A/N: Hey everyone! Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone stuffed their faces, had fun, and shared in lots of love and laughter. I definitely did. Sooooo I'm posting this chapter for your Black Friday enjoyment. I'm at work...not working. But whatevs! It's their fault for making me come in at 7am when I should totally be in bed binge-watching the Gilmore Girls Revival. They reap what they sow. Which is basically me here being hungover, worthless, and determined to get as little done as possibe. :D

ANYWAY! So, like I said before, we're starting to set up a bit of angst for JaceSam. One step forward, five thousand six hundred and twenty two back, and all that. We'll see that begin here when an old threat comes back into the picture.

Sidenote: A very astute reader pointed out that Jace should recognize Sam's voice. That's totally correct. When I wrote it, in my head I knew why he didn't recognize it, but being a total space cadet, I forgot to actually put it in the story. So thanks for pointing that out! I included it when Jace and Sam talk about his memories.

As always, thank you so much for the amazing reviews. You are all so supportive and incredible. I feel sooooo blessed and so inspired by your kind words. Love you guys!

Alright, people, let's get to it!

Happy Reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 23

Beautiful dreams of her little girl and the perfect life with Jason and Danny chased Sam all night. She woke up slowly, the familiar weight of a heavy arm lying across her waist sending a jolt of happiness through her. Her eyes still closed and a happy grin curving her lips, she pressed back against her husband. She turned around to face him, and let her eyes drift open lazily. But the handsome man sleeping beside her wasn't her husband. It was Jace. And with that realization, reality came crashing down around her, jolting her awake and sending a mixture of despair and guilt coursing through her.

Sam bit back a sob, covering her mouth with her hand. What was the matter with her? She'd gone to sleep beside Jace and had woken up believing it was her husband. How could she try to be with Jace, when she was still dreaming of Jason? Why couldn't she just let Jason go and enjoy being with Jace? Especially after what he'd done for her the night before.

Jace had been there for her. He'd held her and comforted her, letting her talk about her little girl, something it seemed no one in her life had done since Jason had passed. Sometimes it felt like everyone had forgotten about Lila, even Sonny. Jason had always remembered though. But Sam had gotten used to grieving for her alone, until last night. Jace was the last person she had expected to see there, but it turned out he was the one person who she had needed the most. And he'd been perfect.

And yet, she'd fallen asleep thinking of Jason, and woken up doing the same. And that wasn't fair to Jace. He deserved better than that. He deserved better than her. Reaching down, Sam carefully lifted Jace's arm off of her, setting it aside. She inched off the bed, easing away from him slowly. Backing off the bed until she was kneeling on the edge, Sam stared down at Jace's sleeping face.

A wave of affection flooded her. She reached out to pull the cover over him and brush a lock of hair off his forehead. Closing her eyes against the tears that threatened, she straightened. Rubbing her hands over her face, Sam tiptoed out of his bedroom and down the stairs. She realized that she was barefoot and glanced up the stairs. Jace must have taken them off last night.

She would come back for them later, she decided, desperate to make her escape. She had just pulled open the door when there was a slight creak on the steps.

"Forgetting something?"

She closed her eyes as Jace's deep, sleep-worn voice traveled to her. She pasted a smile on her face and turned to face him, avoiding his eyes. He was standing on the bottom step, holding out her boots and watching her with unreadable eyes.

"There they are! I was going to come back later and look for them." She said quickly. She walked over and grabbed her boots, but he wouldn't let go.

"I, um, I don't think they'll fit you." She attempted to joke, uneasily.

"What's wrong?"

Sam's eyes shot up to his.

"N-nothing. Just want to go home and shower. So if I could just have my boots back-." She tugged unsuccessfully.

"Sam." He leveled a direct look at her, his clear blue eyes studying her.

"Will you let go?" She cried out in exasperation.

"Is this about last night? Look, I know it was intense, but I feel closer to you than ever. But if I overstepped or made you feel uncomfortable in any way-."

Sam's eyes widened and she let go of the boots to rest her hands on top of his.

"No, of course not! Jace, you were wonderful. It's not that."

"Then what is it? What put that look in your eyes?" He asked gently.

Drowning in guilt, Sam went on the defensive.

"Jace, just drop it! I don't have to tell you every little thing that bothers me. I don't owe you any explanations, damn it!" She burst out angrily.

Her guilt only intensified as a surprised look of hurt crossed Jace's face before he quickly schooled his features into one of disinterest. He held out her boots and Sam grabbed them slowly.

"You're right. You don't owe me anything. See you later, Sam." He turned around and started up the stairs. Sam watched him, her stomach in knots. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Jace, wait!" She cried out. Jace stopped but didn't turn around.

"I'm sorry. I just...last night was hard for me. I dreamt of my little girl last night and what our life could've been. And I guess, Jason was on my mind. So when I woke up this morning, I wasn't completely conscious of where I was or...and I felt your arm around my waist, and for just a second...I thought you-." She broke off, unable to finish.

"You thought I was Jason." Jace said quietly, turning to face Sam. The guilty, miserable look on her face was answer enough. He ignored the ripple of hurt and pain her confirmation caused and struggled to see things from her point of view. He came down the steps and stopped in front of her.

"Sam, last night was intense for you. Of course it brought up old memories and feelings. It-it makes sense that you would be thinking of Jason. Besides, you'd just woken up. It's understandable that you'd think of Jason first thing in the morning after dredging up old memories last night." He almost choked on the words because even though he meant them, he couldn't deny his pride had taken a huge blow.

Sam stared up at him in disbelief. She'd expected him to blow up at her, accuse her of using him as a placeholder somehow. Instead he was being kind and understanding, which just made her feel worse.

"Stop! Don't be nice to me. I don't deserve it. You've been nothing but kind and supportive and patient, and you deserve better than me. Every time I think I'm ready to let go of Jason, something pulls me back. I'm- I'm broken, Jace."

Jace's hurt faded away as he saw how much Sam was struggling. How could he be upset with her when she was suffering so much already? He stepped forward and cupped her face.

"Sam, stop. You're not broken. You're just grieving. You're going to have your good days and your bad days, but the bad days don't mean you're stuck in the past, Sam. It means you honor your past. There's nothing wrong with remembering Jason. He was a huge part of your life. It would be weird if you didn't think about him or miss him every now and then."

Sam couldn't speak. She just stared at Jace, in that moment more certain than ever that the feelings she had for him were entirely about him, and had nothing to do with Jason.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and simply stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Jace. Startled, he stood stiff for a moment before enveloping her in his arms.

"When I'm with you, I'm not thinking of anyone else but you. This morning, I think the reason I thought of Jason was because of how right it felt to be in your arms. I never expected to feel like that again. But that's how it feels when I'm with you." She spoke against his chest, before tilting her head back and looking up at him.

"It feels right being with you, Jace."

"Sam." Jace's voice shook with emotion as he reached up and carefully tucked a lock of her behind her ears.

"Jace, I need you to know. I will do everything I can to help you find out who you are, but it won't change how I feel about you. It won't change the fact that I want to see what we could become together." She was smiling up at him and Jace felt like he was choking on guilt as a sudden blurred image of the memory flash from the night before flashed in front of him. He had to tell her. Sam reached up to pull him down for a kiss but he took a step back and she looked at him, puzzled.

"Sam, wait. I can't tell you how much that means to me or how much I want this. You just said everything I've been hoping you would say." He stopped, unsure how to continue.

Sam stared at him in confusion. Something was wrong; he was pulling away from her.

"Look, I know I hurt you, Jace. But I swear, I know that you're not Jason and I don't want you to be. I am happy with who you are."

Jace closed his eyes.

"Sam, I'm married."

Sam gasped, her hand going to her stomach as it lurched sickeningly inside her.

"You're-you're married?" She choked out, her head shaking in denial. Jace stepped forward but she scrambled backwards away from him. He couldn't deny the small sting of pain that pierced him as she moved away.

"Sam, listen. I should have said I was married. I had a memory last night. I was proposing to her. I couldn't see her face and her voice was kind of distorted, but Sam, I know I was in love with her. She was the most important thing in my life."

Sam couldn't speak, each word slicing her heart into ribbons and leaving her breathless.

"I-I see." She stammered, forcing herself to be supportive. "Jace, that's-that's wonderful. I'm so- I'm so happy for you." She nodded, pasting a terrible imitation of a smile on her face. She began to back towards the door unsteadily, feeling as if the floor had just dropped from under her feet.

Jace couldn't bear the look on Sam's face. He needed her to understand.

"Sam, please let me finish." Sam froze, and let her eyes drift closed, bracing herself for the next blow. It came fast and with stunning force.

"I think we have kids. Two boys. I'm not totally sure though. I had another memory but it was brief. I just saw an image of two children running around me. Sam, the memory about my, uh, my wife, it's blurred and unclear. I don't really know what her voice sounds like or what she looks like, other than she was short, like you. And when I looked at my hand I could see that there's a faint tan line there, like at some point there was a wedding ring. But I wasn't wearing one when I was found. So I don't think we're still married. But I don't know, Sam. I wish I did." He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

Sam watched him, torn between the desire to run and the desire to comfort him. She remembered how hard it had been for Jason when he'd lost his memories before. She knew the toll it took. But if he really was married with children...she just didn't see where that left them.

"Jace, I-." She trailed off, unsure what to say.

He looked at her intensely.

"Sam, nothing that I remembered makes me want to step back from you, or changes how I feel about you. If anything, it makes me more sure than ever that I want you in my life. Because what I remember feeling for that woman is what I feel right here and right now, looking at you."

Sam inhaled sharply.

"Jace, you can't say that to me. You don't know if you're still married or not and I can't be with you if you are." She cried out, trying to make him understand.

Jace strode forward and gripped her hands.

"Sam, I don't plan to give up discovering my past. I will do everything in my power to find out who I am. But I don't want to live in limbo waiting for something that might never happen. Sam, what we have between us, what we're building towards? It's going to be the most important thing that's ever happened to me. I know it in my heart. And I think you know it too." He studied her as she watched him, unable to come up with a response.

He shoved his hand through his hair, feeling despair crawl up his throat as he realized he could be losing her.

"Sam, I can't lie to you about my memories but I don't want to lose you either. Please tell me I haven't lost you."

Sam looked away, her mind racing. Finally, she lifted her eyes to his and he was taken aback by the determination burning in her eyes.

"I'm going to help you find out who you are, Jace. And if you're married and have a family, I will let you go. Because I know what's it's like to wonder if my husband is out there somewhere and wish desperately for him to come back to me," She stepped closer and placed her hands on either side of his face, "But I'm happy for the first time in years and I don't want to lose you either. I'm not walking away, Jace. I just think we need to slow things down until we figure out whether or not you're married."

Jace wasn't sure how to feel. He was grateful that she wasn't giving up on them altogether, but she didn't want to move forward with him either.

"And what if I never get my memory back?"

Sam didn't have to think about it.

"You will."

Jace shook his head and paced away in frustration.

"You don't know that, Sam."

"Yes, I do. Jace, you just got out of the hospital. We haven't even really tried to find out who you are. So I'll put out some feelers, do some research, and we'll try to figure out who you are. And if we still can't find anything, then at least we can say we tried."

"And then what? We keep our lives on hold indefinitely? I don't want that. Damnit, Sam. I want you."

"Then you'll have me. Jace, I just need to know that we did everything we could to figure out who you were before. I want to be with you, but I couldn't live with myself if I let myself be happy with you at the expense of your wife and children."

"If I even have any." Jace muttered.

Sam smiled and nodded.

"Right."

Jace sighed.

"I know you're right. I don't know much about who I was, but I know I'm not the type of man to cheat on his wife or abandon his children. And as much as I want to be with you, I need to be sure I did everything in my power to find my past before building a new future." He paused. "And then we can be together."

"And then we can be together." She agreed softly.

Jace knew it was the right thing to do, but he couldn't help but hope that the only thing they found was a way to be together.

"Well, let's not waste any time. Let's get started."

…

"What did you just say?" The normally soft, cultured voice had gone hard with anger.

"Mr. Morgan has moved into the Harborview Towers. He lives in the penthouse across the hall from, well, from his wife."

She raised a neatly plucked brow. "Apparently I've underestimated that little guttersnipe. Perhaps there's more Cassadine in her than I thought." Helena murmured to herself.

"Ma'am?"

Helena sighed impatiently.

"Never you mind. She cannot be allowed to ruin my plans for Dr. Scorpio. The more time Samantha spends with Mr. Morgan, the likelier he is to regain his memory and then it's only a matter of time before he alerts the town of my involvement in our dear Robin's absence. No, that simply won't do. Call our friend. I have a job for her."