A/N – Hi everyone, I'm back for another round. I was torn between two stories but settled on this one first. I don't think I'm going to make it a long fic but decided I wanted to tackle around the time Jake was kidnapped and have Liz grow a spine and not take Lucky's crappy attitude. For now, posting on Mondays. Will see if I can twice a week in a few weeks.

Liz is tired of lying and when fates align, nothing will stop her from getting what she wants.

Chapter 1

Liz paced in her living room as she waited for word about Jake. He had been kidnapped, and thankfully, they were able to negotiate Jason getting bail so he could try to find him. She wrung her hands. Lucky had been insufferable. At first, he blamed her for what had happened, and of course, everything is her fault. She has had enough. She spun as the door flew open, but it was just him.

Lucky sighed. "Nothing yet."

Liz crossed her arms in front of her. "Cam is in his room."

"I thought we agreed to keep him away."

"I need him here. I can't stand to be separated from him." He doesn't seem to understand that she doesn't want Cam out of her sight after what happened.

"It's not about what you need, Elizabeth."

She straightened her shoulders and wondered how they had gotten to this point. He is unrecognizable. As much as she had been trying to make this marriage work, it was clear that Lucky not only has no faith in her, but he seemed determined to make her feel like shit for everything. "You don't think I know that? It's never about what I need. It's always what you want—what you feel is right. This whole debacle has been a huge eye-opener."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

She isn't even sure if any of this is worth it anymore. God, she had tried. While she has loved this man on and off since she was a teenager, they are nothing like they were back then. She had morphed into someone she didn't recognize, and Lucky had never been the same after Helena messed with his brain.

"You're always so self-righteous, Elizabeth. All you do is make me feel like I'm tainted or something."

"I think you got that backward. You accused me of doing something to hurt my son!"

"Jesus Christ. Would you let that go already? I apologized."

"You would never forgive me if I had done that to you." The idiot even had Lainey convinced that she was some psycho.

He plopped onto the couch. This whole situation is making him feel helpless, especially since Jason is out playing the hero. God, he hates him. After everything had happened, his wife had taken comfort in a fucking criminal. He has had it with Jason and Elizabeth's love for him. Lines need to be drawn, and Elizabeth had better choose wisely, or she won't like the outcome.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jason continued to feed Jake his bottle. Getting to hold him is amazing. He put a cloth on his shoulder and tried to burp him, taking a moment to sniff as baby lotion permeated his nose. "I'm missing so much," he murmured. His life is such a mess right now. "I wish I could be there for you."

Jake gurgled making Jason smile. "Besides your mom, I don't think I've ever missed someone as much as I miss you. I hope that someday, you'll forgive me. God, I love you, Jake. I wish I was a better man." Regret is not something he usually feels. He hates lies and right now, he's participating in a huge one.

Amelia stopped the car in the driveway, so Jason put Jake's hat on and got out.

"I'll wait," she said, as she wondered what he'll do about Sam.

Jason stopped on the porch. "You're home, son. Your mom and brother are going to be so happy."

He grabbed the doorknob and pushed, making Elizabeth and Cam's heads pop up.

"Oh my God!" she said as Jason moved closer.

"He's okay."

Tears filled her eyes as she took the baby from him and hugged him. "Mommy is so glad to see you. I love you so much, Jake."

Jason smiled at Cam and picked him up so he could see Jake.

Lucky moved into the doorway, just as Elizabeth said, "I knew you would find him and bring him home."

While he is glad to see his son, he hates that Jason had bested him. They look like a family standing there, and that pisses him off even more.

"This is the best gift. Thank you so much, Jason."

"All that matters is that he is safe."

Lucky snapped out of it and rushed forward. "Jake…"

Elizabeth handed him off. "Jason found him."

Lucky holds the baby close. "You found my son?"

Jason nodded.

Lucky gave the baby back to Elizabeth and grabbed Cam and took him up to his room and turned on a video before returning to the living room.

"I want to know who took my son."

Every time Jason heard my son, it felt like Lucky had stabbed him, and he deserved every inch of that blade.

"The lady who took him lost her baby in a fire. She was doing a segment on Sam's show and was upset and saw Elizabeth and the kids in the park. Amelia figured it out. The lady who took Jake has another kid. We sent Lainey over there to give her some counseling."

"So, neither one of you thought to call the police?"

Liz intervened because Lucky had raised his voice.

She weighed in. "I'm not sure that I can let it go considering what she put us through."

"You shouldn't let it go," Lucky said reaching for his phone. "I'm calling the station. Either you can give me the name, or I'll subpoena Ms. Jaffe."

"Do what you need to do."

Jason glanced at Liz who shook her head. She can already tell Lucky is probably going to lose it later.

"Cruz, it's Lucky. Jake is back.

Cruz is happy. "That's great."

"You can get the name and address of the person who took him from Amelia Jaffe. I'm also arresting Jason for violating his bail."

Liz's eyes grew wide as Jason stared at an unrepentant Lucky.

"Lucky, what are you doing?"

"I'm doing my job."

"He brought our son home, and this is how you're going to repay him?"

Lucky glared at her. "Don't make me the villain. He didn't call the cops when he should have, and he violated his bail."

"How do you know that?"

"It's probably why he won't give up the address. I'm not stupid, Elizabeth."

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. God, he hates Lucky Spencer.

Lucky retrieved some handcuffs, so Jason turned around and watched a tear run down Elizabeth's face.

"Lucky, if you do this…"

Jason shook his head, signaling her not to make an ultimatum.

"You'll what?"

Elizabeth remained quiet as she rocked the baby.

"That's what I thought."

When he grabbed Jason's arm and led him to the door, Liz found her voice.

"If you do this, don't come home tonight."

Lucky gasped. "What did you say?"

"You heard me." She put Jake inside a bassinet and moved toward him. "I'm sick of this vindicative, jealous bullshit."

Jason is stunned.

"Wow. Maybe I don't want to come home to a wife who would side with her former boyfriend over me."

"Jason bought our son home while all you could do is criticize and blame me. If you call that a choice, then whatever."

Jason sighed heavily. "Elizabeth, don't say something you'll regret."

"I don't need your help," Lucky said jerking him forward before glancing at Liz. "I'll see you in the morning." While he hates that he can't spend time with Jake, he hates Jason Morgan more and jail is where he should be.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Diane argued with Scott Baldwin as they led Jason into an interrogation room.

"Diane, just get me out of here," Jason said.

"Unfortunately, I can't because they want to send you to Pentonville."

Jason closed his eyes.

"I'm not God, Jason. I don't think I can fix this. I'll do the best I can of course, but if I get you out of here, you can't do this again."

"I can't regret saving the baby, Diane."

"While I'm glad he was returned, my focus is on you, and from where I'm sitting, it doesn't look good."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Lucky opened the door to the house.

"I thought I told you not to come home tonight."

Lucky sighed. "I didn't want to go to bed mad at you." He eyed the baby. "You know, at some point, you're going to have to put him in his room."

"Don't—don't act like you didn't just put the man that saved our baby in jail out of spite."

"Elizabeth, he jumped bail and wouldn't give up the name. Who knows, he could have been a part of this."

"Are you crazy?"

"He always has to play the hero. Who's to say he didn't orchestrate this whole thing?"

"You are so jealous you can't even be fair. You are punishing Jason for finding him—"

"—when I couldn't?" He got up and slammed out of the house.

She picked up her phone and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Edward, this is Elizabeth Spencer. I need your help."

He is surprised to hear from her. "Are you okay? Did they find your baby?" The kidnapping is all over the news and they had been praying for her. Elizabeth had stayed in the mansion a lot over the years. She is like family.

"Yes. Jason brought him home."

"I thought he was in jail." Jason Morgan is the biggest frustration in his life. He swears he has an ulcer with his grandchild's name on it.

"He was on bail."

"You said was?"

"Well, even though he brought Jake home, Lucky had him arrested saying he jumped bail to go to another town."

"I swear the Spencers have one brain cell to the lot of them."

Elizabeth smirked. "You think you can cause a ruckus in the paper tomorrow? I'm sure Scott Baldwin is dying to crush Jason."

Edward smirked. "It will be my pleasure. You mark my word. Scott Baldwin will be sorry that he messed with a Quartermaine."

"I knew I could count on you. It's our little secret." There are not many ways she can help Jason right now, but she has been docile Elizabeth for way too long. It's time for Lizzie to come out and play. She has had enough.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Sonny entered the interrogation room after speaking to Scott Baldwin.

"Diane, do you think you can stop the transfer?"

"I'll do everything I can, but it's an uphill battle."

She grabbed her suitcase and left.

Sonny eyed Jason. "Bail was the last favor I had, so I can't stop it."

Jason averted his gaze for a few seconds. "I'll deal with the consequences. I did whatever it took to find my son, so it was worth it."

Sonny sat across from him.

"I need a favor."

"I'll do anything I can."

"I would like to keep that Jake is my son a secret."

"I don't understand the problem."

"Elizabeth wants Jake to grow up in a safe environment. It's what I want too."

"After what Lucky did, why are you protecting him?"

"Sonny…"

"Why are you letting him raise your child?"

Jason leaned forward. "I can't do anything. I'm going away. This is what is best for Jake. For the most part, Lucky is a good guy. He's just mad that I found Jake."

"I don't agree. I think he's a piece of shit, but this violation will make the Alcazar case even harder to win."

"I knew that was a risk, but Sonny, I had to get him back. I don't want my actions and choices to affect my son and Elizabeth. Can you please protect the secret for me and look out for them? Promise me you'll do that?"

Sonny stood. "You've always come through for me, so of course, I'll help you out."

They shook hands and Jason let out a deep breath as Sonny left the room.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

There was a knock on the door, so Liz ran to open it only to find Sam standing there.

"Hi, I heard you found Jake."

"Yes, he's safe and sound."

Sam played it coy. "That's good. I was wondering if you knew where Jason was."

Liz frowned. "You don't know? He violated his terms of bail when he found Jake, so Lucky turned him in."

Sam is stunned. "Wow."

"I know."

"All right, I'll check the station. I'm glad Jake is home."

Elizabeth doubts that. Usually, she'd let that go, but not anymore. "Really?"

Sam feigned innocence. "Of course…"

"Funny, you had no problem refusing to use your show to help us," When Sam's mouth dropped open, she went for the kill, "not to mention all your passive-aggressive comments that I'm sure Jason would love to know about. I'm tired of people thinking they can walk all over me. You can kiss my ass, Sam McCall. The only reason you came over here was for Jason," she said before slamming the door in Sam's face.

A shocked Sam made her way back to the car wondering what had gotten into Elizabeth.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Carly marched into the station and immediately began yelling at Mac.

"If you send him to Pentonville, I swear I will sue everyone in this station."

"Carly, threatening me isn't going to make this better."

"This is ridiculous, Mac. He saved a little boy and you're sending him away."

"He broke bail."

"He saved Jake Spencer. I swear you need to be an idiot to work here. I'm going to see him," she said making her way there.

"Not so fast, mob barbie, this isn't an autograph signing. He's in jail for a reason. You're not going in there," Scott said.

Carly scowled. "Who is gonna stop me? All you do is blow around hot air."

"You can't let her in there, Mac. God knows what she's packing in that outfit."

Mac rolled his eyes and stopped Scott's forward movement. "Carly, go."

She entered the room, much to Jason's surprise.

"Carly, why are you here?"

"I'm warning you right now. I'm about to go out there and cause the biggest scenes. There is no way in hell I'm letting them send you away. I will beg, borrow, steal, threaten—I'll do whatever I have to, so you don't go anywhere."

While Jason is moved by her ferocity, he doesn't want her there. "I need you to count to ten."

"I don't want to count to stupid ten. You shouldn't be going to prison."

"I'll be fine."

"There are people in there who will try to hurt you, and if you have to defend yourself and kill someone, then that's another charge."

He grabbed her hands. "I'll be fine. I'm just going to stay to myself and wait for Diane to fix this."

"I need you, Jason. Jax isn't here and you know I make a mess out of everything."

"Carly, I need you to be strong, please. Can you do that for me and your kids? Stop fighting with everyone and just keep out of trouble. If I have to worry about you, then I can't get through this."

Carly started to break down as Jason shoved down his emotions. He hates this. If he gets out of this, everything needs to be handled differently.

The guard appeared. "Your time is over."

"One more thing, can you watch over Spinelli and defend him?"

"Okay."

"What else?"

"I'll be good."

A ghost of a smile appeared on his face, and when he stood, she got up and hugged him tightly.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too."

She sniffed and pulled back and watched as he was led away before leaving.

Sam ran up to her. "Where is Jason?"

Carly is annoyed to see her. "Did you know he's going to Pentonville and can't have visitors?"

"What?"

"God knows when any of us will get to see him again."