Jason and Elizabeth re-connect under stressful circumstances. Can they save each other from the paths they've chosen, or is it too little, too late? AH

A/N – Alright, sorry I'm late. Crazy day. I had payroll, an emergency torture session at the dentist, and meetings galore. Happy Friday… Anyway, here is the first installment. I'm nervous about this one cause it's going to be a little weird in the first 10 chapters or so, but hopefully, you'll like it. There is a lot going on. It's AH, so storylines can be out of order and ages changed around, but you'll get explanations as you go. There will be flashbacks to explain what has transpired.

Chapter 1

Jason transferred his weight from his right foot to his left as he listened to Lucky and Emily argue. He had come a long way to see his sister who had been gone for several months and when no one would tell him anything, he took matters into his own hands and hunted her down. Things with Nikolas had been spiraling out of control and it wasn't like her to run, unless Helena was involved. Considering how dangerous the old woman is, there is no way in hell he will let Emily go unprotected. He always hated Nikolas because he thought he was pretentious and only tried to get along with him for his sister's sake. No one had seen or heard from the Cassadine heir since the week of his sister's disappearance. The minute Stan tracked her down, he headed west, determined to make sure that she is safe and not living in fear.

Their voices started to rise, both so fixed on the other that they didn't notice his presence. "You can't just walk away from her after all she has sacrificed for you."

"Emily, we're over. Before all of this happened, we agreed that we were through. I've spent the last four months here. I'm going to lose my job if I don't leave soon."

Emily wanted to punch him. Elizabeth had given up so much for him in the past that she couldn't believe that Lucky would just walk away while Liz is in crisis. "And what about that little boy who looks up to you like a father? He's already lost his mom for the time being and now you are walking away when he needs his dad."

Lucky's hand smacked against the wall and Jason clenched his fists as he wondered what the hell they were talking about. Lucky Spencer is the bane of his existence and… Jason's heart started to beat a little faster. Is Elizabeth in trouble? Milling over Emily's words he starts to panic, his mind going to places he wished it wouldn't as he struggled to make sense of it all. He hadn't seen Liz for quite a while. Occasionally, he checked on her and it seemed like she was happy. It had always been Lucky for her and unfortunately, something always kept them apart, and even though they had tried to be more than friends, his love affair with the nurse was over before it began. It's too bad that his heart hadn't gotten the message though. His love life is one ginormous failure.

Something crashed into his leg, tearing his attention away and momentarily, his questions left his mind.

"Jason!"

Emily and Lucky heads jerked towards him as they watched Jason lift the child into his arms.

"You remember me?"

Cam nodded and pointed at Emily. "Uh-huh. Brother." He would occasionally see Jason because he spent a lot of time with Emily. Besides, his mommy always smiled when she saw him. Emily showed him pictures of Jason and his motorcycle as well as the rest of the family and at his age. The little boy, who is almost four, imagined that the enforcer was a super hero, riding his bike to catch the bad guys.

"That's right."

"What are you doing here?" Lucky asked.

"I came to find my sister who hasn't been returning my calls."

Emily shifted nervously. "I'm sorry. I needed to get away quickly, so I left my phone."

The tension in the room is palpable as they stare.

After a long moment, Jason met Cameron's gaze. "Where's your mom?"

Cam pointed down a hallway. "Mommy sick."

Jason's jaw ticked, careful not to alarm Cam by looking worried. His arm tightened around the little boy as a short, brunette woman rushed towards them.

"I'm sorry that I'm late."

"It's okay Maria. Thank you for taking him on such short notice. Elizabeth isn't having a good day."

Jason swallowed hard.

"It's not a problem. He's such a great kid." Due to Elizabeth's condition, she had been hired full time to take care of Cam. "We'll see you back at the house."

Once he was out of earshot, Jason moved closer to the adults. "What the hell is going on here?"

"I was just leaving," Lucky said hoping to escape without incident. Jason's presence just pissed him off and he hated leaving Elizabeth with the enforcer around, but it is time for a clean break. They had tried again and they just weren't meant to be and he is thankful that they hadn't made it to the altar yet. There was something holding Elizabeth back and he wasn't sure what, but she had made her choice and said that she is done and he couldn't really argue with her. While it was hard to admit that they had changed, things were never the same since he came back from the fire.

Jason's head tilted. "Are you walking out on Cam and Elizabeth?"

Lucky sighed. "I need to go back to Port Charles and they aren't my responsibility anymore."

"So, things get tough and you bail? Did you ever think what that would do to Cam?"

Lucky shook with emotion. "I have given up my life for almost four months and nothing has changed. It's not gonna change. I didn't sign up for this."

Jason looked at him incredulously. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? She has stayed by your side because of her loyalty to you and this is the way you repay her? Was drinking poison not enough? Was sacrificing her happiness when you decided you wanted to take photographs and she needed to be a model, even though it reminded her of her rapist not enough? She forgave you when you slept with her sister. Jesus, Lucky, Elizabeth gave up her dreams and happiness to save your ass and the minute she needs your support, apparently, you can't hack it?"

Lucky cringed.

"It's always about you. Get out of my face. You don't deserve them." Jason had walked away several times so that Elizabeth could be happy with Lucky and the fact that the stupid man would throw them under the bus made him want to rip Lucky apart.

Emily wiped a tear away as Lucky retreated and when she wobbled, her brother was right there to steady her and she knew that he wanted answers. "I don't even know where to start."

"How about at the beginning?"

"Okay."

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Four Months Prior

Emily moved towards the fireplace to warm her cold hands. Windemere could be chilly even on a warm night due to the inhabitants. It was not her choice for a home, but she loved her husband and this is where he thought they belonged, so she made the best of it.

Nikolas got up from his desk in the corner and pulled her closer. "You okay?"

"Yeah."

He felt her tense and immediately dropped his hands. For the last few months, he had been suffering from mood swings, headaches, and blacking out. It was scary, to say the least, and had taken a toll on their relationship. There is one thing he knows and that is how deeply he loves his wife. Emily always took his breath away and that would never change. He is convinced that Helena has something to do with his lapses, but she still hadn't shown her face and the doctors can't explain his condition.

A blinding pain drops him to his knees and Emily yells for Alfred.

"Nikolas, talk to me. Please!" She starts to sob as he collides with the carpet and she follows him down, frantically trying to get him to open his eyes.

Just as Alfred clears the threshold of the room, Nikolas pounces and pins Emily beneath him, further pressing her into the carpet.

"Nikolas, stop! You're hurting me."

"Did you think I didn't know that you sent for her?"

Emily starts to sob as he grips her wrists harder. "I don't know what you're talking about." His eyes seem darker and cold, like she could drown in them, but not in a good way.

"Stop lying," he yells as spittle flies out of his mouth. "You are a traitor!" His body starts to shake with fury, scaring the hell out of Emily who is helpless to fight him. His hands fly to her throat and he starts to squeeze and her eyes grow wide when she realizes his intent. Her Nikolas is gone. Their gaze locks and Emily feels like she's looking at a psychotic stranger. There is no recognition in his eyes, just pure hate which stuns her silent as she tries to pull his hands back, but her feeble attempts are no match for his strength.

Alfred grabs Nikolas in a choke hold as Emily struggles to stay conscious. It is just too much to watch him suffer and the ramifications of his behavior terrify her. He had never been violent before. Right as darkness starts to envelope her, Nikolas is pried off her by two guards and she is carried to the couch.

Several minutes later, a subdued Nikolas is taken from the mansion and Alfred finally rouses Emily.

"Alfred?"

"Are you okay?"

She shakes her head as she starts to cry as her mind replays the scene before she passed out. "Nikolas?"

"They are taking him to a hospital. I thought it best since he can't control himself around you."

"Helena will blame this on me, unless she orchestrated the whole thing. I have to get out of here. Will you help me pack?" Her primal instinct is to run before Helena can find her.

He nodded and then carefully helps her stand. "You look pale."

Her wrist hurt and her throat is sore. "I haven't been feeling well. I'll be fine." She knows what she needs to do and thinks that Nikolas would agree if he were coherent.

Although he doesn't believe her, Alfred helps her to her room and they throw her clothes into a few suitcases.

"Where will you be?"

"I don't know, but promise me that you won't look for me. Helena can't know."

"You have my word and I will look after Nikolas. I know he didn't mean to hurt you."

Ugly bruises already marred her skin and he couldn't stomach looking at them. It had been hard to watch Nikolas unravel; turning into a person he didn't even recognize.

"I know."

They headed for the launch and when they arrived at the docks, Alfred put her in a cab.

"Take care of yourself, Emily."

"You too."

The car drove off and she made a call.

"Jax, this is Emily Quartermaine."

He stepped out of a conference room so he could give her his full attention. Because of his relationship with Alexis, they had gone out to dinner a few times with Nikolas and Emily and he genuinely likes her. "Are you alright?"

"I need your help. No one can know, but I need to get out of the state. Can you help me?" She didn't want to burden Jason with this and knew her family would pester him if they even thought that he knew where she had fled to.

Jax could hear the desperation in her voice. "Where are you?"

"Heading to the airport."

"I'll be right there and I'll have my jet ready for you."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

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Lucky threw down his keys and walked into their small apartment. The living room is littered with toys and he almost trips on one. "Dammit!"

Elizabeth rushed out of the kitchen as she wiped her hands on a dish towel. "What's wrong?"

"Cam needs to pick up his toys, Elizabeth."

Her look of surprise turns to one of annoyance. "Whatever…," she mumbles before retreating. It is typical Lucky, never helping, but always willing to criticize. Would it kill him to pick up a freaking toy?

He runs upstairs and takes a quick shower before joining them at the table.

They barely talk through dinner and once Cam is bathed and his nightly bedtime ritual is complete, Elizabeth tentatively sits next to Lucky on the couch. It has been like this for months and Liz is just about done putting up with his crap, but she just isn't sure how to end the never-ending cycle they had found themselves in. Lucky isn't the same man he used to be and she isn't the same girl. The writing is on the wall. Somehow, she had managed to get back in his orbit after the Ric fiasco and they had tried to pick up where they had left off and like a robot, she ended up accepting his marriage proposal because God forbid she disappoint Lucky Spencer and his permanent lock.

If she were honest, nothing had been the same since Sonny had lied about his death and Jason left when she had broken things off with him. Right after he disappeared, in a moment of weakness, she ended up with Zander again and got pregnant with Cam. They weren't together as a couple, but he tried to help her out the best he could. Shortly after that, Zander was killed and it sent Liz into premature labor and she had Cam a month early. Luckily, he had only spent a couple of weeks in neonatal and he was small, but fine.

While she grieved for her friend, Ric was there being sweet and offered to marry her. She was stupid and said yes and they had a small wedding. Things were fine at first and she even started falling in love with him, and then Jason came back briefly. Every time she saw him, he couldn't look at her and she wept inside, wishing she had her friend back. Since Ric hated Jason, she stayed away as signs of her husband's obsession started to arise and it spun out of control, only ending when he had kidnapped Carly and locked her in a panic room to punish his brother. It was unforgivable and she soon found herself being a single mother again. Jason had left a few months after handling the mess—meaning Ric hadn't been heard from since. She was ashamed that she had let such a monster in, so when Emily offered a place to stay, she took it and hid away for a while, trying to mend her heart. Several months later, Lucky, who had been hanging around a lot, asked her out and they fell into their old rhythm and six months later he asked her to marry him.

For a moment, she wished she had a rewind button so she could go back to her breakup with Jason. It all seemed so immature now, but if she could just change it a little and yell and then make him promise not to lie again, she could at least know if the man who had captured her thoughts for so long could have been the one that would have changed her life for the better.

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When Jax finds Emily in a small terminal at the airport, it takes only one look to tell him that she is in trouble. "Emily, talk to me."

Her lashes are wet and he grabs her hands and lightly squeezes them to try and keep her calm and that is when he spies the bruises.

She adjusted the scarf around her neck as she averted his gaze. "I need to leave town. I don't care where I go, I just—Helena is probably going to come after me and Nikolas is a wreck."

He shushes her and then takes a deep breath. "I have a house along the water in California. You can stay there for as long as you like."

"Really?"

"Yes, but there's only one condition."

"What's that?"

"I will call and check up on you from time to time." Nikolas hurt her and he didn't care about the mental issues because it was just an excuse. If the man had any sense, he would have taken himself out of the equation when he had found out about the blackouts so he couldn't hurt her. To him, Nikolas was being selfish and unfortunately, Emily had paid for it. He just wondered how many bruises he couldn't see and the thought was disturbing.

After a short internal conversation, she agreed. "Okay."