A/N – Thanks for the reviews. Guest – I get what you are saying, but I'm not going to write Liz the same way every story and she is not her mother. Skye grew into a strong woman. Liz will too. Not everyone is strong after being beaten the way she was and her parents sheltered and babied her and now she needs to learn. I have other stories where Liz is the one begging for forgiveness from Jason. It does go both ways. It's funny cause in other fanfics where Lucky is cheating on Liz or doing something bad to Liz when they are married and Jason stays with her, there are no complaints (and a lot of time they sleep in the same bed). Everyone cheers them on. Dante is being a friend. When or if he steps over the line, then I can see people getting upset. Anyway, thanks for the feedback. Whether we agree or not, I do want to hear everyone's opinion!

CandyHearts22 - I've read a couple of stories where Dante/Liz were good together. Lol Sorry for making you all squishy, but I like angst. Virgy15 – You totally made me laugh!

Thanks to everyone who said that they are enjoying it and Tess! And silvermaj – You totally get where I'm coming from!

Chapter 19 - Revelations

Liz went back home and headed up to her room. She is getting sick of being there. All she does is cry. Seeing Jason like that was horrible and his words echoed in her head making her almost dizzy.

Skye stood outside her door hearing her sobbing. She knocked and when Liz didn't answer she slowly opened the door to find her daughter lying on the bed in a ball. Skye went over to her and Liz threw herself into her mother's arms.

"I went to see him."

Skye was shocked. "And I take it that it didn't go well?"

"He told me that he loves me."

Skye rubbed her back softly. "Is that what upset you?"

"Everything about this upsets me," Liz said angrily.

"Mija, we don't know that he did anything for sure."

Liz sat up. "Mom, you believe him?"

Skye stood. "The way it was explained to me, there is a good chance that it was a setup."

"I don't believe this."

"I'm sorry. You just don't have all the facts, Bella. I still will have your back, but I think you need to seriously consider that maybe Jason is innocent," Skye said hoping that her daughter will hear her out. "There are a lot of holes in Sam's story. It's just not adding up."

Liz is exhausted. If Jason is innocent, she'll never forgive herself for doubting him and she isn't convinced that when Jason thinks about everything, that he can forgive her. "I agreed to give him a chance to get some answers."

"Good."

"I just want to be alone for a while okay?" Liz said closing her eyes.

Skye sadly walked out of the room and shut the door. She is glad that they had at least had the conversation and that Liz is willing to give Jason another chance.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Tess showed up at 3:00 as planned. Skye led her up to the room. "She's been in there all day. I don't know if she'll answer."

Tess took a deep breath and knocked and knocked and knocked.

"What do—" Liz said flinging the door open. "Tess," she said before throwing her arms around her.

"What were you going to say?"

Liz smirked. "Come in."

"How are you?"

"I've officially lost it," Liz said throwing her hands up in defeat.

"Welcome to the club."

"I'm miserable and I don't know what to do about it."

Tess hugged her again. "Relax, I'm on it."

Liz retreated. "What do you mean?"

"Trust me. I'm going to get down to the bottom of this mess."

"I'm scared to ask."

"Don't worry about it. In the meantime, I have a surprise for you."

On cue, there was a knock on the door. Tess opened it.

John moved inside. "Hey, beautiful."

Liz got up and hugged him as John spun her around.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to cheer you up," he said with an incredible grin on his face.

Liz sighed. "I don't know if that is possible."

John scoffed. "You gotta have more faith in me and my magic hands."

Liz lifted her eyebrow and they laughed.

"Come on," Tess said leading them all downstairs to the sitting room.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

John took a seat at the baby grand and Liz and Tess sat on the couch. He started playing and instantly Liz closed her eyes and got lost in the music. Dante came in about ten minutes later and stood off to the side watching her react to the music and he can't help but want her. He hadn't intended on falling for her but she had drawn him in little by little. It isn't even that she is beautiful. She had to be one of the most compassionate women that he had ever met. Tess observed him carefully not sure what to think as she could tell Dante has a crush on Liz. He saw Tess glance over at him and he snapped out of it, realizing that he needs to be more careful.

Liz was in heaven. The music was so uplifting and made her want to laugh. It was as if joy danced off the keys. It is just what she needs to pull her out of her melancholy. When Johnny finished playing, she jumped up clapping and ran over to him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you. Your magic hands did the trick."

Tess grinned. "Mission accomplished," she said under her breath.

They ate together and then Tess and John got up to leave. Liz pulled John aside to talk to him and Skye confronted Dante.

"I know you have a thing for my daughter."

Dante averted his gaze. "We're just friends."

"You seem like a very nice guy, but she loves Jason."

Dante glared at her. "I am aware of that, but he doesn't deserve her."

"That's not for you to say. Be careful. She needs you as a friend right now. Don't cross that line."

Dante didn't reply. Even though he knows she's right, and he has no plans to cross the line, it still hurts. He just needs to find a way to let her go.

"Tell Liz I'll call her tomorrow," Dante said before slipping out the door.

Tess and Johnny said their goodbyes and Skye gushed about John to Liz.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

When John and Tess got back to Claudia's, Spinelli was waiting in the living room with Sonny and Claudia.

"Temptress," he said before giving her a hug.

"What do you have for me?"

Spinelli laid down a rather large file on the table.

"Well, here is a list of eight men that the duplicitous one cohabitated with and then bled dry. She did two years in prison for robbery and her medical records indicate that she is unable to procreate."

Tess grinned.

"She has a rap sheet that would indicate sociopathic tendencies as well as a severe case of nymphomania. There are also some notes taken by her prison psychologists and her juvy records. I also have her last five residences, who she voted for in the last election and an interesting connection to the district attorney."

Sonny stared at Spinelli with his mouth open.

"She is also shacking up with someone named Logan Hayes and they are currently residing at Kelly's, which is also a restaurant."

Tess laughed. "Looks like someone's making some phone calls."

Sonny looked defeated. "Fine, give me the information."

"I'll tell you what I'll still help you with your poker game just because you are you."

"Why would you do that? You won fair and square," Sonny asked.

"Let's just call it a Spinelli insurance waiver."

John laughed. He could already tell that trying to understand Spinelli speak was getting on Sonny's last nerve. He figured this living arrangement is not going to end well.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Spinelli left to go meet his research friend Ellie. A few hours later, Tess got a text. "Go to Jake's alone. The duplicitous one is there."

She smiled and then fixed her attention on John. "I have to get dressed and go out."

John frowned. "Where?"

"Some place called Jake's."

"There is no way in hell you're going to a bar alone."

"Oh come on, Sam's there. I need to befriend that bitch so I can bring her down."

John smiled. "Well, when you put it that way…"

Sonny strode into the living room. "You're not going anywhere without a guard."

Tess frowned. "You can't ruin my cover."

"You won't even know he's there."

Sonny picked up his phone. "Cooper, I need you to come over to Claudia's. You're escorting a friend to Jake's." He looked back at Tess. "Cooper is new, so no one will know who he is."

Tess rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'm going to go change."