go upstairs and you can stay in the room that's five doors on the left. Jason can sleep across the hall from you."

"Thanks," Drew said before leaving.

Francis, Carlos, and Johnny left them alone.

"How are you feeling?" Liz asked.

"I'm fine, mom. You worry too much," Jake said.

"You were shot."

"Barely…"

"What happened out there, Jake?"

Jake ran his hand through his hair. "He ran me off the road and I went down a ravine and hit a tree. I was a little out of it but climbed out as bullets whizzed around me and that is when I was struck." His mom's eyes had widened. "I'm okay now. Anyway, I shot back and then crawled to a tree. I was scared, but my adrenaline kicked in. Realizing that I may be outnumbered, I calmed myself and listened. They weren't far from each other, so after the last rounds were fired, I took a blind shot and hit one of them. I could hear the other one scramble away and then a car door shut. It was Carlos. He had tracked me, and quickly took out the other guy and came and got me."

Liz let out the breath she was holding. "Thank God he showed up when he did. You took a life, Jake."

"I know, but he would have taken mine if I didn't. I used all the techniques Johnny, Francis, and Carlos showed me. Even though I know you're disappointed, I'm proud of myself. I survived and didn't freak out and make a mistake."

"You did good, Jake." At least if he's going to be an enforcer, he's making good decisions.

Jake smiled. "Thanks, Dad."

Jason closed his eyes cherishing the moment. "You should hate me for walking away."

"I think I understand why you did. I just wish that you would have believed in yourself."

"I was scared; something I'm not used to."

"I'm just glad I got my dad back. I never thought Drew was you. In my heart, I knew."

Jason got up and sat next to Jake who laid his head on his dad's shoulder.

"When this is all finished, will you promise to get checked out?"

Jason groaned. He hates anything to have to do with a doctor, especially now.

"Please…"

"Alright. I'll have some tests done."

"Thank you."

Liz is happy with that reaction. "I'm going to go make some lunch. We have a long day ahead of us. Salvatore is about to find out that we have his daughter. I just hope taking her wasn't a mistake."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Sal threw a glass across the room and it shattered everywhere. "Son of a bitch!"

"What do you want me to do?" his enforcer asked.

"Just—give me a minute."

He paced back and forth. The Giambetti's having enough balls to take his daughter had thrown him, but he doesn't believe they'll hurt her. Elizabeth Giambetti hasn't been in this business long enough to be that cold, sure her decisions in the last few days had resulted in the loss of life, but that was simply collateral damage.

His enforcer gazed at his phone. "Boss, Jason Morgan is in Palermo." They have eyes everywhere.

Sal spun around. "What?"

"He flew in with another man named Andrew Cain that is supposedly his twin. Rumors are that they are at the Giambetti estate."

He hadn't expected that. Over the years, they had tracked Milo and Max, so they know of Jason's reputation and he's not a man Sal cares to tangle with. A lot of people celebrated when they thought he was dead. Knowing he's now by Elizabeth's side does not make him happy.

"Do what you have to do to take Jake. I don't care who you must take out. You won't be able to get near the house, so you'll have to lure him out."

"I'm on it."

If Elizabeth wants to play that game, then so be it. Jason will back off because she won't want her child to be injured and then Sal will get what he wants, the imminent destruction of the Giambetti organization. It's time to have a chat with Maximus.

"Where are my sons?"

"I'll go find them."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Drew stepped onto the balcony where Liz is standing.

"I figured you'd follow me." She slowly turned to face him.

"I missed you."

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't trying to hurt you. It was partly that I'm a coward and partly, I was trying to protect my boys."

"I know, but I wish you would have let me help you. Even though I was upset, if I had known that you were in trouble, I would have left with you. God, Elizabeth. I was so in love with you. When I found out you have left, it broke my heart." Maybe he would have had a different reaction if he had remembered his past at the time because her actions would have hurt more.

Tears pricked her eyes. "It broke mine too."

"When I realized that you didn't want to be found, I just lost it." He moved closer.

"I never meant to hurt you."

As they embraced, his eyes shut. "I would have never gotten back with Sam if I had known where you were. Would I have still had the chance?"

She pulled back. "I'm sorry, but I had to let you go. I had to move on. The guilt was just eating me alive."

He thrust his hands into his pockets.

"Are you happy with Sam?"

He nodded. "The baby changed a lot for me."

"What is her name?"

"It's Alana Jaime."

"That's pretty."

"She wanted to name her Emily."

Liz rolled her eyes.

"I refused."

She sighed. "Can you forgive me?"

"Already done…"

She hugged him again. "I was so happy with you."

"What are you going to do regarding my brother?"

They retreated.

"I have no idea. If he wants to be in Jake's life, I won't interfere." She was surprised that he was willing to stay for a while.

"What about your heart?" It would be karma if Jason got back together with her. Maybe he deserved the punishment for fighting to be with Sam when she wasn't his.

"I can't even go there right now. I don't think his head is there either. We were good as friends, that will be a start."

"He's hurting more than he lets on. How could he not? He not only lost his wife and son, but he lost so many years of his life."

"Are you guys getting closer?"

Drew slightly smiled. "We're working on it."

"I hope it works out."

"It's a little awkward." The fact that they have shared women is not an appealing thought.

Her brow quirked. "You think?"

He grinned. "I really missed you."

"Ditto. When you talk to Sam, if you must tell her where you are and about me, you can, but make her swear that she won't tell another soul. She hates me and the feeling is mutual."

"I'll put it off as long as possible, but no matter what, just like you, I don't think she's trying to repeat her mistakes."

They were interrupted by Cam.

"Dinner is ready."

"We'll be right there," Liz said.

After he left, Drew shook his head. "How did he get so old?"

"I don't know, but I miss my tiny boy with the mischievous smile and curly hair."

They moved toward the doorway.

"I know I'm not their dad, but I never stopped loving them. I don't know how we'll make it work, but I want to be in their lives."

She grabbed his hand. "I will never turn down family."

He kissed her on top of her head. "Thank you."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason glanced at Elizabeth and Drew who are laughing as they entered the room. He wonders if Elizabeth would have taken Drew back if it weren't for Sam. He can't help but feel a bit insecure because a life with his brother is safer than one with him. Sam seemed to notice that too, and Elizabeth had been in love with Drew and happy. Shaking the thoughts away, he focused on the problem at hand. Things with the Amatucci family are getting out of control. They need to talk. He slowly stood garnering their attention.

"Can we take a walk?"

She nodded. "Sure." A nervous pang tweaks her stomach as they head to the back porch. She hasn't had a lot of time to see the Giambetti grounds, so this will be nice.

Silence enveloped them as they headed through some trees and then and opening appeared and her eyes grew wide. There is a beautiful pond with benches under shade trees. "Wow."

"It's nice," he said heading towards a bench. "It's not the docks, but it will have to do."

She smiled fondly and then sat next to him.

"Before I get to the business, do you have any questions for me?"

She sighed. "I am curious about something."

"Go ahead."

"When you got back home, did you still want Sam?"

He nodded. "We were married, so yes. Most of those seven years I was unconscious or drugged out of my mind. It was like no time had passed for me once I started to remember. I revealed myself to Sonny first and then I went to see her, but no one was home, so I went on the balcony. She came home and I started to open the door and that's when I saw Drew. They were talking about their love and marriage and I was crushed."

She squeezed his hand. "After all you had been through, I'm sure that was hard for you to hear."

"It was. I had missed so much time and I just wanted to go back to normal, but nothing has been normal since I returned."

"It's going to take time for you to re-adjust, but I'm so glad that you're okay."

"Maybe all of this is what I deserve."

Liz shook her head vehemently. "You were kidnapped and taken away from the people who love and care about you. You did nothing to deserve that, Jason. Did Monica go crazy?"

He slightly smiled. "She was very happy to see me. Considering how many Quartermaines she has watched die, gaining a new son was good for her too."

"I didn't even think of that. I'm happy for her."

"Anyway, I've spent a lot of time trying to figure this mess out and didn't help that Sam was pretty cold towards me and wanted a divorce so she could marry Drew."

"She's in denial and trying not to hurt him."

"She loves him."

"Yes, but who are you kidding? She loves you more, Jason. It's just going to take time." The woman had always obsessed with Jason.

"It doesn't matter."

"I want you to be happy."

He shrugged. "When she asked me for the divorce and said she wanted him, I told her that if she walks out the door, there is no going back. I was just sick of her treating me like my feelings don't matter." He stood and started to pace. "That's what everyone does, and I know I don't help because I'm always trying to do the right thing or being blindly loyal, but dammit, I seem to always come last as far as my feelings are concerned."

Pain is etched onto his face and she hates seeing it, but she is glad that he is expressing his feelings. "I did that to you with Jake and Lucky, and I will be forever sorry for it."

"You did and it hurt, but I forgave you. I hurt you too."

"It still doesn't make it right. Asking you to give up Jake was devastating for us. I've had time to process and maybe you shouldn't forgive me. After all that you went through with Carly regarding Michael and just losing your father, I wasn't thinking about your feelings and that was wrong. I was so busy trying to protect that idiot, Lucky, and trying to avoid conflict, that I hurt you badly." She stood. "It will never happen again. Jake needs you and I miss my friend." There were a lot of times that she had chosen Lucky over Jason and she is sure that couldn't have helped Jason's self-confidence or trust. They had both fed into each other's insecurities at one point or another.

His features softened. "I missed you too."

"Can we hug on it?"

"Yes, but I want to say something too. I'm sorry that I kept pushing you away. I should have fought you harder regarding Jake. We were both cowards. I think I put you on such a high pedestal that I just did whatever you wanted except when you wanted me to stay because you meant so much to me I couldn't lose you to the violence."

"You told me no initially."

"And then I let my guilt drive me just like you did. Also, fear is not something I usually run from. With you, at one point, it was overwhelming. It would have crushed me if you or the kids had been hurt because of my choices." Sometimes, his mind just gets fixated on something and he can't let it go.

"We agreed that it was best for you to stay away."

"I keep thinking that I shouldn't fight to be with anyone, that I should do whatever they want because of the violence, but maybe that's stupid. I don't know. I get that we should be concerned for the kids, but I'm tired of ending up alone or settling for someone who thinks they are willing to accept it but really can't. Maybe if I had stopped making excuses and fought to be with you then things would have been different." There is no way of knowing because, in his heart, he never believed she'd stay if something awful happened. They wouldn't be able to forgive themselves.

"I didn't fight either; not really. I made my case once and wanted to sneak around, but I still didn't allow you to be involved with the kids. I look back at that time and wonder what the hell we were thinking. God, we were annoying."

He softly smiled. "Yeah."

"I know you were around Michael, Kristina, and Molly because everyone knew about them, but it still hurt to see you with them and not us."

"Their parents were willing to take the chance. Although, Alexis wasn't at first. That changed as the kids got older."

She nodded. "I didn't see you around all the time. I wasn't pining, but sometimes I thought about us. I'm also sorry for what I did with the DNA test and how I kept you and Sam apart. I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't know that he was yours; please know that if I did, I would have never gone there. Hell, I shouldn't have regardless." It is yet another mistake she has to live with.

He sighed. "I held it back, but I was angry with you. After what Sam did regarding Jake, I would have thought you'd never lie about something like that."

She averted her gaze. "There's no excuse. I wish I could go back and change things, but I can't. I don't want to be known as a serial liar. I don't think I'll have a problem speaking my mind anymore."

"I know that feeling about wishing you could change things, but I have let it go." He's not trying to hate her. "I need to tell you something."

"Okay."

"Danny isn't mine."

A/N There's more talking to come.