A/N: Many thanks to the people who reviewed. I feel so grateful! And yes, ilovejackson0591, I did borrow the premise from "Revenge Isn't Patented" (which I love by the way), but I promise you I'm not plagarizing. I also can't promise very fast updates, but I hope the chapters will be worth it.

And just in case you're wondering, I've got the two biggest differences here:

1. Lisa, in addition to having a child from Jackson (Jake), also has one with her husband, Ryan (Cheryl).

2. Ryan is actually a nice guy. Honestly, he is. I'll be having a chapter focusing more on his character in the near future.

Chapter Two: Running Away

Jake watched on from the bleachers as he and Kyle took their breaks from soccer practice. Kyle was his age and he had shaggy, dark blonde hair and grey eyes. He, like Jake, was also a regular athlete and they had been friends since childhood.

"So, Jake, what do you think of me and Cassie Rickman together?"

Jake laughed and replied, "You know how she is, Kyle. She's all about books."

"Yeah, but she's also the greatest dancer the theater club and she's got nice legs to boot."

Jake laughed along with Kyle, like the typical teenage boys they were. Time eventually passed and they were getting ready to go home.

"Same time tomorrow, Jake?"

"Yeah." The friends said goodbye and Jake decided to pass the time by doing extra laps around the track. He ran up to three laps when he heard a voice behind him.

"You look as though you're running away from the devil."

Jake turned around, confused, and the next sight that greeted him was a hard metal bar slamming into the right side of his head.

"Jake… Jake, please wake up!"

Jake slowly opened his eyes and felt like a mountain fell on his head. 'It feels like the worst hangover ever…' Although his vision was blurred, he could still recognize the figure in front of him. Short, curly brown hair, green eyes, pink shirt and a long jean skirt.

"Cheryl, where are we?"

Instead of answering, Cheryl threw her arms around her brother's neck and it was then Jake noticed Cheryl's wrists and ankles were tied together. It only took Jake a second later to realize his entire upper body was tied up along with his feet and that he and Cheryl were in the back seat of a car.

An unfamiliar voice then said, "So you've finally decided to join us?" The voice was a male voice, with a slight metallic rasp.

Jake tried to sit up as he demanded, "Who are you and what do you want with us?"

The man laughed and answered, "Well, you certainly seem to be taking after your mother a lot, aren't you, Jacob?"

"How did you know my name?"

"I know a lot of things about you, Jake," the man answered. He then turned around, revealing his dark hair, blue eyes and smug smile. "Oh and by the way, my name's Jackson Rippner. Perhaps you've heard of me."

Cheryl and Jake's eyes widened. They both knew of Jackson Rippner, the man who tried to force their mother to kill Charles Keefe for the price of her father's life, but failed.

Jake growled, "If this has anything to do with our mom, then I'll make sure you'll burn in hell."

Jackson simply smiled and said, "I've been there and done that. And guess what- even God can't save you. I hope you both have said your prayers."

Cheryl squeaked with terror, and almost cried while Jake struggled against the ropes. It was hopeless though; the ropes were too tight, and Jake couldn't waste any energy in trying to free himself and his sister. 'God, I just hope Mom and Dad notice we're gone quickly.'

Lisa got back home, tired and wanting nothing more than to sleep. However, she was shocked when she noticed neither Jake nor Cheryl were home. 'Well this is strange.'

Lisa then called Jake's cell phone number. After several tense moments, no answer came. Suddenly, her cell phone rang again. "Jake, is that you?"

"Hello, Leese. It's been a long time since we last had these little chats."

"Jackson?! You have my children, don't you?"

"Yes, I happen to have them and I'm not letting them out of my sight until you decide to come over to meet me."

Lisa slumped to the floor when she heard this. "Jackson, you had better not hurt them, especially Cheryl. She's only a baby and she has nothing to do with this."

"Oh, I beg to differ on Cheryl not being a baby. But don't worry; I won't hurt them too much."

"You sick twisted bastard. And you got let out five years early for good behavior? Hah."

"Now, now, Lisa, I don't think that sort of language is appropriate for such a pretty lady like you to be saying."

"Go to hell."

Jackson laughed and replied, "I've already been there."

"Just tell me what I have to do."

"Okay, you win. I want you to meet me up north. We've just passed Fort Lauderdale and we'll keep driving until we find a good spot. Then I'll tell you exactly where I am."

"Okay, fair enough," Lisa replied.

Jackson seem satisfied until he added, "Oh, and by the way, if you tell anyone, including the police, your family or your darling husband, then things will get a bit ugly and I may need to resort to desperate measures. So if I see any police programs about a pair of missing kids, then we'll be having problems. Goodbye." And with that, Jackson hung up.

After Lisa closed her own cell phone, she stood quiet for a few seconds before slumping into a chair. 'So fifteen years in a federal prison hasn't changed the bastard one bit. I have to get my children back, even if I might get hurt in the process. Don't worry, you two, Mom's going to get you.'

Lisa nervously paced back and forth in the bathroom or the courthouse. It had been an entire month since the flight and she had been getting mild bouts of sickness. At first, Lisa excused it as simply stress and exhaustion although there was the nagging possibility she could be pregnant. However, when she missed her period, Lisa's worries became more elevated. The test was either going to say yes or no.

Lisa sucked in a deep breath and steeled herself for the big reveal. She couldn't have felt more disappointed and angry if she tried.

She was pregnant. And not just pregnant, she was pregnant with Jackson Rippner's child. She knew she couldn't get an abortion and she couldn't give it up for adoption either. She wanted to cry as the questions flooded her mind. How was she going to love the baby? It was only going to be a constant reminder of the pain Jackson had caused her. And second of all, how would she be able to face her family when they found out she had a child out of wedlock?

Suddenly, an idea struck her. All she had to do was get married and mask the truth. No one would know and as long as she and her husband kept their mouths shut, it would stay that way.

A loud knock on the door shook her out of her thoughts. "Lisa, the hearing's about to start in ten minuets. We should get there soon."

"Okay, I'm coming, Ryan!" Lisa answered. She fixed herself up, hid the pregnancy test in her purse and walked out. "Ryan, I have something very important to tell you and I really need you to keep quiet about it. Can I trust you with it?"

"Of course, Lisa. You can tell me right after the hearing."

"Good, because it's very important."

Lisa knew better than to tell anyone, especially a police officer. However, this certain officer was a close friend of hers and was also the father one of Jake's friends. She rang the doorbell and was greeted with the sight of Jake's best female friend, Ashley Worth.

"Oh, hello, Mrs. Reisert; what are you doing here?" Ashley asked, surprised. Ashley had light brown hair pulled into pigtails, hazel eyes and she was wearing a simple white blouse, a black skirt and a pair of red and black striped socks.

"Hi, Ashley. I need to speak with your father. It's an emergency."

Ashley's eyes went wide and she said, "Well come on in."

"Thanks." Lisa then walked in to see Cynthia and her husband, Christopher Worth, in the kitchen. Chris was originally a body guard for Charles Keefe and he and Cynthia met during the Lux Atlantic bombing. They hit it off immediately and soon afterwards, they married, Chris retired from the Secret Service, and Cynthia gave birth to their first child, Ashley.

Cynthia immediately noticed Lisa's worried expression. "Whoa, Lisa, you look like you've seen a ghost or something. Is there something wrong?"

"Yes, there are many things wrong. Jackson Rippner has been out of jail for five years now, as you both know, and he's kidnapped my kids."

The family was shocked. Ashley then broke the silence, "Do you think he'll hurt either of them?"

Lisa thought hard about this. "I doubt it somehow. But he's not afraid to use drastic measures to get me to comply with his demands."

Chris then asked, "So what do we do?"

"We do the only thing we can do- follow him up north. He said he just passed Fort Lauderdale and will continue going up north. I'm going to follow him and when the time is right, he'll call me to tell me where he wants to meet me."

Cynthia asked, "Do you need Chris to come along with you?"

"Yes and only Chris. None of you can tell anyone else, especially another officer. Jackson would know and he'll definitely make Jake and Cheryl pay."

Ashley whispered, "Dear God. Mrs. Reisert, I want to come along with you."

Cynthia gasped. "Ashley, don't be crazy. You'll get yourself hurt."

"But Mom, Jake is one of my best friends. Besides, Dad and Mrs. Reisert are going to come along with me and I can take care of myself just fine."

Lisa added, "I think I can let her come along with me, Cynthia. Besides, she may prove useful to us later."

Chris sadly said, "Unfortunately, Lisa, I doubt I can come along. Even then, I can still help you. When you get that call from Rippner, you can call me and I'll get my people to help get him back into police custody. And hopefully permanently this time."

"Then Ashley and I will leave first thing tomorrow morning."

Ashley quickly added, "And Kyle. He's also Jake's friend and he can be a good help as well. He should know as well."

Lisa nodded. "Okay. I'll need all the help I can get to get my kids back."

The next morning, Lisa, Kyle, and Ashley left. Although Kyle was a bit worried about having to lie to his parents, he went along, for Jake's sake. It was then he was getting a bit agitated. "Just why would Rippner kidnap Jake and Cheryl if what he really wanted was to get you anyway, Mrs. Reisert?"

Lisa answered, "Because he's like that. Jackson wants me to see Jake and Cheryl suffer. Hurting them will hurt me as well and he knows it."

"But if he really is as ruthless as you say, then how are we going to stop him?" Ashley asked, somewhat frightened.

"I don't know yet," Lisa sadly admitted. "He definitely had plenty of time to plan this, so he's most likely not going to make the same mistakes as he did before."

Kyle looked out the window sadly. "I just hope Jake and Cheryl will be okay."

"I know. I do too. I really do."

"Lisa, are you really sure about this?" Ryan asked somewhat doubtfully. "I mean, we don't know each other all that well and I don't even know if I can help you with your child."

Lisa replied, "Yes, I'm sure. Besides, I need to do this now. There's no way I can face my family like this." Almost involuntarily, Lisa's hand rested on her stomach. She was only almost two months along the way, so it would be a while before she started to show.

Ryan sighed. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."

"Trust me, Ryan, I do."

"Excuse me, it's time," the minister interjected.

The ceremony was very small. Only five people were attending the wedding, including Lisa's father and Cynthia. The ceremony itself lasted only less than half an hour. Lisa kept telling herself she was doing this for her unborn child and for her own pride to an extent. It was all she needed.

A/N: Mmmmm, don't you just love the conflict and tension? I sure do. And I also did a tiny bit of editing.