September 2000 -October 10, 2000

With Jason's return, this story will stray away from anything/anyone not associated with Jason or Elizabeth. It will involve their friends and family but less about others.

In the future (unless otherwise stated): Jason maintains an agreeable relationship with Alan and AJ and a loving relationship with Lila and Monica. Jason tolerates Edward for the family's sake. Carly grudgingly follows the custody agreement with AJ. (with hopes that one day, she will get Michael back for good.) Jason supports and encourages AJ and Michael's relationship. Michael loves his father. AJ remains sober. Jeff and Audrey will only be mentioned if necessary, but they will remain supportive.

Chapter 20

September 2000

Summary:

Sorel tells Zander to get rid of any witnesses who could tie them to Ted's death. Everyone except for Elizabeth plans on framing Zander for Ted's death. She calls Jason for help.

Jason sets Carly straight. Sonny and Carly exchanged vows at last.

Taggert discovers his sister Gia's part in the rave and blackmail.

Lucky admits to Emily that the thought of Jason being with Elizabeth bothers him. Emily explains Elizabeth's and Jason's close friendship to a jealous and angry Lucky. She encourages him to express his feelings even though he still can't remember much of what had transpired during his absence from Port Charles. Helena still has a hold on Lucky, but Lucky is starting to question his behavior toward Elizabeth. Elizabeth stands up to Lucky.

9/1-10/2000

Elizabeth finishes a shift at Kelly's dealing with a jealous Carly. Carly taunts Elizabeth about her friendship with Sonny and then orders Elizabeth away from Jason. Elizabeth laughs and throws back her insults.

Elizabeth thinks, "First, it was last night with Lucky warning her away from Jason, and tonight it's Carly warning her away from Jason." Elizabeth is walking toward her studio when he hears the sound of a motorcycle. Crossing her fingers, she runs toward the sound. "Jason, I was hoping that was you! Carly and Lucky are driving me crazy."

Jason says, "Do you want to get away?"

Elizbeth replies, "I thought you'd never ask."

"Where to?"

"Nowhere!"

Eizabeth hops on behind Jason and wraps her arms around his chest, and she barely hears Lucky calling out her name as Jason speeds away. They arrive at the bridge, and he explains the significance and what it meant to Robin and him. "This is the first time I've returned since she said goodbye."

"I saw Robin at the NB. She looks healthy and happy. She and Carly got into it."

Robin can hold her own with Carly. I heard you can, too. Sonny told me about your run-ins with her. I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"I feel responsible. It was because I chose recovery at your studio over having her help me that she resents you."

"Jason, it's not your fault, and I'm not afraid of Carly. At Kelly's, she ordered me to stay away from you. I told her that my friendship with you was not her business. Then she accused me of not caring that Lucky's been back. I got fed up with Lucky's behavior. He's been pushing me toward Nikolas for some reason."

They talk about letting go and what it was like for Jason to let Robin go. Elizabeth wishes she could stay firm in her resolve to end things with Lucky. Jason doesn't like how Lucky jerks her around. He asks, "What makes you happy: painting, ice cream, going fast…"

Elizabeth interrupts, "Yes, going fast."

"Why?"

"It makes me laugh, I feel alive, and my heart pounds."

"Yeah, I used to fight."

"You fight? You aren't exactly the fight-picking type."

Jason playfully shoves her shoulder. She asks what he is doing and soon realizes he is picking a fight. He teaches her how to fight by having her punch out her frustrations, hitting his hands with her fists. She laughs and feels exhilarated.

Jason presses Elizabeth about Emily as he hasn't been able to speak with his sister since last night. "Elizabeth, what happened? Why does Lucky want you with Nikolas, and why won't he let me talk with Emily? I don't care what happened. If I can fix it, I will. I don't care if Lucky or Nikolas thinks they can do it; I only care about you and my sister. Please let me help."

Elizabeth promises if it gets out of hand, she will call him.

Jason lets Elizabeth steer his bike back to Kelly's, and Lucky lurks in the shadows. Elizabeth laughs, "That was so much fun. I love it when you let me steer." Lucky's eyes narrow as Jason Morgan, of all people, laughs, too. Jason is teasing Elizabeth. He thinks, "Morgan doesn't smile, let alone laugh."

Lucky seethes. She doesn't laugh like that around him. He waits until Elizabeth kisses Jason on the cheek before going on the defensive, ordering Jason to stay away from Elizabeth and telling him she belongs to him. Jason thinks, "Lucky was never this demanding before. He would encourage Elizabeth's independence and didn't force her to choose her friends." Jason was getting the same treatment from Carly. It took sheer willpower not to tell Lucky to go fuck himself. Jason says, "Lucky, I don't know what your problem is, but Elizabeth is my friend, and unless she wants me to stay away, I will be here for her." Jason ignores Lucky's insults and waits to make sure Elizabeth is safe. She nods, saying that she will be okay, but as he walks away, he hears her yell.

"What is wrong with you? One moment, you are pushing me toward Nikolas, and just now, you tell Jason I belong to you. I don't belong to anyone other than myself. Something happened when you were with Faison or when Helena supposedly rescued you. I don't trust that woman. I'm going to my studio alone. Don't follow me."

9/11-30/2000

Carly trails Jason to Jake's, where she tries to get him onto the dance floor, hoping to rekindle a spark. He turns her down.

Declaring her love, Carly asks Jason to take her and Michael away so they can finally be the family they always dreamed they'd be. "We can disappear, you, me and Michael. We'd be a family. It's what you always wanted."

"No, Carly. It's what you wanted. I won't take Michael away from AJ. I love you, but I am not in love with you. We will never succeed as a couple." Stung by his rejection, Carly accuses him of letting his misplaced loyalty to Sonny.

Elizabeth finds Lucky with Helena and intervenes. Helena plans to prevent Elizabeth from ruining her master plan. Helena's endgame is to destroy Luke and Laura through Lucky. Lucky confesses how he's been having memory lapses and other mental problems. Elizabeth witnesses Lucky in a trance and takes action.

Elizabeth tells Jason about Emily's predicament. Elizabeth discovers Emily did not go to the Quartermaines after leaving her studio and probably went to the rave to help the others. Jason rushes to find Emily.

The rave and Emily's kidnapping: Lucky called in a tip to the PCPD about a body in a car. Taggert finds the planted body, and Zander kidnaps Emily. Gia hides when Taggert questions the teens. They recap what happened at the rave with Emily and undercover cop Ted.

Taggert arrests Jason to prevent him from trying to rescue his sister. Carly throws a fit, Alexis argues with Dara, and AJ pleads for his brother's case. Taggert relinquishes and allows Jason's release. Jason leaves the station on a mission.

Zander and Emily hide in an abandoned stable. He tells Emily he had no idea Sorel intended to kill a cop. Emily confessed that she and her friends had framed him. Zander promised Emily that he would let her go once they were safely at the Canadian border, where he had friends who would help him. Zander confessed to Emily that he only sold drugs to have more money, and Emily told him that she didn't hate him for kidnapping her.

Nikolas and Lucky decide to try to find Emily on their own.

9/15-30/2000

Carly dressed for the wedding, and when Jason came to the Penthouse, she asked him to give her away. Minutes later, Sonny asks Jason to be his best man. Jason informed Sonny and Carly that he could not attend the wedding. His sister was more important. Carly is upset that her best friend chose his sister over her wedding day, but Sonny understands. Jason leaves to find Elizabeth, hoping she has information. The wedding happens with Alexis as a witness.

Jason finds Elizabeth at Kelly's, telling her he thinks Zander is heading for the border in Canada. Elizabeth says that Lucky and Nikolas plan to search for Emily. They overheard Sorel talking about Albany. Jason asks why she didn't join them. "Jason, Lucky is unpredictable, and Nikolas is too entitled to be rational. You are calm and know when to hold back. I'd rather go with you to find Emily. I can help reason with him if we find Emily and Zander."

"Elizabeth, if it were up to me, I'd want you to be safe. I don't like knowing Nikolas and Lucky are out there with good intentions but no solid tracking experience."

"Lucky and Nikolas will search for Emily, whether or not you like it. I trust you and want to go with you."

"On the condition you follow my orders and stay behind me when I ask."

"I can't promise, but I'll try. I only want to get Emily home safely."

Zander agreed to let Emily write to her family but reminded her that it couldn't be mailed. Jason got more information from the store owner and then bribed the man to ensure he wouldn't give anyone else information about Zander or Jason.

Elizabeth and Jason enter a convenience store. While Jason asks the clerk about his sister, showing Emily's picture and describing Zander, Elizabeth notices a jar of pixie sticks. "Jason, look. Emily loves these."

The clerk acknowledges a guy matching Zander's description bought some an hour ago. Jason sees a car driving up, and it looks familiar. He pays the clerk money, not to mention him or seeing Zander. He borrows the clerk's hat and says, "Elizabeth, leave through the back way and wait in the car. I can't have you here right now. Elizabeth protests, but Jason says, "You promised to listen, please, now." Elizabeth complies.

While hiding at the store, Jason overheard a man come in and say he found two teenagers hiding in his hayloft. Two men heard the same information and ran off to look for them. Jason sets off an explosion that sends Sorel's men running, preventing them from finding Zander and Emily. They arrive at the barn, and Jason asks Elizabeth to stay in the car and honk the horn if anyone approaches. Jason enters and sees that Zander and Emily left items behind. Jason finds the letter and quickly scans it. He walks back to the car, shaking his head, he shows Elizabeth the letter. Jason and Elizabeth drive back to Port Charles.

Jason visited his grandmother and mother to share the news about Emily. Jason greeted Lila with a big hug. He gives Monica the letter. Emily said she loved them and she was safe with Zander. He would release her once they arrived in Canada. Jason convinced the family to stay calm.

Elizabeth runs into Lucky and Nikolas on the docks. Lucky looks wounded when Jason walks up behind Elizabeth. Elizabeth explains Emily wrote a letter. "Jason, how did the Quartermaines react to the letter?"

"Relieved. I told them I couldn't promise anything but would do whatever it takes to bring Emily home."

Elizabeth is with Jason when they see Lucky at the border crossing. "Spencer, How long have you been here?"

"About an hour. Elizabeth, why are you with him?

"Lucky, you know I was searching with Jason. All that matters is getting Emily back."

After Emily's rescue, Lucky was volatile. Emily and Elizabeth had to convince him to lie about Zander being there. Emily was going to ride from the Canadian border back to Port Charles with Jason, and Elizabeth wanted to be with her best friend. Lucky grabbed her arm, pulling Elizabeth to him. Elizabeth says, "Lucky, let go. I'm riding with Jason and Emily."

After dropping Emily at the Quartermaines, Jason drives Elizabeth to her studio. She invites him in and rubs her arm as they walk up the stairs to her door. Jason says, "Are you okay?"

Elizabeth replies, "I think so. Lucky grabbed my arm, and it still hurts. "

Jason says, "I'm sorry. If you want me to kick his ass, I will. Despite the way he treats you, it seems like you can't let go of the past. Why?"

Elizabeth shrugs, sighs, and replies, "Guilt. Jason, the man at the border today who returned from the dead, punched his father, and thinks I should be with Nikolas, is not the boy I fell in love with. Helena did something to him, and I feel I owe him to find out what that is."

"Why? Why do you owe him?"

"Because I've seen how Lucky reacts after he sees Helena. It's like someone flipped his switch. He claims to love me one moment but can't explain why he thinks I should be with Nikolas. If we can prove Helena brainwashed him, he deserves to get the help he needs. I'm not ready to forgive him for his treatment of me, but I don't want him under Helena's control. Nikolas overheard Helena saying she planned on using Lucky to get to Luke and Laura. You've heard of the curse she placed on them on their wedding day?"

Jason laughs, "A curse?

She sighed, "Lucky told me about the history of her hatred of the Spencers and made it her mission to destroy them. I've seen her with Nikolas and her interference in his relationship with his brother. She scares me; having her do something underhanded is not a stretch. I once loved Lucky, and he doesn't deserve this."

"I can understand. Carly has done a lot of shit, and I've told her I can't always be around to clean up her messes, doesn't mean I've stopped caring. Elizabeth, I've felt closer to you since we returned from the Canadian border. I understand if you want to help Lucky, but I will be here if you need me."

"Thank you. I feel the same way." She kisses his cheek and watches Jason leave, walking down the stairs to the docks.

10/2/2000

A worried Carly calls Jason to the PH. Jason arrives, and Carly begs Jason to change Sonny's mind about a business trip to PR. She's afraid Sonny will be killed if he goes. Jason meets privately with Sonny and offers to go in his place. He says, "Since you have a wife and stepson, you have more responsibilities. Let me take the risk." Sonny agrees, but Carly is unhappy that Jason is going instead. Jason calls and leaves a message for his sister, "Emily, I'm leaving town for a while. If you need anything, contact Sonny. I don't know how long I'll be gone. Please tell Elizabeth goodbye for me." Carly glares at him. "Never mind, I'll tell Elizabeth myself. I love you."

Carly says, "Really? Why does Elizabeth Webber rate a visit from you?"

"Carly, I am not having this conversation with you. Leave it alone. Don't go there." Jason leaves and visits Elizabeth at the studio.

She opens the door and smiles, "Jason, please come in. It's good to see you."

"I wanted to let you know I'm leaving town again."

Elizabeth's smile fades. "Oh, well, thanks for letting me know. When are you going? Have you told Emily?"

"I left Emily a message. I'm leaving tonight. Are things better with Lucky.?"

"Uhh, No. He apologized for hurting me, told me he loved me, then said I should be with Nikolas. I don't deserve the way he treats me. I hope he gets help; I'm not sure I can be the one to do it."

Jason says, "Do you still love him?"

Elizabeth shakes her head, "No. I didn't realize it until last week, but I think I stopped loving him late last year."

Jason's heart skips a beat, "Why?"

Elizabeth blushes, "I think you know why, or am I assuming too much?"

Jason clears his throat, "No, you aren't assuming too much. I told you we were more than friends and that there's no word what I feel for you. When you took care of me last winter, I felt something I haven't felt since Robin. I couldn't put it into words. Come here. Please?" Jason extends his hand.

Elizabeth takes his hand, "Jason…."

"Shush, no more talking." They embrace. Jason leads Elizabeth to the couch. He places his hands on her face, draws her to him, and kisses her deeply. Elizabeth sinks into Jason and feels a sensation she never felt with Lucky.

Jason holds her face and pulls her toward him. He kisses her forehead. "Elizabeth, I don't know how long I'll be gone. It could be a few weeks or months. I want you to be happy. Take care of yourself." He checks his watch and sighs, "My plane leaves in two hours; I should leave." He kisses her again and walks out the door.