When Elizabeth finds out that Jake is Jason, her lie changes her life in ways she couldn't have imagined. Actions have consequences, and no one understands that better than her. What happens after the reveal will irrevocably change everyone forever.
A/N – This was a request by wolfgirl1973. I started out with her basic premise and then took it from there. It's twisty and AH. I'll be posting Mon. Thur. as usual.
Chapter 1
Elizabeth recoiled as if Nicholas had struck her. It couldn't be. Her bottom lip quivered as she took in the news. "No, no! You're lying." There is no way it could be the truth.
He smirked. "I'm not. Jake Doe is your precious Jason." God, he hates Jason Morgan. He never understood Emily's loyalty to a man who was nothing but a thug and killer. Elizabeth was just as bad, worshipping at his feet. While he hates the anguish in her eyes, he can't help but feel relieved that the relationship will soon come to an end.
"No—no!" The implications bombard her and relentlessly riddled her body like bullets. She's in love with Jake and doesn't want to let him go. "I'm finally happy, Nikolas. How long have you known?"
"Does it matter?"
"I don't know—yes."
"Long enough…"
Liz stumbled away from him taking refuge in a corner as tears began to trail down her cheeks. Jason was always this fantasy that just never worked out. Even though Jake didn't have his memories, they love each other and for the first time in a long time, she is in a good place. If he's Jason, he'll eventually remember and want his wife and son, and that realization is just something she can't face. Nikolas won't tell. He'll keep his mouth shut and she'll just continue with their relationship like nothing had happened. It's not like Jake remembers anyone anyway. He's not even that interested in resolving his past. God, she finally has a chance to be with Jason without all the violence and Sonny and Carly's influence. Should she take it?
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Days had bled into months and the lie is eating away at her soul. Liz is days away from her wedding and she doesn't know if she can even go through with it. Can she marry Jake knowing that everything is such a lie? If the situation were reversed, would she ever forgive him if he had done the same?
"Hey," he said moving behind her.
She jumped a mile as her hand flew to her chest. "Hi. Why are you awake?"
"I was just about to ask you that."
She leaned against him, closing her eyes as she savored his energy. "I was restless." Could it be him? She doesn't get the same feeling she did before, but his energy would be different without his memories.
"Is something bothering you? Are you getting cold feet?" From the moment he had awakened, he was drawn to her. Not only is it unexplainable, but it blew his mind that he picked her son's name as his own. As days turned into weeks and he ended up living with her, there wasn't a second he would have changed. There is no doubt that God had sent her to lead him out of the darkness. Even though life hadn't been easy, she always holds her head up high and tries to make the best of it and he admires her for her tenacity. He's not sure he could be as stoic.
"I am nervous about something." She turned around. "What if we get married and then you remember your past and want it back?" That fear eats away at her soul.
He grabbed her face, his eyes softening as he gazed into her beautiful orbs. "I am crazy about you. That won't change. I can't go backward. I love you and the boys—I chose you."
Those three last words made her want to run away with him and never look back. She could be happy with him forever. There is no doubt in her mind this time. "I know you think that but suppose you have other kids or a wife?"
He flinched. "I wouldn't abandon them but that doesn't mean I'd leave you over it." His past haunts him even though he wants nothing to do with it. The memories are like an itch you just can't reach, and something tells him that they are better left hidden.
Her hands gripped his wrists.
"Do you want to wait?"
She licked her lips. "I love you and I want to be your wife more than anything. I guess I just have this feeling of doom. Nothing ever works out for me and I don't want to put the boys through another upheaval."
"Would it help if I told the preacher not to ask if anyone objects?"
A smile edged onto her face. "That might be a great idea."
"Done."
He kissed her languidly loving the way she always responds to him. "Come on, let's go to bed."
Their hands linked and he pulled her inside as he wondered what had brought on her anxiousness.
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As Elizabeth waits for Jake to arrive at the church, she is terrified that the secret will come out, but Nikolas assures her that she will be happy and deserves it. She has held this secret for four months and is about to burst at the seams but keeps trying to convince herself that once they say, "I do," it's forever.
Meanwhile, Jake runs into Carly on his way to the church and is stunned when she called him Jason.
"Why did you call me that?"
Tears stream down her face. "Because you are Jason and I can't believe that I didn't realize it. You're home."
"No. You're wrong." He can't even fathom it.
She explains that Spinelli created a program and that there is a DNA test and he is at a loss for words and then remembers what today is and wishes he had left for the church earlier and avoided the confrontation.
"Why are you doing this now? I'm about to marry the woman that I love."
She cringes. "But your life has been a lie. We all felt a connection to you because you are him. You can't ignore that." It had taken quite a bit for Spinelli to convince her, but the DNA and face recognition program did the trick.
"If I was him, I'd remember."
"Helena was using you. None of this was a coincidence. We can test your DNA again if you don't believe it, but it's true. You can get your life back. Don't turn your back on it."
He moved away from her, trying to grasp the information she had just given him. Could it be? "I don't feel like him."
"You'll remember eventually. I know you will."
He threw his hands up. "What am I supposed to do now?"
She wiped her face. "First, you need to call off your wedding because you are already married to Sam."
Pain is etched onto his face as he realizes that he is going to hurt Elizabeth and the boys and it's something he never wanted to do.
She grabs his arm. "Come on. Everyone is waiting."
He nods as he numbly lets her lead him to the car.
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When they arrive, Liz is happy to see him and is ready to take her vows, but he stops her.
"There's something everyone needs to know."
Liz's stomach drops. "Wha—what is it?"
"I know who I am."
She struggles to maintain her composure as the walls close in on her. "You do?"
"I'm Jason."
Nobody makes a sound for a long moment and then Sam slowly stands.
"How can this be?"
Carly steps forward and lays out the evidence.
Sam is stunned but can't help but feel excited. "I think Danny has known all along."
Liz takes a step forward, not understanding how Danny could know since he was so young. "I think Jake knew."
"Do you remember our life together?"
Jake blew out a deep breath. "No, and I don't feel any of his feelings either."
Sam can't handle that answer and runs out of the church leaving a furious Jake in her wake.
"I hate this!" Eying Nikolas, he lunges at him, but Nikolas sidesteps him.
"I had nothing to do with this."
"If you did, I will make you pay," Carly said. Nikolas has been out of control for far too long and too many things are not adding up.
Nikolas chuckled and then makes his way to the back of the church, but is thwarted when Sam, who had changed her mind and came back, steps in front of him.
"I'll never forgive you if you knew about this."
"I didn't."
Her gut is telling her the exact opposite. Considering that he and Liz have been thick as thieves for a while, she wonders if Elizabeth has known as well.
Carly addresses Elizabeth. "You can't keep playing house with Jason."
Liz turns to face Jake, ignoring her. "Jake, I mean Jason, this doesn't have to change anything."
He held her stare. "How can you say that?"
Tears spring in her eyes as her world starts to fall apart. "We just had this conversation and you said that nothing would change the way you feel about our family."
"I know what I said, but the reality is smacking me in the face, and I don't know how to handle it. I need to get out of here." He takes off, but Liz follows him, unwilling to just give him up.
Carly starts to chase after them, but Lucas stops her, so she hugs Sam and then runs off. There is no way she is going to let Elizabeth have Jason.
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Elizabeth finds him at the bridge. Just the fact that he chose to go there shows her that he's unconsciously remembering his past.
He sighs heavily, smelling her perfume. "Why did you follow me?"
"Because I love you and I can't just let you walk away from what we've built."
"You know how I feel about you, but I just don't know what to do about who I am."
She reaches out to touch him but hesitates. "Let me help you."
"You can't. No matter what, someone is going to get hurt and that kills me."
Her hand drops to her side. "I get that. I guess I'm just tired of always being that person."
He slowly turned to face her, tracking a tear that ended up falling toward the ground. "I'm not sure how this can work. I'm already married."
"You don't remember her. What we have is real. Don't you love me?" She doesn't give a damn about Sam. It's not like the woman ever cared when she destroyed Liz's happiness over and over.
"You know I do."
"Then fight for me. Don't you think that I know how unfair this is to Sam? I do, but Sam has always taken what she wants and right now, everything in me is telling me not to let you go and do the same."
A sob leaves her lips and he tugs her against him. "I just need some time to figure this out." He feels like he has failed her already.
"What does that mean exactly?"
"I don't know. I need to understand what it means to be Jason. He has enemies and I don't know that I can protect you or the boys when I don't have my memories."
Pure anguish rips through his body as he realizes that he had led a life that he can't even fathom and that can hurt the ones he loves.
"I trust you to keep us safe."
"You shouldn't. You don't deserve this."
"But Sam does? Are you willing to entertain going back to your wife and son with her, but poor Elizabeth needs protection? Why is it always me who must suffer in silence while she gets everything she wants? I'm sick of it!"
"Elizabeth…"
"I'm sorry that you have to go through all of this, but I'm not sorry for loving you no matter who you are." Her eyes squeeze together as she tries to calm herself so she doesn't push him away. "Just come home and get some rest. We'll figure our next step tomorrow."
A tear trickles down his cheek. "The boys…"
"They are at their grandmother's house. Come home, Jake."
"Okay."
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Elizabeth woke up to the sound of a motorcycle. Jake had never come to bed, so she scrambled to the window and watched as he went outside and Sam stood next to his bike that a guard had just delivered.
"Hey."
"What's this?"
She tentatively moved forward. "I brought your bike. You can use it to visit Danny at any time you want."
"This must be confusing to you especially since you are in love with Patrick."
She nods. "It is because losing you was so hard, and I mourned you for so long."
"So, was Patrick the first person you gave your heart to?"
She shook her head. "I was with a man named Silas first, but he died."
"I'm sorry."
"Look, I know you're confused and need time, but eventually, we're going to have to talk about us."
"I know. I don't remember you and I love Elizabeth and the boys. I promised to be there for them."
She stepped right in front of him. "You also made promises to me and our son first."
"I know, but I want to be a father to Jake too. The promises I made in the past to him which were first were wrong. He has been through so much. I shouldn't have stayed away in the first place and I don't want to do that anymore. Jake needs me."
"And Danny doesn't?"
He threw his hands in the air. "How can you compare the two? Jake was taken from his family for years. From what I understand, Danny doesn't remember me."
"I think he did know it was you."
"How is that even possible? He was so young?"
Anger seeps into her as she clutches her fist. "He knew!"
"I—I need to make sure that everything is true before we tell any of the boys anything. I need time to digest it."
"I just—this is so unfair. We were just trying to make things work when you left, but I was so hopeful, and we committed to trying and now it looks like people were conspiring to keep you in the dark. Danny has lost months that he could have been bonding with you."
"We can't go back. Danny is fine because he has you and a family that loves him."
"And you don't?"
"Sam…I don't remember him."
She held up her hands. "I know. I'm sorry. We shouldn't be doing this right now. It's just so upsetting." She wiped some tears away.
"Just give me some time, okay?"
She nodded and then headed to Patrick's house which is close by. So much is at stake and she's not even sure she can move forward with Patrick if Jake has no memory of his family.
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Jake parked the bike in the driveway at Greystone and Carly rushed out to greet him.
"You're riding again?"
He slightly smiled. "Yeah." For some reason, he knew exactly what to do and it's a bit unnerving.
"Come in."
Slowly, he moves inside and looks around.
"Did you tell him?"
"No, he's in the kitchen. Besides, I think you should be the one."
Sonny made his way into the room as he dried his hands. "Jake, hello."
"Hi."
Carly is beaming making Sonny frown because he knows that she's up to something. "Jake has something to tell you."
"Okay."
Jake sighed heavily. "I guess Spinelli found some information including DNA that proves that I'm Jason."
Sonny's jaw clenches and then he rubs the back of his neck. "How is that even possible? If you were Jason, I'd know." He understands that the accident changed the way Jake looks, but his personality is different, even his eyes.
"Damned if I know…"
"Sonny, it's true. I can show you everything, but this is Jason."
"So, this is what you've been doing instead of supporting me for the custody hearing? Are you lying?"
She almost growls. "I would never lie about this. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you, but this was huge, and I needed to stop the wedding because he's already married to Sam."
"And you hate Elizabeth…"
"True, but that is not what this about it. He's Jason, Sonny. We have proof and don't forget that several times you have thought he was Jason too."
After staring her down for a long moment, he sees the sincerity in her eyes and then turns his attention back to Jake. "Jason and I have a complicated past, but no matter what, we watched out for each other and we were best friends. When he felt like he didn't have anyone, I tried to help him, and a friendship was forged. I'm not going to lie. I have hurt him to the point that he should have never forgiven me, but I'm so thankful that he did."
Jake held up his hand. "I know I mean a lot to you, but I don't know you and I'm not sure how to fix this or be the person you need me to be when I don't remember. I've spent almost a year with all of you and I don't remember a thing. I—I have to go."
"Jason!"
Carly shuts the door behind him and turns towards Sonny. "He's hurting."
Sonny embraces her. "We'll just have to be there for him. I need him now more than ever."