A/N – Thanks for the comments! * Guest SPN – Helena has a way of getting people to do what she wants. That is what makes her a good villain. * Guest re: Father/Son It's interesting because I wasn't an Alan or Monica fan at all. Heck, I really didn't like any of the Q's beside Lila. It's nice to write them how I want them to be.

Chapter 31

Steven walked into the locker room and sat on a bench. He couldn't believe his mother had cheated with Stefan.

Emily walked over to him. "You okay?"

He shook his head. "No."

She sat down. "You want to talk?"

"My family is falling apart."

"I heard. I'm so sorry. Is Sarah okay?"

He shrugged. "She ran off."

Emily took a chance and grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "Sometimes, family sucks. Trust me, I know." She was very upset that Jason left and that he wasn't returning her calls. "My family put the cray in crazy."

Steven studied her quietly. "That bad?"

She nodded. "Jason won't talk to anyone. He left and I know he's hurting. My dad looks like a walking zombie. His heart is broken and he still is not speaking to my Aunt Tracy. Lila has been quiet and staying to herself. She never does that. I'm worried about everyone." She only opened up hoping that he would do the same."

"I'm worried about Sarah. She tends to do crazy things when she's under duress."

"She's pregnant. I don't think she'd take a chance in hurting the baby."

"You're probably right . My mom, people think she's really cold but she was always there for all my firsts. She did the best she could, considering I think she may have been abused as a child. I wish she'd open up to us."

"Just let her know you're there for her. I don't think she set out to hurt Sarah."

"We're all a hot mess."

"You included?"

He sighed. "I run from serious relationships because I didn't want to be like my dad. He was just—there. I'm not saying we didn't have fun, but they were workaholics and my mother ruled the roost."

"You didn't want anyone bossing you around?"

"Exactly."

"Well, relationships are a give and take. You just have to find the right person."

"And you want to?"

"Yes."

He closed his eyes. "I see you, Emily. I know I joke around a lot, but you work hard and you're a good person. I like your goofy sense of humor."

She smiled. "Thanks. I like your goofiness too."

He frowned. "You think I'm goofy?"

"I know you are. In fact, your picture is in the dictionary underneath goofy."

He put his other hand on his heart. "I'm so hurt right now."

"Yeah, yeah. I see you too. No matter how much you try to run, you want to be loved. Everyone does." She squeezed his hand and then stood. "Call me if you need me."

She started to walk away and he jumped up. "I don't have your number."

She turned slightly and smirked. "Things are better when you have to work for it. Be creative. I know you have it in you." She sashayed away, leaving a smiling Steven in her wake.

"She is trouble," he said under his breath before opening his locker. "Good trouble..."

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Epiphany tooled around the house and then answered the door. "Elizabeth?" She was still moving slowly.

"Hey. Can I come in?"

"Of course. What's going on?"

Liz gave her a hug and then they sat and she filled Piph in.

"Damn. I really need to get back to work. Is Sarah okay?"

"I don't know. We can't find her."

"She probably went off the grid."

"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier. I can't believe my mother."

"If it's any consolation, I do think she recognizes that she made a huge mistake."

Liz leaned against the back cushion. "I don't know how we're going to make all this right."

"You don't have to make anything right. Andrea needs to do that."

"I just want us all to be happy."

"Have faith, Elizabeth. How's Jason?"

"Struggling. He's getting his memories back and he's a mess. He moved out of the mansion and won't talk to anyone."

"Give him some time."

"I'm finally admitting I have feelings for him and he's running in the opposite direction."

"That sucks."

"You can say that again."

Piph sighed.

"How are things going with Patrick?"

"I think he's tired of me."

Liz rolled her eyes. "You must be on some good meds. I hope you like having him around, because you're never going to get rid of him."

Piph chuckled. "He's a great guy."

"I know. You tell me to look at what's right in front of me, maybe you should take your own advice."

Piph frowned. "We'd drive each other crazy."

"In the best way."

Both women sighed and closed their eyes.

"I think Amelia is better for him."

"Why?"

"They are both surgeons and free spirited."

"There's one problem with that."

"Hmmm?"

"I don't think he wants her."

Piph made a noise. "Patrick never knows what's good for him."

"I think you are just what he needs."

Piph sat up and looked over at her. "Why are you pushing this?"

"Because you are as stubborn as a mule. Wake up and go after that man before someone else snatches him up." She abruptly stood. "Maybe I should take my own advice."

Piph grinned. "Now you're talking."

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Jeff sat down across from one of the board members. "Herb."

The man took a deep breath. "I'm afraid I have some bad news."

"Go on."

"I just watched yet another scandalous news report regarding your family. The hospital just can't take another hit."

"So let me guess, you're going to fire me?"

"Well—you are no longer chief of staff, but you can still be a surgeon."

"Let me guess, Stefan is replacing me?"

"I have my doubts about him, given he is center to your family drama, but according to my sources—"

"Helena…."

"As I was saying, we have it under good authority that he was seduced and entrapped in order to make him look bad. There is more than one source."

"Of course, because God forbid a Cassadine be responsible for anything."

"Jeff…"

"No. This is ridiculous. I took this position when no one else wanted it and we are thriving. This has nothing to do with my work. I'm completely convinced that Helena orchestrated everything."

"Unless you have proof, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to go with the voting majority. You can still be a doctor here and maybe if you lay low for a while, you can make a play for the position again. We do value your expertise." He really wasn't happy about the move, but hoped that in the end, Jeff would get reinstated.

Jeff stood. "Are we done?"

"Yes."

He stormed into the hallway and then left for the day.

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The staff was gathered in a huge room.

Helena cleared her throat. "I have an announcement to make. Jeff Webber will no longer be chief of staff."

Everyone gasped.

"What have you done?" Andrea asked.

"Oh, it wasn't me. You and Sarah can take most of that blame. And after what you both did to sully my son's reputation, we are very lucky that the board agreed to give Stefan a chance. Your new interim chief of staff is Stefan Cassadine."

A shocked Stefan looked around the room. No one would look him in the eye. He stormed out and Helena and sighed. "Well, carry on. I'm sure Stefan will be happy to meet with any of you if you have questions."

Felix walked over to Amelia and Jolene. "Something really smells."

"You think?" Amelia said.

"I guess I better try and call Sarah before she hears about this elsewhere."

"Maxie will have it on the news in the next five minutes. Don't bother," Jolene muttered.

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Sarah's phone rang and when she saw it was Stefan, she let it go to voicemail. He then texted her that he had something really important to tell her and that he didn't want her hearing it elsewhere. She took a deep breath and called him back.

Stefan quickly answered. "Where are you?"

"I'm safe. What do you want?"

"Sarah, Helena somehow got your dad removed as Chief of Staff and they gave me the position."

"What!"

"I—she has a mind of her own. I'm sorry."

"Somehow, I can't see you being all choked up."

"Are you going to come back to me?"

"Right now, no. I need some space to figure out what I want to do."

"You're having my baby."

"I know. Are you upset?"

Stefan closed his eyes. "There are so many things that I regret, but having a child with you is not one of them."

"I just need some time."

"Okay. Will you touch base with me tomorrow so that I know you're safe?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

She ended the call and rubbed her belly. "What am I going to do?"

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Lucky walked into Maxie's office. "Is it true?"

She frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Did you sleep with Nikolas?"

Her mouth dropped open.

"Answer me, dammit!"

She took a languid breath. This had the Webbers all over it. "Yes.."

"Unfuckingbelievable!"

"Lucky. It was a mistake. I'm not seeing him now."

"First Dante and now my brother. What kind of a whore are you?"

She rose to her feet. "Don't ever call me that again."

"If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…."

Maxie stomped her foot. "What the hell do ducks have to do with this?"

Lucky clenched his fists just as Nikolas walked into the room.

"I take it you are discussing our dalliance?"

Lucky shook his head. "Only you could make fucking sound pretentious. Fuck you." With that said, he hauled off and hit Nikolas, knocking him on his ass.

"Lucky!" Maxie yelled.

"That's right, go take care of your lover."

"We are not sleeping together anymore," she said as she tried assess Nikolas's wounds.

Nikolas started to laugh as he wiped the blood off his lip. "I'm sure I could make that happen again, you were rather easy."

Maxie punched his arm. "You asshole."

"You know what? The hell with both of you. You deserve each other."

Lucky walked out and Nikolas stood. "Get your shit out of this office."

"What? You can't fire me."

"Yes, I can. You have until tomorrow morning."

"I hate you!"

He walked out and Helena moved into the doorway.

"Make sure you don't try to sabotage us. IT is watching your every move."

Maxie's head tilted and then she stealthily turned on the tape recorder under her desk while she pretended to pack. "This has your handiwork all over it."

Helena smiled. "I wanted you out and Nikolas was all too happy to do the honors. He has no problem taking one for the team, unlike my son who always has second thoughts."

Maxie smirked. "So, you not only ruined my life, but you tried to take down all the Webbers too? I hate Elizabeth. Did you do anything good to her?"

"Elizabeth means nothing to me. Sarah, on the other hand, was easy to manipulate. Her "pregnancy" and need for revenge helped me get Stefan his rightful title." When everyone finds out the truth, it will exonerate her son and give the board more reason to believe they made the right choice.

"So that was all you? You're like an evil mastermind or something. Did you actually make her believe that she is pregnant when she isn't?"

"Never underestimate me Maxie. When I want something, I get it. Sarah and Andrea played into my hands. If you breathe one word of this, I will make sure you never work in television or in New York again and I always make good on my promises."

"Well, good thing I like money more than revenge. I'll be out in an hour." She knew exactly where she could get a job doing what she does best. Port Charles was small potatoes and she planned on going out with a bang.

"I'll fumigate after your gone," Helena said walking out.

Maxie waited for her to leave and then stopped the tape, now what to do with it so it would do the most damage. Helena would not get the last laugh. People always underestimated Maxie. They thought she was an airhead, but she had been collecting dirt on people for years and she wished she could see Helena's expression when her world came crumbling down.

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Elizabeth pounded on Jason's door, waking him. "Jason Morgan, you have twenty-four hours to get your head out of your ass and realize you need me and not a second more. Consider this your notice! And Diane cancelled the meeting by the way."

He slightly smirked as he listened to her stomp away. He wasn't sure he could get it together that quickly, but she definitely had distracted him from his tired inner monologue. Grabbing his phone, he made a call. "Can you come over? I need to talk."

"Sure. See you in ten."

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Jeff sent a text to every member of his family. It was time to discuss what was going on and hash it out for good. He calmly waited for each of them to show up in the lobby.

"I booked the conference room. It's time we all talked this out."

Sarah sighed. She wasn't even sure why she had agreed. Her mother had sent her several texts asking if she was okay, which kind of swayed her to attend. Elizabeth grabbed her hand and squeezed.

An older woman walked towards the family and stopped in back of Andrea. "As usual, you just couldn't keep it in your pants could you? You're always bringing shame onto your family. Why would I think time would change that?"

Andrea spun around. "Mother?"

The rest of the Webbers were in shock.

"What are you doing here?"

"Your father died last week. He wanted you to have this." She held out an envelope.

Andrea started to shake. "I want nothing from that man."

Her mother rolled her eyes. "Always the drama queen. He's dead. Take it."

"You stood by and watched while he beat me and emotionally attacked me for years and did nothing. I'm glad he is dead. I would dance on his grave if I could. I want nothing from him or from you. You both were dead to me years ago." She ran towards the elevators as the rest of them stood there in shock.

Jeff turned towards Andrea's mother. "I don't know what you did to her, but I think you need to leave."

She shoved the envelope into Jeff's hands. "I'm Gloria Sinclair. When she calms down, tell her that I'm staying at the Metro Court. Whatever she thinks we did to her, she deserved. Society dictates that we behave with some kind of decorum. If you have any self-esteem, you'll leave her and find someone with a little class."

Sarah was glowering at the older woman. "Now, I completely understand why my mother has behaved the way that she has. You look down your nose at everyone don't you? I'm glad that I never knew you."

Gloria smirked. "Perhaps if you had, you wouldn't be sleeping with your mother's cast offs."

Liz gasped as Sarah bristled with anger. "You need to leave now."

"Gladly."

"Jesus," Steven said. "We need to find mom."

"She took the elevator going up," Jeff said.

"I think she went to the roof," Liz said.

They hurried to the elevator and got in.

A/N – Next week, you find out what happened to Andrea. You'll get a glimpse of how Jason's life was growing up, and Liason share some special moments. Happy 4th. See you on Monday.