A/N – Thanks for the comments! Sorry guys, today was crazy and I just realized I didn't post a chapter. Sigh. I'm so tired. Okay, here it is. If there are any readers in Alaska, I hope you are safe.

Chapter 35

The next morning, Epiphany rolled over and smiled when she spots Francis gazing at her.

"Good morning."

"Good morning. How did you sleep?"

She snuggled against him. "Very well. Thank you for staying. I needed this. The house looks spectacular and I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done."

He kissed her on the forehead.

"Epiphany, I think you know that I'm falling for you. I will do anything for the people who are dear to me."

"I feel the same way."

"When everything settles, I want to take you away for a week."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. I think you could use some pampering."

"I think you are already doing that, but I won't turn down spending some quality time with you. Where did you have in mind?"

"Well, my dad owns a house on a small lake. It's secluded and I can have you all to myself."

She smirked. "So, you're getting ready to break some beds."

"Yes."

"Okay. You have proven to me that you are trustworthy and by then, I think we'll know each other very well."

"Then it's a date."

"So, just how long do you think all of this will take?"

"I'm hoping in the next month or so all our problems will be resolved, but my mother didn't raise a stupid person. It's Port Charles and something always seems to go wrong," Francis said.

"Amen."

"Have you lost more weight?"

"Yes!"

She's excited and then surprised when he doesn't smile back. "What's wrong?"

"I like you the way you are."

"Well, thank you. I like my curves too and my goal isn't to be skinny, just healthier. I feel so much better. I love going on walks and feel like my weight isn't the first thing people see now."

"I get it. For a while, I was really short and people tended to not want me to forget it."

"Seriously?"

He nodded as he stroked her back. "Yes. I learned a lot from that experience. I just want you to know that to me, a body is just a shell, it's what inside it that's the most important. You are giving, love laughter, have a soul like no one I've ever met, and a radiant smile."

"Are you trying to get me to break this bed right now, cause you seriously have game."

He laughed. "I think you are worth the wait and I don't want to rush you, but I do want you, Epiphany Johnson, in the most carnal way."

She pushed away from him and got up. "I need to go brush my teeth so I can lay one on you."

He cracked up. "I'll join you." Waking up with her is a great way to start his day.

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Lucky strode into the diner looking a bit haggard.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm just not sleeping. Can I have some coffee?"

She busted out laughing and a slow smile emerged on his face. "Fine, Captain Obvious, I'll get you a cup. Have a seat."

God, he misses her laugh and the way her curls fall into her face when she talks with her hands. Somehow, he managed to unglue himself from the floor and took a seat before he made a fool of himself. A minute later, she is back.

"Where have you been?"

"Around—trying to avoid people I care about so Helena can't use me to hurt them."

She sighed and plopped into the seat next to him. "She was here."

"Did she hurt you?"

"No. I think she wants to pit you and Jason against each other."

Lucky rolled his eyes. "He's in jail, so it doesn't matter, right?"

"Right…"

"I don't want you worrying about me. Have you been doing your art?"

"Lately, not much. I have a couple of sketches, but I'll do some painting soon."

"Good. You're really talented."

"Well, thank you, Lucky."

"You're welcome. Have you seen Nikolas lately?"

"No. He and Gia are holed up. I think they'll come out soon. She likes to shop too much."

He laughed. "Thanks for making me laugh."

"I have to get back to work." He watched her for a while and then finished up and got a call. His queen has summoned and there will be a price to pay if he is late.

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A few hours later, Lucky finished setting up. Luckily, his queen doesn't want Elizabeth hurt. She just wants to keep her safe for a few days, so he laid out a sleeping bag and a pillow and put some water bottles against the wall. He doesn't understand the location, but the queen always has her reasons. Now, he just has to get Elizabeth and his duties for the day will be done.

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Helena picked up her phone. "Helmet, he'll go through with it and won't remember his part in it. This is all going to work out perfectly."

"I alterations I made to the building will allow us to get her out safely."

"Good. I don't want anyone hurt."

"As you wish."

She put the phone down with a smile. "Your move, Jason. Let's hope you make the one that I'd prefer."

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Elizabeth finished up her double shift. Everyone else had left and Rico is helping put the chairs on the table so she can mop.

"I'm going to use the bathroom."

"Okay. I'll just finish up."

His eyes tracked her to the ladies room and then he got back to work. The faster they can get out of there the better.

Elizabeth took her time and had just washed her hands when she started to feel a little woozy. "Shit." When she realizes that she's being gassed, she tries to run but quickly collapses and passes out.

Lucky moved the ceiling tile and then shimmied down a short rope before picking Liz up and putting her in a harness. Helmet pulled her up and threw down a second rope and Lucky climbed up it quickly before returning the tile to its original place. Helmet removed the tile above them and pushed Elizabeth through it where she lands in a heap on the floor of one of the room upstairs. The men climb into the room and carefully replace the flooring and then move to a side window. They hear Rico banging on the locked bathroom door and then here shots being fired as he shoots the lock.

"Hurry," Helmet said as he opened the side window where a truck waits. Lucky gets in a harness with Liz in his arms and lowers himself down into the bed of the truck which has a mattress in it.

Helmet quickly descends as they hear Rico yelling out back. The frantic guard calls Elizabeth's name twice as he dials and coughs; the fumes from the bathroom had gotten to him as he searched it.

They crept down another alleyway as Rico covered his mouth and ran back inside to search as he punched in a code for backup.

Lucky smiled as he gazed at Elizabeth.

"You did well. The queen will be happy," Helmet said.

They pulled into a garage several blocks away and switched to an SUV and then got back on the road. Luckily, they aren't very far from their destination and no one will think to look for her there.

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The police descend on the diner because someone had heard the gunshots and reported it. Rico is taken in but doesn't say what happened. Taggert called Bobbie to find out who was working and when he hears Elizabeth's name, he sighs and pulls aside another officer.

"See if you can track down, Nikolas Cassadine, Emily Quartermaine, or Lucky Spencer. If you find them, bring them to the station. We need to establish some kind of timeline and she is closest to them."

"You got it."

He shakes his head. It was bound to happen. Associating with Jason Morgan is a sure way to get yourself killed. It's too bad that Elizabeth couldn't see that before it was too late.

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Diane rushed into the station. "Where is he?"

Cruz sighed. "He's in there."

Diane opens the door to the interrogation room and then slams it shut. "What happened?" They had all grown fond of Elizabeth and she knows Epiphany is going to have a cow over this.

Rico takes a deep breath. "We were closing the diner down and she had to use the bathroom. I waited five minutes and when she didn't come out, I knocked on the door and called out her name."

"Are you sure she couldn't have slipped out."

"I'm positive. I was moving the chairs onto the tables, but could still see the hallway. There is no way she came out of the bathroom and it was locked."

"What happened after that?"

"I couldn't get in and I smelled something funny, so I tried to break the door down and when that didn't work, I punched a code into my phone to notify everyone and I shot the lock off. When I got in the bathroom, there was the strong smell of gas and it almost overwhelmed me. I put my jacket over my face and went into each stall. The window was closed and small. She couldn't have fit through it. I ran outside and yelled her name, and went over to the dumpsters and she wasn't there so I called Francis and left him a message and then typed in the code again before running back inside. Unfortunately, the cops showed up before I could look around again."

Diane had been clenching her jaw. "People don't just disappear."

"I know. They either took her below or above."

"Did you tell the cops that?"

"No."

"They won't let us back in there."

"They said they were going to search all the rooms."

Diane closed her eyes. "I don't think she's there anymore. I'll have Nick see if he can find any surveillance video."

"I'm never going to forgive myself for this."

"People have to pee. You didn't do anything wrong, but someone's head is going to roll for this when we find out who did it." She stood. "Do not mention your thoughts on what you think happened or who could have taken her. Just answer like we've practiced it in the past and then we'll get you out of here so you can help find her."

"Okay."
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Francis is livid. His phone buzzes and he sees Jason's number and groans. "Hey."

"What the fuck happened? She's all over the news?"

"We don't know."

"Did Sonny do this?"

"I don't think so. We have eyes on him and frankly, he's too busy trying to put out some fires. We moved on a few of his buildings after he attempted to blow up Scully's New Jersey compound."

"Well, if it's not him, then it's Helena."

"Why does it sound like you're driving?"

"I'm going to the Quartermaine mansion. I'll make a deal with the devil to figure out what happened to her. Believe it or not, Edward is evil and has a lot of contacts. Even if Helena knows I'm out, I don't think she'd ever think I'd go there."

"She could be counting on that."

"Yeah well, she'll get more than she bargained for then."

"Remember, try to keep your cool."

Jason is simmering. "Just do whatever you can to get her back. Did you call Epiphany?"

"Not yet."

"I'll do it."

"Okay."

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Epiphany grabbed her phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me."

She smiled. "Calling to tuck me in?"

"No."

She hears the strain in Jason's voice. "What happened?"

"We think Helena took Elizabeth."

"What!"

"She went to the bathroom and they drugged her by using gas and Enzo thinks they lifted her through the air vents and got her out somehow."

Piph's legs begin to shake. "Does Francis know?"

"Yes. Are you okay?"

"I'm scared."

"Peek out your front window. Is your guard there?"

She headed there and as soon as she moved the curtain aside, Enzo hurried towards her. "He's coming."

She waits until he is on the porch and then opens the door so he can come inside.

"Go pack a bag. You're going to Crimson Point. Put him on the phone."

Enzo took the phone. "Hello?" Piph rushed to her bedroom.

"It's Jason. They took Elizabeth."

"I saw the code." He had been waiting for further instruction.

"Take Epiphany to Crimson Point and you protect her with your life. Is Nicole there?"

"Yes."

"Good. Call whoever is guarding Evangeline and make her go there too. We can't take any chances." Helena seemed to do things they never see coming, so it's important to cover all the bases. "What about Johnny and Manny?"

"They left on assignment this morning for Jersey. They are supposed to be back early in the morning."

"Tell Johnny to call me as soon as you see him, please."

"I will."

Jason hung up right as Karl pulled into the driveway of the mansion and stopped near the door. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

"Okay."

He strode up the steps and Alice, who had heard him, opened the door.

"Jason, everyone is in bed."

"This is important. I need to see Edward."

Clad in pajamas and a robe, a sleep-dazed Edward made his way downstairs.

"What is going on?"

Alan and Monica followed.

"Helena took Elizabeth and I need help."

Everyone had frozen and then Edward blinked several times and moved forward. "Follow me to my office."

"I'll go make some coffee," Monica said.

Alan followed the men inside.

"Tell me everything."

Jason went over what he knows and when he was done Edward sighed heavily.

"I probably can get a guy in there after they release the area. He can pose as a contractor. Bobbie will be so frazzled, she'll go along with it."

"Okay."

"What about Windemere?" Alan asked.

"Nikolas doesn't live there anymore and I would think she'd anticipate that move. Considering all the tunnels, it wouldn't be a good move to go there when we have no idea where we are going."

"I can kidnap that reprobate Luke and make him lead us around."

Jason almost smirked. "How about we refrain from that for now, but Luke is next on my list."

Monica handed him some coffee to go. "Are you out of hiding?"

"No, but I don't care. Elizabeth is more important than playing games with Sonny. Helena told Elizabeth that she is basically going to pit Lucky and I against each other."

"That means you could be in danger."

"True. In fact, I'm counting on it."

Monica's jaw drops down.

"Dear, you're collecting flies. "You want Helena to take you to Elizabeth?"

"Yes."

Edward runs his hand through his hair. "While it is brilliant, it's still scary. Then what?"

"I don't know."

Alan moves over to the closet and grabs a small first aid bag. "It has some bandages, antibiotics, and aspirin. She might need it."

He shoves it into his pants pocket. "Thank you."

"And what are we supposed to do if you disappear?" Monica asked.

"Do what you have to do, but try to give Francis some time. We weren't planning on letting anyone that I'm out for at least a month. He's not prepared."

"I'll hold off as long as I can, but by the third day, I'm calling the cops and telling them you are missing too and we think it was Helena."

"That's fine. They can't find their way out of a paper bag, but the more people looking for her the better." Jason stood. "Thank you for your help."

Edward stood and hugged him. "Be careful."

"I will."

Monica emotionally embraced him.

"I'll be fine."

"You better or I'll kick Helena's butt back to Greece."

He smirks at the fierceness in her eyes and then turns to his dad who briefly hugs him.

"Stay safe."

He leaves and Alice moves to the window. Just before Jason gets into the car, gunfire erupts and everyone inside dives to the floor.

"Alice, get away from the window," Alan yells as he crawls towards his father and wife.

She ducks and then peeks again. "No license plate. It's a black SUV."

"How original, " Edward quipped.

"Shit, sirens—the neighbors must have called the po-po," Alice said as the truck sped away.

"Do you see the guard?" Monica asked.

"He's on the ground. I can see his hand, but nothing else. We need to get to him."

Tracy muttered curse words as she descended the stairs. "What the hell just happened?"

"Jason—"

Tracy rolls her eyes. "See what happens when you invite the mob in. They have no manners."

"Tracy, shut up. They took our son," Monica said.

"I'm going back to bed."

Alan pushed himself up. "What are we telling the cops?"

"We can play stupid and act like we have no idea why Enzo is in the driveway," Edward said.

"Someone go duct tape Tracy," Monica said.

Alice grinned. "The pleasure is all mine," she said before cracking her knuckles.

About a minute later, they heard Tracy yell and then nothing.

"Damn, we should have done that a long time ago."

"Okay, remember, we have no idea why Enzo was here and were about to go to bed when the gunshots went off," Alan said.

"What about the surveillance?" Monica asked.

Edward smirked. "I'll go kill it and accidentally erase the last half hour."

Alan smiled. "Brilliant. Who says we're not good at this mob stuff?"

"Nobody now that Tracy's mouth is shut," Alice said dusting off her hands.

They filled her in just before someone banged on the door.