The launch from Spoon Island came to gentle stop.  "Would you like us to wait
for you Miss Webber?"  The boat pilot said as he secured the boat to the dock.

"Would you?  I won't be more than thirty minutes or so."  The pilot nodded his
head to her as she started on her way.  She had just turned a corner when a hand
touches her shoulder.

She spun around.  "Matthew!"  Sarah said shocked.  Matthew kissed her hard on
the lips.  Sarah pushed him away and slapped him.  "What the hell are you doing
here?"

He rubbed his face and smiled.  "I was just checking up on an old friend."

"We were never friends."  Sarah spat.

He smiled again.  "You're right, we were more than just friends."

"Don't touch me!"  She shoved his hand away.  "What the hell do you want?"

"You've come up in the world since the last time I saw you."

"I'm keeping better company."

"I know."  Sarah's face falls as she suddenly realizes what it is that he wants.
"I think it's time you share your good fortune, to repay me for all I did for
you."

"Go to hell!"  Sarah screams.

Matthew grabs her by the hair.  "Don't get lippy with me.  You're going to do
exactly what I tell you to do or Stefan Cassadine is going to find out how much
time the woman sharing his bed spent on her back in Denver."

Sarah breaks free.  "He won't believe you."

Matthew laughs at her.  "I think he will. especially after he gets a look at the
special movie you made for me."

Sarah slaps him, her nails drawing blood.  "You bastard!"

Matthew wipes the blood from his face then punches her in the stomach.  She
falls to her knees gasping for breath.  "Someone has forgotten her lessons."  He
whipsers in her ear.  Sarah cries out in pain as her pulls her back to her feet
by her hair.  He then whispers something else into her ear and she begins to
cry.  "You see, you don't have a choice.  You either share with me or you lose
everything, and I mean *everything*."  He takes something from his pocket and
tosses it on the ground.  "Let me know what you decide, but don't take too
long."

Matthew turns and leaves and Sarah picks up what he threw to the ground.  She
looks at it and begins to sob uncontrollably.
 
 

The penthouse.

Brenda, Sonny, V and Jax sat together on the couch.  V was going over the
information that Jason had found, Jax was reading over his wife's shoulder.

"I'm not quite sure what you're telling me."  Jax finally said.

"Jax."  Brenda said.  "These show that someone in your family's company has been
paying Taggert almost since the day he arrived in Port Charles."

"Add that to the other info we dug up,"  Sonny added.  "And it's clear that
something very dirty is going on with J&J Jacks."

Jax took the papers from V and thru them onto the coffee table.  "There's no
proof of anything here."

V took his hand.  "Jasper, I know this is hard for you, but open your eyes.
There's already enough here to prove that your father and brother have been
laundering mob money for years."

"I can't believe they would do this."

"Believe it."  Sonny stood up.  "They're businessmen, and let's be honest, there
is a lot of money to be made doing laundry and very little risk."

Jax took a deep breath.  "I don't see how Taggert fits into this."

"Because he hates Sonny."  They all look at Brenda.  "Taggert wants to get Sonny
and he hasn't been able to.  Wouldn't he join forces with someone, no matter who
they were, if he knew it would help him get you once and for all."

"Maybe.  But what does Jerry and Jax's father have against me."

"One of their partners."  It was V's turn to be the center of attention.  "I'm
familiar with several of these accounts.  These two here were part of Moreno's
organization before Sonny took it over after his untimely death.  J&J lost a lot
of venture capital when he died."

"No."  Jax said dismissing her explaination.  "This isn't about revenge for
Moreno, my father is far too smart to take what happened to him personally, no
matter the amount of money involved.  No, there's something else going on."

Sonny breathed a tired sigh.  "It looks like someone else has delt themselves a
hand at this table."
 
 

PC Hotel, Jerry Jax's suite.

"I don't believe it!  Where in the hell did you find this moron?"

Taggert glared at him.  "Don't raise your voice to me Jacks."

"What should I do?  Shake your hand for hiring a blackmailer, for jeopardizing
this whole operation?"

"I haven't jeopardized a thing."

"Oh really?  Would you like to hear that little message again?  This guy could
blow everything."  Jerry paced around the room.  "We're at a critical juncture
here.  Corinthos is off balance, but he isn't beaten yet and Morgan is still out
there to call the shots."

"Don't worry.  I deal with it."

"You had better, before our friend finds out."

"He won't find out."  Jerry sees Taggert's hand resting on his gun.  "No one
will."

Taggert leaves Jerry's suite while a figure moves cautiously behind him.  As he
enters the elevator and the doors close, Dara Jensen comes into the open.  She
watches the elevator descend and turns her head back to the suite of Jerry Jax.
 
 

"So is the little terror asleep yet?"

Liz plopped down on the couch next to Lucky and settled herself into his arms.
"She is down for the count."

"Good."  Lucky titled her head back and kissed her.  "Those were the words I've
been waiting to hear."

The passion of their kiss increased and soon Lucky was lying on top of her.
Lucky's lips were pushing at hers, opening her lips so that his tongue could
enter her mouth and find hers.

Lucky lifted his mouth off hers.  Liz was tugging at the bottom of his shirt,
trying to get to his bare skin.  He let go of her and lifted his shirt over his
head.  Reaching out for her again, Lucky put his hands on Liz's shoulders,
pushing the blouse off her shoulders.

He pulled her against his bare chest, kissing his neck and her shoudler and the
tops of her bare breasts, and then reached down to run one hand up her leg under
the short skirt she was wearing until he was cupping her bottom.

Lucky grinned at her.  Even after all the times they made love, she still jerked
in surprise at his intimate touch.  "You are so beautiful."  He said as he gazed
over her.  "Marry me."
 
 

Nightshade.

Emily had on a new dress, a royal blue crepe with a short skirt that was tight
at the waist and flared out at the hips, sleeveless, with a halter neckline that
left much of her back and shoulders bare, and dressy gold sandals.

Robin was wearing an Oriental-style shot silk evening gown (a gift from Mariah),
in a shade of mauve carefully selected to compliment her dark hair, with high
side slits showing a lot of shapely leg, the curve of ankle and calf accentuated
by
thin-strapped, high-heeled sandals.

Suffice to say the moment they walked through the door every eye in the place
was upon them, male and female.  They waded through the lustful stares of the
men and the scornful looks of their female companions and reached the bar.

Sitting in her usual place dressed in a rich green brocade dress with long
sleeves and a long skirt was Mariah.  From her vantage point she could survey
the entire club, and with quick glance or a raise of her hand she defuse any
situation that arose before it got out of hand.  The three women embraced
briefly as they greeted one another.

"Man this place is jumping tonight."  Emily said as she settled herself into the
booth by Mariah's office.

After a few minutes of polite conversation about what they each had been doing
since the last time they saw each other, Em finally asked the question that
Mariah had been waiting for.

"So, do you have any idea why Michelle is keeping Derek in Toronto?"

Mariah shook her head.  "No.  I'm sure it's nothing though.  Michelle probably
wants his advice on something, that's all."  As she answered Emily a young woman
in her mid-twenties with short cropped hair approached the table.  "Yes,
Melissa."

"Your guest is here."  She said pointing to the entrance of the club.

Mariah looked over Melissa's shoudler and smiled.  "Thank you."

She excused herself from the table and went to greet her friend.  Two male vamps
came up to Alexis but when they saw Mariah coming toward them, they turned
around and disappeared back into the sea of moving bodies around them.  Mariah
took Alexis' hand and sat her down at the bar on the stool next to hers.

"What's so funny?"  Robin asked noticing Emily's grin.

"Nothing it's just I never would have imagined those two being friends is all."

"Why is it?"

"I don't know."  Emily shrugged her shoulders as she watched Mariah and Alexis
laughing with each other.  "This isn't the sort of place you would expect
someone like Alexis Davis to hang out in."

Robin laughed causing Emily to give her a look.  "A year ago someone would've
said the same thing about you."  Emily laughed too.  "Maybe she's just spreading
her wings now that all the craziness is over.  You know, seeing what else is out
there beyond the Cassadine walls."

"Speaking of Cassadines, look who's here."  Emily pointed to the door.

Robin turned her head and saw Nikolas Cassadine standing at the bar next to his
aunt.  He noticed her and Emily and gave Alexis a peck on the cheek and made his
way over to their table.
 
 

New York City.

"Now tell me."  The woman stood over the crying man.  She was attractive, in her
mid-thirties with platinum hair.  She wiped blood from the corner of the man's
mouth.  "Come now.  You've already told me everything else.  What's wrong with
answering one more question?"

The man didn't look up.  "Please.... I don't know what it is you want."

"I want to find someone."

"I can't help you."

"Oh, but you can help me.  You were his Watcher."  The man begins to lose
consciousness again.  She slaps him awake.  "Armand Calain.  I want to know who
killed him."

"I don't know."  The man begins to cry.  "Please let me go."

The woman tries to soothe his fear.  "Shhhhh.  I will, just tell me who did it."

The man was quiet.  "Webber."  He finally whispered.  "Her name is Elizabeth
Webber."

"There, now that wasn't so bad was it?"  The man breaks down again and the woman
holds his head next to her chest.  She gently strokes his hair, whispering
comforting words to him before breaking his neck.
 

CHAPTER 6

Carly's apartment,
three days later.

"Please...."  Carly's voice was pleading and full of emotion.  "You have to help
me, I can't fight the Quartermaines alone."  Jason stood stone faced as Carly
explained Edward's latest attempt to gain custody of her son.  "I know what I
tried to do to Robin, but please, you can't let them take my son away just
because you hate me."

"I don't hate you Carly."

"Then you're going to help me?"  She sounded almost hopeful through her tears.

Jason hesitently put his arms around her.  "Yes.  No one is going to take
Michael away, certainly not Edward Quartermaine."  As Jason held her next to
him, he didn't see the smile form on Carly's lips.
 
 

Emily's apartment.

Em sat down at the kitchen table.  Across from her Liz was staring blankly at
the cold cup of coffee in front of her.  She took a sip from her own mug.  "So,
wanna talk now?"

"What do you mean?"

Em set her cup down.  "You've been walking around this place in daze since you
showed up the other morning.  What's going on Liz?  I thought you were living
with Lucky at the house while his parents are away?"

Liz chuckled.  "Yeah, and I thought you were staying at Derek's now."

"I am, but he's away and that place is a little lonely without him.  Now don't
change the subject."  Emily looked at her friend.  "What happened?"

Liz sat back in her chair and exhaled sharply.  "Lucky asked me to marry him."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Three nights ago.

"What?... What did you just say?"

"I asked you to marry me?"

She pushed Lucky off of her and sat up.  "That's what I thought you said."  She
pulled her blouse back over her shoulders.  "What brought this on?  Yesterday
you told me that us talking about marriage was getting ahead of ourselves."

"I changed my mind."

"And like I asked you before, what brought this change on?"

"I was thinking a lot about what you said before and I've come to the decision
that I was wrong.  I've thought a lot about Robin and Jason.  They're still
willing to take a chance even knowing Robin's condition could worsen at anytime.
I also had a long talk with Mom this morning and she set me straight on a few
things"  Liz looked at him puzzled.  "I love you Elizabeth and I don't want to
wait anymore."  Lucky held her hands tightly in his.  "So.... Will you marry
me?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"What did you tell him?"

Liz got up and paced the room.  "Nothing.  I left."

Emily's eyes grew wide in amazement.  "You left?  What do you mean you left?"

"I wasn't expecting this."

"You weren't?"  Emily said coyly.

"Okay, maybe I was.  But finally hearing it, I guess I paniced."  She slumped
down in the chair opposite Emily and laid her head upon the table.  "Oh man, I
really screwed it up, didn't I?"

Em started to stroke her hair.  "That all depends on what your answer is going
to be."  Liz raised her head up.  "What is your answer?"
 
 

The Cassadine jet,
en route to Port Charles.

Stefan sits quietly in his seat with his eyes closed.  He turns his head at the
sound of the fax machine spitting out a message.  He reluctantly lifts himself
up.  He removes the message and swears silently to himself after reading it.  He
then picks up the phone to the cockpit.

"How soon will we reach Port Charles?"  He asks.

"Maybe another two hours or so Mr Cassadine."  The pilot answers.

He reads the message again.  "No maybe.  Two hours or you're fired."

Stefan pours himself a whiskey and downs it all in one gulp.  Two days, he
thinks to himself, two damn days and now they see fit to inform him that she's
coming.

He pours another drink and downs it just as quickly.  He leans back in his chair
praying that he reaches home in time to warn her, but he can't help but think
that it may already be too late.  She may already be there.
 
 

Mariah's loft above Nightshade.

She brushes her hair behind her ears as she tiptoes through the loft on her way
out.  One of her shoes slips from her fingers and lands on the hardwood floor
with a thud.

"Sneaking out are we?"

Alexis freezes at Mariah's voice and she turns around sheepishly.  "Caught me."

Mariah strode over to her smiling.  "Natasha, you don't have to sneak.  If you
wish to leave, you may."

"I was trying not to wake you."  She said embarassed.  "I have to get back to
Wyndemere."

"Your brother is returning today?"  Alexis nodded.  "And what have you decided?"

"I've decided that..... Aw hell."  Her face turned bright red and she fell
backward onto the couch.  "I don't know what I'm going to do yet.  This isn't
kind of thing you can plan."

"And you're confused."  Mariah said understanding.

"Very."  Alexis whispered.  "I don't know what to think anymore.  These last two
days have completely turned my world on it's head."  Mariah said nothing, she
just listened.  "Despite that, I know this is right.  I know this is who I am.
Not Alexis Davis, but Natasha Cassadine, the real me."  Alexis took hold of
Mariah's hand.  "And I have you to thank for helping me find myself."

Mariah smiled sweetly at her.  "I did nothing."

"Yes you did.  Now all I have to do is find a way to tell Stefan without giving
him a heart attack.  And after facing the dark prince of the Cassadine empire,
telling the rest of the world will be a walk in the park."

Mariah laughed and squeezed her hand tightly.  "Would you like me to go with
you?"

"No.  This is something I have to do on my own."  Alexis leaned in and gently
kissed Mariah's lips.  "Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Natasha."  Mariah whispered as Alexis walked out.
 
 

The Quartermaine's.

"Thank you Stanley.... I knew we could count on you.... And I hope you know that
you can always count on our support as well.... Goodbye Stanley."  Edward
Quartermaine hung up the phone and was grinning proudly.  "It's all settled.
The order has been signed.  By this evening Michael will be back in this house
where he belongs."

AJ stood beside the fireplace.  "Jason's not going to be very happy."

"Your malcontent brother has more important things to worry about at the moment
AJ."

AJ shook his head.  "You don't really believe that do you?  Once that baby is
taken from Carly, Sonny Corinthos and his problems will immediately take a back
seat."

Edward tried to reassure his grandson.  "You let me worry about Jason.  I
promise you my boy, Jason will not win this time."

"What do you mean grandfather?"

Edward just smiled again.  "You'll see."
 
 

The Spencer's.

Lucky sat on the front porch watching Lulu bounce her pink ball on the ground.
Unknown to him, another person was watching them both.  The telephone rang and
Lucky shouted to Lu to stay in the yard while answered it.  Lulu threw her ball
high into the air and it bounced over her head and into the yard across the
street.

Ignoring her brother she ran to get her favorite ball.  She stopped when a tall
woman with short platinum hair suddenly appeared in front of her.  She was about
to run back to the house when the woman produced Lu's pink ball from behind her
back.

"Yours I believe."  She said a saccrine sweet voice.  She held it out to Lu who,
hesitantly at first, grabbed it from her quickly.

"Thank you."  Lesley Lu said in a quiet voice.

"Your very welcome."  The woman said smiling to herself as the little girl ran
off back to the safety of her own yard.  She watched as Lucky picked her up and
twirled her around before going back inside.

<Such a handsome young man.>  She thought to herself.  <And such a pretty little
girl.  I hope you said your goodbyes Elizabeth.>
 

CHAPTER 7

"You can't do this!"  Carly screamed.

"Pay her no mind, do your job."  Edward said smugly as the social worker and the
police pushed Carly away and headed for Michael's room.

"You bastard!"  Carly slapped him.  An officer pulled her away as she swung at
him again.  "You won't get away with this!  Jason will stop again, just as he
did before."  Edward just laughed at her.

"Something funny?"  Edward turned in surprise to see Jason walk in with Justus
close behind.  He regarded his grandfather for a moment.  "Stop right there."
He said to the social worker holding Michael in her arms.

"Sir please do not interfere."  She told him.

Justus went into action.  "I would like to see a copy of the court order."  The
woman handed it to him and he read it over.  "I'm sorry Jason, everything
appears to be in order."

Jason walked over to Carly and held her tight as she began to scream when they
walked out with her son.  Jason shot Edward a look of pure contempt.  "This
isn't over."

"Yes it is Jason.  Michael is now where he belongs, with the family."

As the last police officer left the apartment, Jason approached his grandfather.
"Enjoy your victory while you can old man, because this is the last time you
will ever see Michael."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Yes."  Jason replied.  The coolness of his voice disturbing Edward.
 
 

Robin's loft.

The memory comes again.  No matter how many times she tried distract herself, it
always surfaces.  She grabs another bottle from the refrigerator and sits at the
dining room table.  Robin massages the back of her neck and remembers.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The waterfront, not far from the loft,
three nights ago.

"I'm sorry for dumping this all on you."  Robin said as she came to a halt.

Nikolas smiled.  "It's alright."

"No it's not.  Here we were spending a nice evening together in I don't know how
long, and I end up laying my problems at your feet."

Nikolas placed a hand on her shoulder.  He was surprised by the coolness of her
skin on such a warm night.  "Having, as you said, laid your problems at my feet,
I hope you don't mind me offering my own opinion on the matter."

Robin cocked her head.  "Please."

"I don't want to upset you, but I think Mac is right."  Nikolas saw her demeanor
change.  "Now before you go off on me, just listen for a moment."  Robin folded
her arms.  "I'm not going count off all of the reasons I'm sure your Uncle Mac
has...."

"But...."

"But.... Jason is a criminal.  That is his life.  You are already in danger just
being his lover, can you imagine the kind of danger you'll be in when you're
married."

"You don't have to lecture me on danger Nikolas."  Robin lead them over a vacant
bench.  "I've lived with danger most of my life.  From people involved in my
parents jobs, my mother's marriage to Duke Lavery and lots more that there's no
reason to go into now."  She touched his arm.  "I know the risks that come with
marrying Jason.  I wish that you both could trust my judgment."

Nikolas took her hand.  "I do trust you."  He let his other wander up to her
face.  "You're my friend and I care about you."  His fingers found their way
into her hair.  "I just don't want anything to happen to you."

Before Robin knew what was happening, Nikolas had his lips against hers.  As if
against her will her body began to respond and soon she was kissing him back.
Nikolas pulled her close to him and started running his hand down her back.

Robin felt a shiver run down her spine as his hand caressed her back and his
tongue explored her mouth with growing intensity.  She finally regained her
senses and pushed him away.  "Stop...."  She said her voice low and out of
breath.

"Robin...."  Nikolas sounding much the same way.

"Please, stop."  Robin stared at him.  Nik looked at her with pleading eyes.  "I
should go home."  He rose.  "Alone Nikolas.  Alone."

Nikolas watched as she disappeared into the darkness and sat down on the bench.
He took several deep breaths and ran his hands through his hair.  He started to
smile.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Robin shook herself back to reality.  <Why?>  She thought to herself.  <I love
Jason with all my heart.  So why do I feel this way?>  Several blood tears fell
from her eyes.  <Why did you have to kiss me?  And why didn't I want you to
stop?>
 
 

The penthouse.

"Okay."  Brenda sat on the couch looking on while Sonny talked on the phone.
"Jason you're not letting me down, you take whatever time you need with this....
Alright I'll tell her.... Bye."

He hung up the phone and Brenda moved to allow him to sit next to her.  "What
was that about?"

Sonny lifted his arm and she snuggled next to him.  "Edward Quartermaine managed
to get temporary custody of Michael again."

"Son of a bitch."  Brenda spat.

Sonny touched her leg.  "Calm down honey.  There's nothing we can do except let
Jason handle it."
 
 

"My baby Jason.  They took my baby."  Carly was sobbing into his chest.

"Don't worry."  He whispered to her.  "Michael will be back.  I promise you."
Jason motioned for Laticia, who escorted the still crying Carly into the
bedroom.  "What can we do Justus?"  He asked his cousin.

"There may nothing we can do today.  First thing in the morning I'll file an
injuction and try to get him back to Carly till we can get a hearing."

Jason stood at the bar tapping his fingers.  "See if you can find the name of
the judge who granted them custody."

"You think Edward greased a few palms."

"I certain of it."  Jason turned around.  "And we'll just see how far he'll go
for the Quartermaines when his political career is at stake."
 
 

Aaron and Terry's house, Toronto,
that evening.

"It took awhile, but we finally identified the men who attacked Anna."  Tracy
said proudly.  Anna, Nick, Natalie, Aaron and Terry gathered around the table as
she laid a half dozen files out.  "They were all part of Horton's hunters who
went underground after he died.  This is their leader."  Tracy handed Anna a
photo from one of the files.

"That's him.  That's the one who shot me."  She said remembering the pain of the
bullets ripping through her back.

"His name is Martin Callender."

"What do you know about him?"  Natalie asked.

"Not a lot."  Tracy answered.  "Joe said he was one of Horton's personal
recruits."

"Any idea where they are now?"  Terry inquired.

"No, but we're pretty sure they're still in the city laying low somewhere."
 
 

An abandoned wharehouse in Toronto.

A celluar phone rings and one of the men answers it.  His face falls and he
hands the phone to Callender.

"What?"

"Have you found her?"

"No."

"Well I have, or at least I know where she's going."

"And where might that be?"  He asked losing patience.

"Port Charles, New York.  If you leave now, you just might beat her there."

Before Callender can reply the line goes dead.  He places the phone in a bag and
turns to one of his men.  "When we get that Immortal bitch remind to kill that
other freak as well."
 
 

Dara Jensen's apartment.

Dara looks at her reflection in the mirror as she touches up her makeup.
Taggert looks in to check on her then goes into the living room to use the
phone.

"I need to meet with you."  He whispers.  "Yes, I have your money.  Now meet
me.... Okay, where do you want to meet?.... Fine.... Midnight it is."  As he
hangs up the phone his back is to the bedroom and he doesn't see Dara watching
him.
 
 

"Lucky."  Liz walks into the living room.

"Liz."  Lucky says back to her.  "I was worried about you."  He hugged her.

"I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to scare you."  She said as his arms tightened around
her.

"Where have you been?"

"At the apartment."

"The apartment?  But I called and Em said you weren't there."

"Don't be mad at her.  I asked her not to say I was there."

"Why?"

"Because I needed time to think."  Liz sat down and Lucky kneeled before her.
"I needed to be alone so I could make a decision."

"And what have you decided?"

Liz squeezed Lucky's hands so tight that it started to hurt him.  "Lucky, I love
you so much and I want to be your wife."  She started to cry.  Lucky picked her
up and began to kiss her passionately.

Outside the house a woman watches them from across the street as they continue
to kiss in front of the window.  <You must love him very much Elizabeth.>  She
steps back as a car drives by.  <I just hope you have the stomach to face me
after watching him die.>

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