A Disclaimer: No Kermit's the Frog were harmed during the writing of this chapter; however for anyone offended, please forgive me, I just could not find a more hilarious costume. I only hope that someday, Kermit himself can forgive me. Alas, I will understand if he can't.

Switching Places

Chapter 56

Scottish Saying: From ghouls and ghosties and long legged beasties, and things that go bump in the night....

Carly greeted Skye, trying not to laugh as the red head was dressed up as Glenda the good witch. Seeing a similar look in the red head's eyes, she just grinned, bowed and went over to find her escort.

"So what was Michael's haul?" Asked AJ, dressed as a ghoul to match her ghost.

After telling him, she said with a wry grin. "I miss when he was smaller, I could tell him that certain things were not allowed, but now he won't even let me nab on single rotten candy bar."

AJ had to laugh at that one, while some things had changed, there was a part of Carly that would always be just like a little kid. "Do you want to leave the party and go trick or treating yourself?"

"Oh, now you ask. Two hours too late."

Monica had been walking past, but decided not to comment on the conversation she had overheard between Carly and AJ. Seeing Alan dressed as a vampire, sharp teeth, white face and dripping fake blood, she looked down at her matching costume. Only for Emily would she dress this way.

"Oh Monica, doesn't everyone look just lovely?" Said Lila when she arrived at the older woman's table.

"You look very well yourself, how on earth did you get Edward to dress up?"

"By pointing out that the only other person who would not be in costume was Jason." She said with a soft smile. Looking at her husband dressed up as a robber baron from the turn of the century, she could not help thinking that it was just the same business suit he usually wore, just from a different age.

"Have you seen Dillon?"

"Yes, the dapper don, something tells me that Jason won't be too pleased."

Dillon was trying to calm down both Sage and Lulu, how had he gotten himself into this mess. He had asked Sage to the dance, she was dressed as a flapper girl, but somehow his asking Lulu if she was coming tonight had led to her thinking she was his date.

Glancing at her outfit, he could not help asking who she was supposed to be. "This is one of my Mom's old outfits from the seventies. I found it in the Jones' attic."

"Oh, okay." He said before turning to the fuming Sage and shrugging like what am I supposed to do.

Maxie and Lucas walked up dressed as Elvis and Priscilla, she was not thrilled by the choice of costume, but the only dress for the outfit she had wanted to wear had feathers lots and lots of feathers, which had made Lucas sneeze.

"Where are Georgie and Brooklynn, they left before we did?"

"Something about a change of plans. Brooklynn was upset at the costume that Lois sent her."

"Let me guess future rock star?" They were all aware that as far as annoying over ambitious parents went, Lois was up there with Edward Quartermaine.

When Emily came in dressed as a pirate's damsel in distress to match Nik's pirate, she stopped at the entrance wanting to see what everyone else was wearing before entering. Hearing her name being called, she turned to see Lucky dressed up as Kermit the frog.

Looking down pretending to straighten out her costume so that he would not see her smile, she regained control and looked back up to greet her friend. "Are you ready for this?"

"I hate this stinking outfit. The costume store claimed they lost my request for a pirate outfit."

Johnny O'Brien who was checking security reminded himself once again to let Milo off warehouse duty, he had done a fabulous job of thwarting Spencer's attempt to find another costume, any costume other than one even more ridiculous than the one he was wearing.

Chafing at the sharp edge of his outfit, Steven wondered how had he let himself get talked into dressing as a Roman Centurion. Between the shield and the leather wrapped around his shoulders, he just waned out of here. Glancing at his date, he struggled to remember her name.

Seeing his grandmother dressed up as Eleanor of Aquiline, he bowed to the Queen. Returning the greeting, she asked if he had seen Elizabeth?

"No, but she left the hospital just before me, and said her costume was going to take some getting into, so they might be running late. Who is that?" He asked.

Audrey turned around and after looking said "Lorenzo Alcazar, I have no idea who he is supposed to be."

"A Medici, I think." Said Bobbie as she joined them along with Tony. The two of them had paired up and were dressed as Linus and Sally.

"So did you find the Great Pumpkin?" Asked Audrey. "Where did you get that costume?"

"Maxie found it at one of the shops she went to. I see that Stefan came as the Tsar."

"According to him he is Rasputin."

Jason did not want to let Elizabeth out of the car. "Are you sure you want to go in dressed like that?"

"Yes, it's a party Jason; everyone will be dressed up."

Jason helped her out of the back seat, telling Max to park the car in the garage then join them inside. Keeping his eyes off of his wife, before he changed his mind and convinced her to start their project a few days earlier. As his mind went to the bed at the cabin, and his body reacted, he laughed slightly ruefully. Great now his mind decided to grow an imagination.

As they entered the party, he could not help noticing that Elizabeth's top was stretched a little tighter than usual over her breasts, and felt his hands itch from trying to control the need to touch her.

Lucky looked at the doorway wondering where Elizabeth was, thanks to this being Nik and Emily's engagement party, he would get to dance with her. After all he was going to be the best man at the wedding. Just like she was going to be the maid of honor.

Seeing Jason stop to talk to a blond, he could not help smirking at the look on his face. Morgan had the hots for the hottie he was talking to and who could blame him, she was one fine piece of ass...man what he wouldn't do for a piece of that.

Waiting for her to turn around, he heard someone call his name out. Turning he saw his sister gesturing for him to come over. Wanting to ignore her, he went anyhow. "What is going on?"

"Did you see Elizabeth, wow!" She said.

"Where is she?"

"I saw her enter with Jason, but then two girls dressed up in these costumes with veils separated them."

Mac and Alexis came into the ballroom running a little late. The new nanny Viola had needed to pry Kristina away from her mother to get her to go. "Mac, you have no idea how much trouble you are in."

"I thought it was cute."

"I am wearing a can-can dress. A can-can dress, Mac."

"I needed to be carrying my gun and this was the only outfit they had I could do that with, I thought a can-can girl would work well with a US Marshall."

"My legs are showing, in fishnet stockings." She said glaring. Then she seemed to settle, "Mac is that Georgie?"

Turning Mac struggled not to laugh at his wife's expression. Then he stopped being so happy, what on earth was she wearing and was that Brooklynn in the Nun's habit?

Alexis could not help wondering when Georgie had changed. She had left the house wearing one costume, then came to the ball in a different one. One that showed an awful lot of her body. "Where did she find a belly dancer outfit?"

Lila hugged her grandson saying "My dear; Emily will be so glad you decided to dress up for her."

Jason looked down; thinking maybe his brain had been scrambled by the heat of his plans for his wife after they left here. No he was still wearing blue jeans, a t-shirt and his coat. "Grandmother, I am not dressed up."

"But you match Elizabeth so perfectly. Just like in that movie, Emily used to love. The one with the car race and all the dancing, with that cute Johnny Travolta."

Jason got the feeling he was missing something from the way that Emily was beaming at him from across the room and then he saw his mother looking at him the same way. "If you will excuse me, grandmother, I need to find my wife."

"Elizabeth, my dear, were you sown into those things?" Asked Audrey as she noticed how tight her granddaughter's pants were. "Isn't that leather rather warm for inside."

"Grams, I think that is the purpose of Sandy, rather Elizabeth's costume." Said Steven. "I just have to ask how can you sit? Are you a blond permanently or is it just for the night?"

"Very carefully and I am wearing a wig." She said.

Carly came over and was admiring the outfit while watching Jason out of the corner of her eye. "How did you avoid panty lines, I mean they are awfully low cut, and I don't even see the band."

Unaware that her husband was right behind her Elizabeth said "that is because I am not wearing anything underneath."

Hearing a groan like someone was in pain, she turned to see Jason looking a little hot and bothered. "If you will excuse us, Carly." He said even as he dragged his wife off to a secluded corner. "Are you trying to kill me?"

Elizabeth thought about what she had been told earlier that day and what she had planned for Jason on her birthday and smiled but kept quiet. As Jason moved them onto the terrace, he saw Max take Spencer out a side door. His men had been told to disable the jerk, and make sure it went unnoticed.

AJ looked over at Brooklynn and choked back a laugh, as she pretended to pray for Edwards's soul. "Give it up, kid he sold it to the devil long before you dad was even thought of."

"Have you seen Georgie?" Asked Priscilla, aka Maxie.

"She went to talk to Dillon, I guess Sage and Lulu are fighting over him again."

"She should be out here dancing, not trying to straighten out that loser's love life. I mean how hard is it to remember you already asked someone for a date, before talking to another girl."

Dillon and Georgie, walked back into the ballroom to hear his mother screeching, "What is going on?"

"Some guy just grabbed that old lady in a wheel chair and laid one on her."

"What?"

"Some guy dressed up in black, wearing a mask, just kissed that old lady."

Carly saw the entire Quartermaine family checking with Lila, who was just giggling softly. "I am just fine, that was the most excitement I have had in years."

"Doesn't say much for grandfather." Snarked AJ.

Jason told the guards to find the mystery man, and hold him. He had to make sure there had been no malicious intent.

Ten minutes, later, Diane and Skye had both received kisses. Carly was standing off to the side, trying to figure out who was doing this, when she saw something that amused her. Going over to Elizabeth and Emily, she whispered. "Elizabeth, you might want to head to the ladies room and fix your shirt."

"What is wrong with my shirt?" She asked confused.

"It's inside out; rather strange considering it was fine when you arrived. Just what were Jason and you doing out on the terrace." Hearing a help, they saw the bandit grab Alexis, steal a kiss and leave.

AJ and Ned were checking the various nooks and crannies, looking for the so-called kissing bandit, when they came across the drunk and unconscious body of Lucky Spencer. "You think we should wake him up, Junior?"

"No, this way he might stay away from the family. Who do you think is doing this?" AJ was secretly grinning at the idea of no one knowing.

"No idea, Skye said he called her blaze and according to that attorney he said something about having a thing for long tall drinks of water. I think she was offended."

As they returned to the party, with no more clues they saw the man in black, reach over and grab Carly. Placing a loud buss on her cheek, he ran back onto the terrace and disappeared.

"Who on earth?"

"Let's find the club manager, he can help."

Carly was still laughing when Elizabeth and Alexis approached her. "Are you okay?"

"Well, I hate to say it but we have a copycat wandering around, Luke Spencer was in the ballroom just now but he was the man who grabbed me." Said Alexis.

"I think it was he who kissed Skye as well. Diane said it wasn't Luke that kissed her." Said Carly. "I think it was...wait that can't be right."

"What?"

"This is going to sound strange but I think it was Dillon who kissed me." She said laughing.

A half-hour later, Monica had been kissed and so had Tracy, who was threatening to sue the Country Club for emotional distress.

Emily found herself tipped backwards, and a quick kiss stolen, then the bandit took the sword that was part of his costume, saluted Nik and then left through the doors.

Jason had stopped his men from chasing after the so-called bandit; they had informed him that it was more than one person. Max and Johnny came over still chuckling to realize that the younger men were behind this, "Okay, we have Luke Spencer, Lucas Jones, Dillon and I think AJ is involved."

"Why?" Asked a confused Jason.

"The first kiss, the one planted on your grandmother was Spencer, so was the one on Tracy, Monica and Skye.

"Dillon is the one who kissed Lulu, Sage, Georgie and Carly."

"Lucas kissed Emily, Steven's date and I think he was the one who kissed the waitress."

"AJ got Diane, Bobbie, Lois and I think he is the one who kissed Maxie."

"AJ is looking for the guy, are you sure?"

"Yes, I saw him handing the costume off to Dillon."

Mac had figured it out, but kept his mouth shut. There was no way he was telling Tracy Quartermaine that the guy who kissed her was Luke Spencer; they didn't pay him enough to deal with that particular headache.

Seeing Alexis talking to Elizabeth and Carly and they way they were looking around, he knew they had figured part of it out. Seeing Georgie getting teased by Maxie, he could tell when the sisters told each other who they suspected. As well as the other shake their head no at the others guess.

Georgie grabbed the glass of punch, needing a drink. She was certain it was Dillon who kissed her, she could smell the hair products. Walking away from the noise, she slipped out onto the terrace and watched the wind spin the leaves and gently land them on the ground.

Hearing footsteps, she saw a man dressed in black wearing a mask. "Hey, I think we already did this once."

Shaking his head, no, he advanced on her. Seeing him hold out his hand, she took it planning on pulling off Dillon's mask to end the game. Instead she found herself realizing this wasn't Dillon. Starting to pull back, she found him tighten his grip and shake his head no.

"Who are you?"

Bowing to her, he indicted dancing to the music inside. Not sure that this was such a good idea, she slowly moved forward, then found herself dancing with a man she had no idea of what he looked like or even his name.

Several very long minutes later, he smiled under his half mask, leaned down and gently kissed her. As he eased her back to the stone balustrade he deepened the kiss. Hearing footsteps, he gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead and handed her a small box, bowed and left.

"Georgie?" She heard, turning she saw an upset Mac. "We have to go something came up sweetie."

"That's okay I will drive Brooklynn home later, you don't have to wait for me.

"Georgie, where were you?" He asked drawing her inside. Looking around she was stunned to realize that it was almost an hour later than when she had left the ballroom and it didn't look so lively and happy any more.

"What is going on? Why is everybody leaving so quickly?"

Mac drew her off to the side. "We had an unexpected guest, Helena showed up. Luke and Stefan chased after her, but she threatened Alexis. I want to take you all home to safety before going down to the station."

Jason was glad that the Ice Queen seemed to be leaving his wife alone. She had been looking for Alexis and Luke. Glancing around, he watched as his men made sure that Emily and Nik were safe, they were going to spend the night at the hotel.

Seeing Alexis panicking about Georgie who appeared to be missing, he was just about to order his men to look for her, when Mac entered with the young girl. "Morgan, who was that woman?" Asked Lorenzo.

Elizabeth looked up and said grimly. "Lucrezia Borgia come to life. That is Nikolas Cassidines grandmother, Helena Cassidine."

Having heard about the woman, he asked if there was anything he could do.

"Just keep a good eye on those you are close to. She tends to show up threaten Alexis or Nik, or Stefan then disappear after another battle of the wits with Luke Spencer."

"I don't think that will take too long Spencer doesn't seem to have that many brains." He said dryly.

Elizabeth reached over and touched his arm saying "She is not a sane person, do not underestimate her."

Jason pulled Elizabeth into his arms, saying to Lorenzo, "I want to get her out of her. Elizabeth has tangled with the witch before."

"That was a couple of years ago, but I have no wish to get her attention. Professor, good night." She said as they left the dance.

Chapter 57

Jason had no sooner fallen asleep than he heard his phone ringing. "Jase- I need to talk to Elizabeth." Said a crying Emily. "It's important."

Waking up his wife, he handed her the phone, but curled in close so that he could listen.

"Oh, god, Elizabeth, the worst thing happened. Lydia is dead. Helena was here when we got to the hotel, she claimed to have killed her for throwing Nik over for Zander. This is all my fault." She said sobbing.

Sitting up, Elizabeth took deep breaths to hold back the nausea. "Em, are you sure she wasn't lying?"

"Stefan called; Zander is in a hospital in St. Petersburg. I called to see you could call you dad to have him check him out. He is really, really badly hurt."

Alexis took the call from Stefan, trembling when she realized her family was now safe. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, she just showed up to scare us. Turns out she killed Lydia though for what she considered straining the family's honor by marrying Zander instead of Nik."

"Oh no, you know she did that for Nik. She wanted him to be free to be able to be with the woman he loves."

"I know, Nik, and I are flying to Russia, we are meeting Dr. Webber there to fly Zander home. He is in pretty bad shape. While there we are going to try and hunt her down."

"Are you taking Luke?"

"Yes, he is insisting on taking Lucky as well"

"Good luck. I have to go and check on the girls. Maxie was pretty scared last night."

Stefan said "She didn't show it. When she stepped in front of you before we got there, it made me appreciate what you gained by your marriage. You truly found a family."

"I did, and I won't let Helena or anyone else take that away from me." She said determined.

Jason told Nik he would arrange for Emily to move into the Towers, then offered some of his men to help.

"Thank you, but no. You don't want Helena in your business. Just protect Emily for me, for both of us." He said before hugging and kissing Emily goodbye. "Promise me you won't blame yourself for this."

"It is my fault, I knew that Zander still had feelings for me, I should have never asked him to come back here. Now Lydia is dead, and he is in critical condition, in a country where he doesn't speak the language."

"Emily, if this is anyone's fault, it is mine. I should have never even considered Lydia's proposal. I should have swallowed my pride sooner and accepted your brother's offer."

Nik watched as Luke and Lucky entered the airport, then thanked them for coming along.

"I'm staying." Lucky said. "Someone needs to be here to support Emily. I think I should stay with her."

"Lucky, I appreciate the offer, but I am moving in with Jason and Elizabeth." She left unsaid that he was not allowed within a fifty feet radius of their place.

"Why don't you just stay where you will be comfortable, you know you will hate having all of Jason's guards hanging around?" He said smirking at the man in question.

"Lucky, right now I will only feel comfortable sleeping at their place. I WANT to stay there. Go with your dad and help track down Helena."

Alexis tucked the covers around Kristina; she had woken up at four in the morning, from a nightmare. Wanting to check on her little girl, she was grateful she was fast asleep, dreaming whatever it was that babies dreamed about.

Walking down the hallway, she saw the light under Georgie's door. Knocking softly, she entered to see Georgie sitting in the window seat. "When we moved in, I thought that was why you chose the smallest of the bedrooms up here."

"I just like to sit and watch the water. It's peaceful. Can't sleep either?" She asked.

"Worried, plus feeling guilty that I'm glad it wasn't anyone close to me that died. Mac said you went for a walk earlier, was the ball a bore for you?"

"You have got to be kidding, I was hoping to be there when Tracy found out that Luke Spencer kissed her, the entertainment value on that alone, would be worth selling tickets to."

Walking over to pick up a fallen piece of the fake jewels from Georgie's costume, she asked where did you get this outfit, I could not believe it was you."

"They were in the attic at our old place. Dad wants us to clean it out and I have been working on it a box at a time. This was in one of my Mom's. The Nun's outfit as well."

"You looked very nice, a little too grown up, but very nice."

"It was a little too tight, up top, but I had fun wearing it. It was nice not doing what was expected. Wearing the safe and boring costume that I chose at the store. I lost one of the drachmas, though. Alexis, why does Helena hate you so much. I mean from what you said earlier, you dad had the affair with your mom, You are an innocent in all of that."

"I am a living reminder that my mother was the love of Mikkos' life, not her." Sitting down, Alexis debated on telling her, but since Mac knew, she said "I told you how she killed my mom, right. The thing is, I had a baby, when I was a couple years younger than you."

Seeing the stunned look on the younger girl's face, she said "I was young, naive and meet this charming man, well boy really while at school. He loved me too, but we really were too young for what happened. When Helena found out, she took my baby when it was born, told me he had died. I have never seen him since, but I believe he is still alive."

"Have you looked for him or her?" She asked moving over to the bed, next to Alexis.

"No, as long as Helena is alive it will be too dangerous. If my child is a boy, he could be a threat to Nik, at least in her mind. I just hope that someday, the truth will be told."

Hugging the woman, Georgie just held her tight. It was obvious that Alexis truly loved her child.

Jason waited until Elizabeth gave Emily the sedative that Monica had proscribed, then holding Elizabeth, escorted her to the living room. "How is she?"

"She is hurting, Jason. Poor Zander, I knew why he was marrying Lydia; I just can't believe that Helena did this." She was sick as she handed him the report her father sent. They had kept the worst from Emily, but she would not take it well.

Jason turned white, as he read it, Even in his world there were some things that went too far, Helena had most definitely gone beyond anything he had ever heard. "What kind of person?"

"I don't want to think about it." Elizabeth buried her head into his shoulder, then said "There is something I was planning to tell you at the cabin, but I think it can't wait any longer."

"You're pregnant." He said with a gentle smile. "I know I was waiting for you to tell me."

"I wanted to make it past the date where I miscarried last time." She admitted sadly. "That would be on my birthday. According to Dr. Meadows, I will give birth in early May."

Jason reached over and pulled her into his lap. "I love you, and him or her." He said before gently kissing her belly. "You should know that it was Diane who figured it out. She made a comment that your breasts were getting bigger."

"Diane noticed the size of my breasts?" She said laughing.

"No, she noticed that that green silk t-shirt thing you were wearing the other day was getting tighter. She said something about that it used to drape better. Then asked if you were pregnant."

"I'm scared. Your enemies worry me, but I know you can handle them, I know that if it were you versus Helena I would not worry, but when you add Luke and Lucky into the mix. I am scared." She admitted.

"I want you to consider taking lessons in shooting."

"Jason, after I almost shot my teacher, I don't think I could pull the trigger."

"Fine." Jason backed off for now. But he knew that Elizabeth was stronger than she realized and if it were to protect their child or him, she would have no problem pulling the trigger.

Carly woke up as across town; Jason and Elizabeth were walking up to bed. She could not believe what she had caused. Last time, Lydia had lived. She had driven people crazy here, and then ran off with AJ but she had lived.

Going downstairs, she saw her mother making coffee as she got ready to go to the hospital. "Momma, I think you should have one of Jason's men with you."

"I am not worried about Helena coming after me; I am of no consequence to her. I just wish that Luke had not taken Lucky with him. He is hot tempered and impulsive, I just wish that cooler heads had prevailed."

George got dressed, smiled as she tucked Alexis into her bed, then went to call her father. "Dad, when are you coming home?"

"Soon, there is nothing I can do about Helena, she has left the country."

"Alexis fell asleep in my room, I am taking Kristina with me to the Quartermaines, Kelly's and then to the library. I also want to go to our old house. Alexis said it was okay. I know you don't like the idea, but one of Jason's men is here to protect us. Milo is coming with me."

Mac told her to be careful, then she hung up grabbed the diaper bag and off they went. "Thanks Milo, I have a lot to do today. I do have one question, just how close to you have to be. I mean do you have to be close or can we be in eye contact."

After explaining the rules, they left for Kelly's.

Jason escorted his sister and Elizabeth into the diner, then ordering breakfast, tried to keep the awkward silence from sticking. Emily had been sullen and withdrawn and Elizabeth was trying to contain her happiness about the baby. They were both trying way too hard.

"Em, do you want to go to the Quartermaines with me?" She asked worried after Emily had lit into Edward when he had called earlier.

"I guess I have to, I mean the guards go where you go." She said. Then looking up burst into tears, saying "I'm sorry, I am so sorry. I just can't deal with this. I mean I know about your secret, I heard you and Jason talking this morning, I should be happy for you instead I just want to curl up in a ball and cry all day. What is wrong with me?"

"Nothing is wrong with you. You are hurting, that's all." Elizabeth saw Georgie struggling to enter as Milo seemed to be keeping someone a way. Jason went to help and saw that Milo had the situation under control.

"Who are you?" He asked the young man.

"I-I am Travis, Travis Berkley I was hoping to ask Georgie for help with my history report, I promise that is all I was doing."

"Why did she scream?"

"I don't know you would have to ask her. Look Mister, I swear that was all I was doing?" He said backing away, then looking at the mobster, he realized who he was and turned and ran as fast as he could.

Elizabeth helped her get Kristina settled then asked what was going on?

"Well if it was hard for me to get a date before, I think that Milo and Jason just ruined any chance I ever had of having a social life." She said laughing. "Thought I have to admit that was funny. That jerk asked me out, then it turned out he wanted to study with me. I bet that on Monday he goes to school and tells everyone that I am either insane or connected."

Emily could not help it, in spite of all that was going on, she had to laugh at the idea of Jason and Milo scaring off some jerk who had no idea what a wonderful girl Georgie was. "So should we have them apologize?"

Georgie looked up as the two men entered the diner, Milo with a sheepish look on his face. "No, in fact I don't think I would want to date anyone who would be intimidated by Jason. I want a guy who will look him in the eye and say Hello, not run like a scare chicken about to get his head chopped off. In fact I think I should introduce all future dates to him. If they past the Jason test, then and only then will I go out with them. What do you think?" She asked the two women.

Francis who had arrived along with Marco and Max smacked Milo in the head when the younger guard said "I think you won't be going out on a lot of dates. I mean seriously, you 're dad is the police commissioner, your step-mom scares most men, then after they get past those two, you want to introduce them to Jason. Why don't you just join a convent now and get it over with?"

"You don't think that there is a man out there who would want to date me that much?"

Milo started to answer then realized it was a trick question. No matter how he answered he was going to be smacked and that would not be a good thing. Thinking on it he said "Why don't you introduce them to Jason first, then your parents?

"Great, that way, I can watch as he terrorizes someone else's dates." Said a happy Emily as she recalled Juan and Zander's reactions to Jason. Zander...she was no longer so happy. What had she done? Had Nik and her love destroyed someone else on their path to true love?