A/N: I like to thank my beta Shelby. Thank you for your help. I hope you like it, the story features 2 of my favorite couples.

Chapter 3: Through Hell and Back

Sunrise Plaza Hotel, Miami, 5AM, 6 days before the auction

The sun had just risen, as Elizabeth Webber entered the Sunrise Plaza Hotel, in Miami, with Cameron and Jake. "What possessed Ric to summon me at this time of the morning?" she thought. She considered scolding him, but figured that he wouldn't have summoned her unless it was important. Maybe summoned wasn't the right word. He had actually asked for her presence, but the circumstances were strange, and mysterious.

Sure, the flight on a private jet was fairly nice. She'd been able to get some sleep and lucky enough Cameron and Jake got some sleep, too. They were still very tired. "If they are in a bad mood today, I'll blame you Ric" she thought to herself.

Arriving at his door, she knocked on it. When there was no immediate answer, she knocked again, this time louder. She heard some sounds and after about 15 seconds the door opened. The sight almost scared the living daylights out of her. "Ric…" she muttered "you look like…"

"I look like hell," Ric quickly nods. "I know. I've had better days. Come in. I'll take care of your luggage," he says as he shows them in.

"Daddy" Cameron shouts from behind Elizabeth, with his big brown bear in tow. The bear was almost as large as Cameron. Ric kneeled down and pulled the boy into a tight hug.

"Hey son" he says "You're tired aren't you?" Cameron nods. "Well, you can sleep down the hall. There's a big bed all for you. You'll have all the space you need"

He turns looking up for Elizabeth "I made arrangements for Jake as well" as he looks at the little boy, who fortunately for him, looks just like his mother.

Elizabeth nods "Thank you" as she walks off down the hall. He considered following her, but the sight of his family would only emphasize what he was willing to risk to bring Port Charles to justice. He started out with a war against his father. However, the more information he gathered the more shady contracts and deals were unveiled. In the end every criminal in town had a pact with each other. Secret alliances were forged every minute. What started out for him as a crusade against his father and Jerry Jacks had soon brought alliances with Anthony Zacharra, Claudia Zacharra, Jason Morgan and Sonny Corinthos to light.

When he saw the file on his brother he wasn't sure how to act. Sonny was once the object of his obsession, the one person he'd hoped to get acceptance from. All of that was in vain. It was like chasing a ghost. One minute he was his brother's trusted advisor, next they were at war.

The truth was that Ric was tired of playing games. "Let the chips fall where they may" he muttered under his breath. He was soon interrupted by another knock on the door. He waited for a few seconds, let out a deep sigh and then walked up to the door, to open it.

"Hello Samantha" he said, faking a cheerful mood. It didn't work. She saw right through the façade.

"Hello Ric" she said walking past him. "I'd tell you that you look like hell, but something tells me that you already know that" She had her focus on him now "Is Elizabeth here, already?"

Ric just nodded "yes, she's settling the kids in. They are awfully tired. I'm sure she'll blame me if they're in a foul mood and…"

"I considered that…" interrupted Elizabeth. She was looking surprisingly awake for someone at this time of morning. "However, I don't think you asked us here, without a very good reason"

"That's right" Ric said, becoming more and more unsettled by the situation he'd put himself in. He was ready to call this meeting off, when another knock on the door interrupted the moment. Opening it, it revealed his final guest. "Tony, please come in" Ric said, stepping aside, allowing the man to enter. He was pushing a room service cart with coffee, fruit, and croissants.

Tony walked in and before he said anything to Elizabeth or Sam he turned his attention to Ric "It's your story; I'm just here in case there are issues that require further explaining." He then pointed to the 2 blackboards in the room, covered in sheets. "It's all there?" Ric nodded and Tony then turned his attention towards Sam and Elizabeth. He held out his hand allowing each of them to greet him before he spoke "I don't know if Ric mentioned me, but my name is Tony Walton. I'm a private investigator and I'm often hired to find skeletons in the closets of rich families"

"And you gave me a graveyard" Ric said, clearly unsettled.

Tony turned around to look at Ric "I gave you the truth. Would you have settled for something less than that?" Before Ric could speak Tony continued "You wanted the half-truths to be revealed. I did just that" He then pointed to the cart he pushed in "I assume that none of you had breakfast. This is something, that I ordered" he walked towards the cart and poured himself a cup of coffee. He then sat down on the couch at the coffee table. Sam and Liz each poured some coffee and sat down on the couch. It was too early to eat.

Ric walked up to the blackboard on the left side and pulled the sheet away. It showed several photos, all in black and white, of what to Liz seemed to be family members. It was then that Ric spoke.

"This is my family tree; Brian Lansing, my grandfather was born in 1914 and died in 1985. My grandmother, Sophia Chivèl Lansing was born in 1912 and died in 1962. I never had the pleasure of meeting her. She died after a short illness. They had three sons; Simon Lansing born in 1936, deceased in 1971. Then there was Jeremy Lansing born in 1939, deceased in 1971 and finally my father, Trevor Lansing, born in 1942. My grandparents started their own investment firm called Chivèl Investments. They started out investing in small companies, but as the company grew, so did their ambitions. Over time they changed the name to Chivèl International Investment Group, it went public and installed a board of directors. The bylaws were amended and the new company was ruled by the majority stockholders, my grandparents. After my grandmother died, she left her stock to my grandfather. He kept 50% for himself and divided the other half of the company to board members and his sons. My father and my 2 uncles all received 5% of the company"

Ric walked up to the cart, poured himself a cup of coffee and drank it in one tug. Then he walked back to where he stood before, but before he could continue Sam interrupted him.

"You know, Ric…" She said calmly "Nikolas has been doing business with that company. I don't think he knows about your families' role within the company"

It was getting tougher for Ric to keep his emotions under control. Up until now it was a very simple story. The emotional part was still ahead. Calmly he said "That's possible. I doubt if anyone knows about the role we used to have. It's been over for 20 years"

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked with a worried expression on her face.

"We're getting to that part, Miss Webber" Tony interjected. "Ric, please continue"

Ric nodded, taking a deep breath before he continued.

"In 1971 my uncles died in a car accident. The initial cause of the accident was believed to be a mechanical failure. My father bought their stock after their death. He now had 15% if the company and quite a say in what happened. My grandfather was distraught over the loss and appointed, my father as CEO. However my grandfather later learned that the officer was bribed and that the real cause of the accident was sabotage. Without sufficient proof, he did not confront my father directly. He hired an investigator who traced the source of the $15,000 bribe to my father"

Ric's emotions were getting the best of him. Tears were forming in his eyes. He saw that his story had affected Liz and Sam. "It's only going to get worse" he thought. Taking a deep breath he decided to continue the story.

"Instead of confronting my father and turning him in, my grandfather retaliated in the worst possible way. He cut the breaks of my father's car" tears were now steaming down Ric's cheeks. He wipes them away and takes a deep breath. "My father got into a serious accident, but he miraculously lived. He ended up in a coma for several weeks. During that time my grandfather presented his case to the board. They all agreed that turning my father in would possibly destroy the company. My grandfather then used my father's proxy to pass a resolution to change the bylaws within the articles of the incorporation. Now the stock my father had was only worth one vote. He installed nine board members, including himself and my father. Since he had the boards' loyalty he ordered them to vote away everything my father proposed. It would always be eight votes against my father, so my father's power was none-existent. He then bought some stock from the board until he owned 51%. When my father woke up, he confronted my grandfather. My grandfather made him a deal; in exchange for Trevor not turning on him, my father remained out of jail. That deal remained intact for almost 13 years"

Ric takes a deep breath, allowing everyone to take the story in. The look in their eyes tells Ric what he already knows; his family is morally and emotionally bankrupt. It's not until Elizabeth looks at the pictures that she understands the real reason why Trevor hates Ric.

"Ric…" she says, pointing her finger to the blackboard. "You realize that you look like your grandfather, don't you?" Sam nods concurrently.

"Yes…" Ric sighs, his emotions barely under control. "It's one of the many reasons why my father hates me". He took one more sigh. Delaying the outcome of the truth would only make matters worse. And it was going to get much worse.

"In 1984, I was 16 years old, my grandfather was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and died very shortly afterwards. However, he changed his last will, double-crossing my father once again. Instead of leaving everything to my father, he put everything in a trust fund. All the bank accounts, art, real estate, stock portfolios and everything else were left for the new head of the family. The only catch was that my father received part of the stock dividend and got the vote attached. This didn't change too much. The board was still loyal to my grandfather, so my fathers' power within the company was limited at best. My father couldn't sell anything or add anything to the trust. He could only use it for show. A fake king of an empire that's not his"

"Then who is the beneficiary of the trust?" Sam asked, confusion in her eyes.

"Under the current circumstances, that would be Cameron" Ric, calmly states. He allows Elizabeth to process what she just learned.

"How big is that empire Ric?" Elizabeth asks. She can't hide the fear in her voice as she asks him that question.

"You mean everything? "Ric asks and Elizabeth nods. "All the art, stock, real estate and the cash in countless bank accounts all over the world…" Ric takes a deep sigh. "The total value of that trust is estimated at about 3 billion dollars. That makes him the richest person in Port Charles, since the Quartermaines are worth about 800 million and the Cassadine wealth doesn't exceed the 2.5 billion" He turns his attention to Sam. "That number is accurate right?" Sam nods concurrently.

Ric notices the obvious shock in Elizabeth's eyes. He didn't bring the whole 'hey honey guess what, our son is a billionaire' message very subtle. After a few moments he decides to continue the story.

"My grandfather stipulated that all the Lansing's have, would be in that trust. All of my father's contacts will turn on him, the moment my father is exposed as the fake head of an empire. I often considered claiming Cameron as my son. It would be the easiest way for me to get rid of my father. Once he's been exposed, he'll have nothing left and he can finally be brought to justice"

"What's stopping you?" Elizabeth asked, with a worried expression on her face.

"At this time I can't be certain about anything in Port Charles." Ric sighs, closing his eyes for a moment. "With the power my father has right now it would not be easy to unseat him. He has people in the highest circles, whom could protect him indefinitely. And how do I know he won't put a price on my head? He can use his Zacharra connections. If that doesn't work he could go to Jerry, they could strike a deal; Jerry gets immunity for past and present crimes and my father gets to keep the empire. If that doesn't work out he could go to Sonny or Jason and offer them a great deal of money for my assassination" Ric sighs and when he looks into Elizabeth's eyes he sees the shock and disbelief in her eyes. "I know that you believe that they wouldn't agree to it, but my father is smart enough to manipulate a deal like that. He could make them believe that I'm after them once again, that I want to put a contract on their heads, prompting them to strike first. I just don't know what he'll do. He thinks he's invincible and at this time he is just that. Until I can take over his assets and contacts, I can't take chances like that. It's just not worth it" Ric sighs, pain in his eyes.

"Besides, he threatened me before, if I try to take over. He made that clear when I confronted him about the trust 20 years ago. I was in college; it was 3 years after my grandfather Brian died. I showed him what I learned. I'll never forget what happened that day. I always disliked my father, but that day I saw him for the monster he is"

*Flashback*

October 1988, New York City

The snow is three inches thick, Ric notices as he walks away from the airport. His driver picks him up to bring him to see his father. The ride would take more than 30 minutes, giving Ric plenty of time to reconsider. "I've come this far. I have to see this through" he mutters to himself. Fortunately Maurice, the driver, doesn't hear him.

When they arrive, Ric walks quickly inside. It'd begun snowing during the drive from the airport. He asks the woman at the front desk if his father's in. She confirms this and offers to call him, letting him know of Ric's arrival. Ric refuses and tells her it's a surprise. She accepts his not so convincing excuse and allows him entrance. He pushes the button and waits for an elevator. After 2 minutes an elevator arrives and Ric enters.

All alone in the elevator, Ric pushes the button for the 35th floor. He feels the papers burning in his pockets. "I'm going to get him, for keeping this from me" he swears. However he also fears his fathers' reaction. His father is a very experienced attorney and Ric is only in college. It may be Harvard, but he's not an attorney yet. His father is not a man who takes orders, but Ric also realizes that he may never get this chance again.

After 8 minutes Ric arrives at the 35th floor. After he steps out he takes one quick look behind him, seeing the doors closing. "Last chance, you could take another elevator or the stairs" he thinks to himself. He decides against it and steps into his father office. To his surprise he finds it to be empty.

Ric takes a quick look around the office. His fathers' briefcase is next to his chair, meaning he can't be far away. Ric decides to sit in the chair waiting patiently for his father.

His father enters not that much later. Sensing someone is in his office he turns toward his chair, noticing Ric sitting there. "Ric…" he says, with a surprised expression on his face "What are you doing here?"

Ric slowly stands up from the chair, his arms slightly spread. "Hello father" he says with a devious smile "No hello? No welcome back? No, how good it is to see you?" he says sarcastically. "Of course not, because you always want to get right to the point" He slams the envelope on his fathers desk. "Then explain why you never told me about this" his finger pointing towards the aged manila envelope. Ric takes a few steps backwards, allowing his father his space.

Trevor picks up the envelope, opens it and starts to examine the contents. There is an obvious worried look on his face. Ric knows he has him in a corner. His father turns around, a surprisingly gleeful look in his eyes. "This was your grandfathers' way of double-crossing me one final time" he folds the papers and puts them in the envelope, handing it to Ric. "He tried to keep me from the company, he may have succeeded at that, but you my son, pay a high price because of it"

"Explain" Ric shouts, his anger about to get the best of him.

"Simple" Trevor explains. "He had to make me trustee, because you were a minor. You couldn't receive the stock he owned. But when you become of age, you will not inherit anything. As a matter a fact you'll never inherit anything" he smiles even cheerful. He then walks up to his seat, but Ric interrupts his happiness.

"Unless I have a son" Ric says, focusing on his father who traded a gleeful expression on his face for a worried one. "Once I have a son, you'll be unseated. That's the real reason why you worry. Killing me won't get you anywhere, will it?" Ric smiles confidently. "We both know that that trust was meant to protect me. My grandfather, Brian Lansing, feared that if I inherited all of this back then, you'd kill me for the inheritance. Killing me, won't get you that trust. It's only a matter of time, before this family is back where it belongs. That time may come sooner than you think. Once I have a son, I'll take your seat. I'll become my son's seat holder. Start counting the years that are left, the end of your reign will come sooner than you think"

"Providing you live long enough, Richie" Trevor states, with a frightening smile on his face. "You're absolutely right that I can't reclaim the empire by killing you. But think about this scenario; one day you'll have that son, but you'll never get the chance to raise him. You and the boy's mother die; leaving the Lansing heir an orphan. Of course, he won't be for long because his grandfather, that's me, will be there to raise him. That way I could claim the empire once again. I'll get what's rightfully mine"

Ric takes a step back, disbelief and shock in his eyes "You'd make your own grandson an orphan? What kind of monster are you?"

"Look at it this way Ric" Trevor says smiling. "If you never have a son you won't have to worry about this. Everything can stay as it is. I collect my dividends and use the Lansing power and you can live your own life. You can have daughters, Ric. You can have a thousand daughters for all I care, but…" Trevor says with an evil look in his eyes "You can never claim a son. If you do, be prepared to face the consequences." Trevor looks at his watch "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have an appointment in 15 minutes. You can see yourself out" And like that Trevor walks away, in a far better mood than Ric.

*End Flashback*

Sunrise Plaza Hotel, Miami, present time, 6 days before the auction

The room is in silence. Everyone is stunned by everything they've heard since they arrived. Ric points to the stack of files on the coffee table. The stack is 15 inches. "It's all in those files. It's all there, every part of the bad history of my family"

"But what I just told you is just the beginning" he clearly states, causing Elizabeth to cry. The emotions, the worries, Ric understands how it feels. He sits next to her, allowing her to cry on his shoulder, placing his arms around her.

"We have to stop him at all cost" Sam states, fire in her eyes. Ric had seen that fire before and being on the receiving end of that fire was not a smart idea.

"I know. That's why we have to be patient and stick to our plan" He sighs, just keeping his emotions in line. He looks at Liz who has stopped crying and now looks questioning at him. He wipes away the tears on her cheeks "I'll explain all of that, once we are back in Port Charles". He kisses her forehead and she just nods that that's okay. He stands up and turns his attention to Sam. "By the time the auction is finished they'll be in chaos" he then repeats their motto "Upset the established order and everything becomes chaos. Once they're in chaos we have a small window of opportunity to strike". Sam nods in agreement.

"What price are you willing to pay, Ric?" Tony asks him, his tone very serious.

"I'm willing to risk my neck" Ric answers him fairly calm. His emotions have been all over the place in the last 24 hours. "But it's not my neck that I'm concerned about." He then points to the stack of files "Not now that I know what he's capable of."

Ric knows that this can't end well. But he also knows it has to be done. There's no easy way going about it. They are in for the fight of their lives. He knows what he has to do in order to achieve his goals and keep his family safe:

He has to go through hell and back.

End of chapter