Chapter 16

Jason and Elizabeth:

Jason calls Elizabeth and asks her to come to the safe house; he has information about Esme that they can't discuss over the phone. Elizabeth says she will be there shortly.

Jason says, "Elizabeth, Spinelli was able to pull DNA and fingerprints off evidence Esme left behind, and he eliminated everyone except ours, Nikolas, his and Esme's DNA. I had a hunch and asked him to run your DNA against hers. The results are conclusive. You are not Esme's mother. You may have given birth to twins, but not to Esme."

Tears slowly fall down Elizabeth's face, "why? Why would she claim to be my daughter?"

Jason replies, "you said Helena was there. I support your belief Helena wanted to punish you is accurate. She used Esme to hurt you, like how Lucky hurt you and how Jake was programmed to destroy Port Charles. She considered you to be a Spencer. Helena wanted to continue the curse."

Elizabeth says, "I have two questions. If I have a daughter, do you know who she is or where she is? Two, if Esme is not my daughter, who is she?"

Jason replies, "Spinelli is searching records to find your daughter. I believe Esme is my daughter. I don't know how, or rather who, but according to Spinelli, she has my DNA."

Elizabeth exclaims, "wow! That would be a surprise." She pauses, "Jason, besides Courtney, were you with anyone besides her around that time? Our pregnancies were around the same time."

Jason replies, "but Courtney miscarried. I wasn't with anyone else. Are you implying Courtney lied?"

Elizabeth answers, "no, I'm not implying that. But are there any other explanations? Were you there when she miscarried?"

Jason replies, "no. I, um…I was away on an assignment for Sonny. Courtney said she miscarried around the time Alcazar had her hostage. Do you think he did something to her? The doctors said she had a baby girl. Could Lorenzo have paid them off?"

Elizabeth says, "you knew him better than me. I'm not sure you would want Nikolas to know about Courtney and ask him for DNA from Spencer. Oh, My God! I think I'm going to be sick!"

Jason is alarmed, "what do you mean?"

Elizabeth replies, "if Courtney is her mother and you are her father, it would mean Esme slept with her half-brother! Are you sure there was no one else? Would Spinelli be able to hack into her old records?"

Jason replies, "Elizabeth, I never would have thought about Courtney being her mother, but there was no one else besides her. I'll ask Spinelli to look at her as an option. Thank you."

Jason calls Spinell and asks him to hack the General Hospital database for Courtney Matthew's DNA and run it against Esme's.

Elizabeth tells Jason, "I should be getting home. I hate this back and forth; always trying to find time to get away so we can spend time together."

Jason replies, "I don't like spending most of my days and nights at the Safe House alone. I miss having you in my arms at night. I think it's safe for me to come out of hiding. Enough people know I am in Port Charles. Do you think the boys would agree to my moving in with you?"

Elizabeth says, "they've already accepted you back in my life; I don't see why they'd have a problem now. We would still need to ask them first, but before that happens, I need you to arrange for guards on everyone."

Jason replies, "I already have Spinelli working on that. He's also accessing all my financial accounts. I promised to pay Nikolas back, and soon money won't be an issue."

Elizabeth says, "I'll talk to them first, and if they agree, you can come to talk to them again. I really must leave now if I am to make it home to make dinner."

Jason agrees, and he kisses her goodbye.

Elizabeth returns home, makes dinner, and discusses Jason moving in with them. She explains, "Jason will be here tomorrow to talk with you, but you already agreed to have him in our lives. This is the next step."

Jake asks, "are you and dad going to get married?"

Elizabeth replies, "it's too soon to talk about that right now. Jason and I are getting to know each other again. We are happy to be together. I'm not looking for anything else right now."

Jason calls Elizabeth and says, "Spinelli has everything set up regarding protection and my funds. Are the boys okay with me coming over tomorrow? I'd like them to hear the new information about Esme from us. Cam will be relieved to know Esme is not his twin."

Elizabeth replies, "yes, but that still leaves the question of who his twin is or if she is still alive. Until we know about Courtney, we shouldn't say anything to Cam about you being her father. Spencer doesn't need to find out now."

Jason says, "I'll let you get some sleep and see you tomorrow. Goodnight, I love you."

Elizabeth replies, "I love you too."

Jason arrives, and he and Elizabeth have a long conversation with Cameron, Jake, and Aiden. Jason explains there will be changes, but he wants them to go about their lives as normal as possible. Jason says, "Cam; Spinelli found DNA from when Esme had your mother. He analyzed it against your mom, and she is not Esme's mother. It means Esme is not your twin."

Cameron is relieved, "do you know who she is? What about my sister? Does she exist, and if she does, where is she?"

Jason replies, "Spinelli is trying to find out who Esme's parents are and where your sister may be. We don't know anything yet. We don't want anyone else to know."

Aiden asks, "does this mean we are safe now?"

Elizabeth replies, "no, sweetheart. We don't think Esme knows I'm not her mother. She probably was told I was to go after us. Jason has friends who will ensure Esme doesn't come near us."

Jake asks, "what about you, dad? Will we be safe from people who don't like you?"

Jason replies, "we will be kept safe, just like keeping everyone safe from Esme."

Elizabeth says, "Okay, guys, say goodbye to Jason. He has meetings to attend and packing to complete. He wants to move in tomorrow if you agree."

They all agree, and Elizabeth walks Jason to the door. He kisses her on her forehead and leaves.

He drives to the Metro Court and asks for Carly. He tells her, "Spinelli found out Elizabeth is not Esme's mother, but we don't know why she is targeting Elizabeth and her family. I'm not sure she knows the truth about Elizabeth. It's possible someone else is pulling her strings; I also want you to know that I am moving in with Elizabeth. Carly, count to ten before you open your mouth. Elizabeth is not a phase, and she is not trying to change me. This is happening; deal with it."

Carly pauses and replies, "I counted to ten, and I have nothing against Elizabeth. Joss and Cameron are dating. We have come to terms with that and agree to get along for their sake; however, I am worried about Esme's plans, but I trust you and Sonny to protect Joss. I still believe Elizabeth is wrong for you. She can't make you happy."

Jason says, "It's a good thing you aren't the one who is marrying her."

Carly replies, "you asked her to marry you?"

Jason says, "not yet, but I'm hoping she will say yes. Carly, you have to stop. Elizabeth will be in my life whether or not we get married."

Carly throws up her hands, kisses Jason on the cheek, and leaves.

Jason returns to the safe house and packs his meager belongings. He cooks his last meal before he leaves tomorrow for his new home. He calls Elizabeth to say goodnight and says he will see her soon. In the morning, he places a few calls and leaves.

Esme talks with Jerry

Esme asks, "when will you allow me to go after Elizabeth and her family again?"

Jerry replies, "Morgan is moving into her house tomorrow. You will need to find someplace else to take your revenge."

Esme says, "I found my way around Shadybrook; I can sneak into Elizabeth's house."

Jerry replies, "not with Jason and his guards protecting her family. The campus is a better spot. You are not allowed to hurt Josslyn. She is my niece, and you will regret it if something happens to her."

Esme asks, "What about Kelly's? Cameron works there. I could sneak in early, wait upstairs and when he closes, I could do something to him there or burn down the place."

Jerry chuckles and says, "that would make a statement. I'll think about it."

Esme replies, "I don't get it. First, you tell me Helena didn't want me to have sex with Spencer, but I could drug him and make him think we did. Now you don't want me to hurt your precious niece. I'd tell you to go to hell if I didn't need your money!"

Jerry laughs and says, "You do need my money, and my brother and my niece are the only people I care about anymore. Helena helped raise you. She wouldn't want Elizabeth's grandchild in the gene pool if you were to get pregnant."

Esme asks, "what about Aiden? Helena tried to change the DNA results to say Nikolas was the father."

Jerry raises his voice, "I'm getting impatient trying to explain the rationale of Helena Cassidine. She wanted to steal Lucky's child from him. Aiden would not be a Cassidine/Spencer. He would be a child Lucky couldn't have."

Esme asks, "is that why Helena let her daughter Irina raise me in captivity for the first nine years of my life? I thought Irina was my mother. Helena told me the truth after an enemy killed Irina. She said she was protecting me because Elizabeth was a terrible mother. After Irina died, Helena sent me to boarding school to protect me from Elizabeth. While there, Helena visited me and provided me with information on Cameron and how much love Elizabeth gave him and his brothers. Elizabeth didn't want me."

Jerry replies, "no, she didn't. She still doesn't. Has she tried to find you after she learned who you are?"

Esme says, "no, but I heard an associate of Jason's is looking into my records. After Helena died, Victor visited me and gave me a letter from Helena. She told me she wanted me to make Elizabeth pay, and I was to wait until I was older to take revenge. Six months later, you appeared with another letter. I've waited. I've followed your instructions, but Cameron is alive, and her Gram isn't dead!"

Jerry replies, "I'll get back to you." He leaves.

Jason moves in, and Spinelli has news: