This chapter is longer than the others as there is a big reveal and hopefully a surprise to all.

Part 6

Elizabeth and Jason:

They rush to the room, Jason unlocks the door and his eyes widen as he sees Elizabeth tied up and gagged. She is also passed out. Spinelli gasps and reaches for his phone, but Nikolas stops him.

Jason runs to the bed, removes the gag & unties her. He grabs a bottle of water and pours a little water into her mouth. He checks for a pulse. Elizabeth's eyes flutter open slightly and Jason breathes a sigh of relief.

Elizabeth looks at Jason and weakly says in surprise, "Jason", then passes out again.

They buy food and take Elizabeth back to the Safehouse. Jason carries her inside and gently places her on the bed.

Jason calls Anna and updates her and lets her know if she wants to see Elizabeth, she can come to the safehouse when she wakes up, but he still doesn't want anyone to know he is alive and in Port Charles. Until Elizabeth is healthy enough to call her family herself, he doesn't want her to say anything until she is ready. He makes Nikolas and Spinelli promise him the same. He asks Nikolas for a large temporary loan and access to a gun. When he's ready to reveal himself, he will pay him back. Nikolas takes Spinelli home promising to return later. Spinelli is tasked with finding Esme.

Jason sits by her bed waiting for her to wake up, he holds her hand and prays silently.

Elizabeth tosses and turns and wakes up in a sweat. She looks at Jason again and realizes she wasn't dreaming. and is in shock. He kisses her hands and then her forehead. They embrace, and Jason explains what happened to him and Nikolas finding him and updates her on the rest including her rescue. He asks, "are you hungry?" She nods yes. Jason makes a light meal of soup and sandwiches. He waits patiently until she finishes eating for her to tell him everything she knows.

Elizabeth explains what she remembers:

"Jason, I've remembered. I remember everything and much of it has to do with Esme Prince. Did Nikolas tell you about her?" Jason nods. "you have to promise me not to go after her in your usual way. Yes, what she did to Cameron and Josslyn and even to me, is awful, but please don't kill her. She needs help, psychiatric help. She does need to take responsibility, but Helena is more to blame, and maybe even me."

Jason replies, "I don't understand. After all, she's done to you, your family, and Josslyn, why do blame yourself and want leniency?"

Elizabeth explains, "she is my daughter and Cameron's twin. I was having flashbacks that made no sense, but ever since I met Esme, I got the strangest feeling I knew her. After I checked myself into Shadybrook and she kept finding me and taunting me, I was having nightmares. When she took me and held me in the motel, I remembered, and she confirmed everything."

"When I left town to have Cameron, what I remember as an easy birth was much more than that. Esme was born first, and I heard a familiar voice, but couldn't place it at the time. It was Helena and I heard her say, 'I'm going to call her Esme'. Then my contractions started again. Cameron arrived a few minutes later and after hearing them both cry, Helena whispered in my ear, 'you and the Spencer family foiled my plan with Lucky, but don't worry your daughter will make you regret everything when you least expect it. Maybe I'll let one of my sons raise her. And do you truly think the curse on Lucky was removed completely? You will be paying for your part and Lucky will unknowingly make you pay for years!' Then I heard her and laugh say to one of the nurses, 'make sure you give her something strong. Make her sleep and maybe the inhibitor drug will make her forget I was here. Jason, how could I forget something like that?" Elizabeth breaks down in tears.

Jason holds her and kisses her forehead. "Elizabeth, you said yourself, Helena gave you something. Don't torture yourself over this."

Her sobs subside, Elizabeth continues, "maybe until after they left or when I recovered or returned to Port Charles, but 19+ years later? If I would have known, maybe Luke or Nikolas would have helped. Nikolas never liked Helena. We could have rescued Esme and I could have raised her, and she wouldn't have turned out this way. She told me she blames me for not giving her the life Cam had. If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have done all those things." She begs him not to go after her. "No matter what she's done, she is still my daughter."

Jason agrees for now to table the issues but says, "you should call home and let everyone know you are safe, but you can't let anyone know about me yet. Only three people besides you know about me, that is Nikolas, Spinelli, and Anna Devane."

Nikolas returns to check on Elizabeth and to ensure Jason that Spinelli won't divulge Jason is alive. He arrives to find Jason and Elizabeth talking. Elizabeth looks up, smiles, and reaches her arms out to welcome and thank her best friend. He is happy to learn she is unharmed, but she says they need to talk. She tells Nikolas what Helena did, and he says, "I didn't know. Who raised her?"

Elizabeth replies, "Helena said, 'a son', that could mean Stavros, Stephan, Valentine, do you know of any other sons or relatives? Or maybe she lied, and it was someone random. She also said there was more than one conditioning level and Lucky would continue to make me pay years later and my daughter would learn to do the same. Esme implied she'd been in contact with Helena over the years and was helping to carry on the curse on me via what we helped break Lucky from."

Jason says, "I want Elizabeth to call home and let everyone know she's been rescued and will come home tomorrow. I suggest you take all the credit and keep my presence a secret until I can figure out a way to break the news to everyone."

Elizabeth laughs and says, "you mean specifically Sonny and Carly first?"

Jason rubs his eyebrow, smiles, sheepishly looks away, and replies, "yes", and half laughs. He asks Nikolas, "Can you make sure Spinelli goes along with this? I promise it will only be a few days longer."

Nikolas replies, "After I take Elizabeth back in the morning, I will keep my eye on Spinelli. I suggest we come up with a cover story of how I found you, especially if you still want to protect Esme."

Jason squeezes Elizabeth's hand and asks, "can we come up with a story by tomorrow? I want to talk to Elizabeth about what to expect moving forward."

Nikolas replies, "of course. Liz, I'm glad you are okay. I'll stick around for your call to Laura and the boys, but then I'll let you and Jason have some privacy."

Anna arrives before Elizabeth picks up the phone and she's clued in on the whole story, including the possible cover story. She and Jason stay quiet while Elizabeth uses Nikolas's phone to call home.

Laura answers and checks the caller ID. "Nikolas, do you have any news? Have you found Elizabeth? "

Elizabeth replies, "Laura, it's me, Elizabeth. Nikolas did find me and I'm coming home. I'll be back in Port Charles tomorrow. I'm tired and don't want to say anything on the phone, but I'll make a statement when we get back. I'd love to speak to my boys and let them know I'm alive and relatively unharmed."

Elizabeth hears Laura call out, "Cameron, Jake, Aiden, it's your mother! She's been found by Uncle Nikolas and she's coming home tomorrow! She wants to talk to all of you."

As soon as Elizabeth hears all her son's voices in the background, tears softly fall and she puts a hand up to her lips. Jason sits next to her holding one hand for support and hoping he can hear his son's voice. "Cam, sweetie, it's mom, I'm okay. Nikolas found me and I'll be home tomorrow. I can't talk long; Nikolas needs to save his battery. Laura will update you and your brothers. I love you and can you please put your brothers on the phone?"

Elizabeth hears her eldest son sob in relief, and he says, "I love you too. I can't wait to see you" He hands the phone to Jake, "mom wants to say she is fine and loves you, she can't talk long, but she will be home tomorrow." He hands the phone to Jake.

Elizabeth says, "I miss you and your brothers and can't wait to see you. I love you."

Jake replies I love you too. I got an "A" on my art project. Can I tell you about it?"

Elizabeth chokes back a sob, "tomorrow, I want to hear all about it. Can you put Aiden on?" She looks over at Jason and a tear falls down his face. She wipes it away in reflex. "Aiden it's mom. I love you and will be there soon. Are you behaving? Are you listening to Cam and your grandmother?"

Elizabeth hears Aiden cry and Laura takes the phone away from him and says, "he's fine and everyone is excited to see you tomorrow. I love you and give my love to Nikolas." She closes the cell phone and ends the call, and hands it back to Nikolas.

Elizabeth sighs deeply and says, sarcastically, "well that wasn't difficult. What's next?"

Nikolas says, "I think that's my cue to leave. I'll be by in the morning to find out what the plan is. I'm staying at a hotel a few minutes away. Jason, I got what you needed." He kisses Elizabeth's cheek and leaves.

Anna, Jason, and Elizabeth brainstormed.

Anna says, "Elizabeth first I need to tell you that Robert will not overlook what Esme has done, even if you don't want to press charges. Kidnapping/Abduction is considered to be a Class B Felony and is punishable by a one-year minimum prison sentence of up to 25 years, although for a first-time offense it is more likely to be closer to the one-year. If she is found and pleads temporary insanity, she can spend time in a place like Ferncliff. Regardless, she needs to be tracked down and held accountable for her actions. If she is found guilty of being the person responsible for filming Cameron and Josslyn that is another felony and Elizabeth, this is not something you can make go away. I know Carly won't let it go away."

Elizabeth sighs and replies, "I know you are right, but I can't help it, I feel responsible."

Jason is sitting next to Elizabeth controlling a wide range of emotions from trying to understand what Elizabeth is going through .knowing if it was Michael or even Jake doing something like that, he'd want to protect them. He did get himself sent to PV to be near Michael, but Esme hurt not only Josslyn and Cameron but could have killed Elizabeth. Who knows what Helena did to her? Peter did things to Drew and even though he never grew up with him or had much of a relationship with him, he was still his brother and he wanted him free of Peter's control.

"Elizabeth", he says, "I can understand how you are feeling, and I don't want Esme dead because she is your daughter and if she was raised and conditioned by the Cassidines, she was like Lucky, Jake, and also Drew because Peter learned from her and Faison. But we can't let this slide. She needs help."

Elizabeth nods her head and asks, "what do I need to do?"

Anna replies, "after you return home, I'll send Dante to have you file a police report. You can tell them as much as you want them to know, but don't lie. If they find out you've lied that can come back to hurt, you and Esme legally. I'll let Robert know and maybe he can consider reducing the charges. You may want to tell Laura, Kevin, and maybe Cameron the whole truth. You will need to prepare them and maybe Kevin can advise you."

Elizabeth asks, "should I call Scott to be there when I make my statement to the police?"

Anna replies, "that could imply you are complicit too, but if you feel it's necessary, I recommend you have him wait upstairs if the questioning becomes too much. Now Jason, eventually we are going to need to discuss your appearance, but that can wait until Elizabeth's turmoil is at least somewhat resolved. I know we've gone over a lot of specifics and your story can't be too rehearsed as you may need to repeat your story more than once. You may even have to make a statement to the press. Okay, I'll leave and be on standby if you need me. Good Luck." Anna leaves.

Jason says, "we are alone now. Do you want to talk more about Esme, me being 'not dead', or uhh us?"

Elizabeth replies, "us? Do you think we can get back to 'us' after everything we've been through? I am so grateful you and Nikolas saved me, and yes Spinelli too, but when I was in Shadybrook I had sessions with Kevin. We discussed my relationships and the good, the bad, and the ugly. I did love Franco; you need to understand that. I know you may never get past what he did to Sam or believe he changed, but he changed me and helped our son when Jake was going through a lot because of Helena. We also discussed Lucky and why I kept trying to make things work with him. When we got to you, I said couldn't put into words what I felt about you, that I had no regrets, but with you dead was it worth rehashing what never could be? Kevin replied only I could answer that question. You were never in the bad or the ugly column. I loved you, and I still do and now that you are alive, I guess I have a lot of thinking to do. I think you do too. I believe you have reconciled that you and Sam are over. She and I are a little friendly now and she seems happy with Dante. But maybe you've had more time to think about us. This is all fresh to me. I'm sorry, I'm babbling. Can you wait? Give me some time to adjust to you being alive. And I do want to talk about Esme, but I need to sleep on that."

Jason is patiently listening, and he understands what he is saying and feeling but he says, "hush. You are right we have a lot to talk about, and I'll wait if that's what you want but first…" Jason pulls her close to him and tenderly kisses her. Elizabeth sinks into him and responds. He says, "that's what I thought, but for now I'll wait. Let's get some sleep."

Jason holds her in his arms feeling her breathing against his chest. He recalls how good it felt meeting in the safehouse sleeping next to each other and how short-lived their time was there.

Elizabeth awakens to a light breakfast of a bagel and cream cheese and coffee. Jason carries over the cup of coffee and leans in for a quick kiss. He says, I'm sorry, but there's not a lot of food here, but when you get home, I'm sure you will be well fed. I still want to give you time, but I can't go without seeing you. Do you think you could get away later? We sill have a lot to talk about."

Elizabeth replies, "I want to see you too, but I want to hold my boys and they might not want to let me out of their sight. I also want to keep you informed on Esme. Maybe Nikolas can run interference for us."

Jason says, "Nikolas helping this much comes as a surprise. Is he doing this for you? Do you or him still have feelings for each other?"

Elizabeth replies, "No, Nikolas will always be special to me and I consider him one of my best friends, but I think some of what I did was a reaction to my endless cycle with Lucky. What we had was over a long time ago. He's married to Ava now and he says he loves her. I think his helping you has more to do with Emily. She would have wanted him to help you. Maybe he did it for me knowing how I would want you saved even if we aren't together."

Elizabeth finishes her coffee and Nikolas arrives.

They fill Nikolas in on the story and Elizabeth asks Nikolas to stay with her during questioning and make sure their statements match, but not word for word. Everyone feels they are ready to move forward. Nikolas leaves and says he will get the car ready.

Jason pulls Elizabeth into a hug and kisses her forehead. "Good Luck and please come back soon." Elizabeth nods and heads to Nikolas's car and Jason watches as they drive away toward Elizabeth's home.