Babble: This story is an offshoot of the "Dead Ted" idiocy of a few years ago. I've taken the premise, of that, starting with Jason's return to town and taking things from there.

Care to go back in time with me when Eddie's Angel was going on (Alexis); when Sonny was facing 25 years to drug trafficking because Carly tried to help with Mike and Sorel; when Lucky was brainwashed and the only who knew anything was Emily; when Stefan was faking his death trying to frame Luke; when Gia was hiding from her brother and no one knew the connection?

The cast will be large, the storylines integrated as it is with all of my stories. In the beginning it's a little more focused on the Scooby club with Sonny/Jason thrown in. But the later chapters bring so many more people into the story as I veer away from what the show did.

People like: Sonny, Carly, Alexis, Jax, V, Luke, Helena, Laura, the Q's, Emily, Zander, Nikolas, Lucky, Elizabeth, Jason, Francis, Johnny, Sorel, Taggert, Dara and well you'd be surprised.

A final thing the first 5 chapters or so have snippets of scenes that did appear on the show. I've tweaked the dialogue sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, and taken the idea the show gave and took it in another direction. By Chapter 6 I believe I've pretty much veered away from the show and it's all me.

Rating: As of now if you can watch TV you have no problem reading this.

Distribution: Please ask me first.

Disclaimer: I own nothing only the right to abuse.

PLEA: Please let me know what you think, if you like or hate it, either drop me a line here, or email me at [email protected]. I have several chapters ready to spring on you if anyone wants to read.

Final Thoughts: If anyone is still reading that is. For anyone who may read my other works on this board and are wondering if I will ever finish them. The answer is yes. The answer is after a horrid 2003, I'm getting back to my writing. All of my stories will be finished and I'll be putting up new chapters of all of my work. This is why you are now getting Ripple, because I'll be working on it as well and that way there won't be a lull on this board.

Thanks for listening and reading.

Stephanie

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[This story begins on August 21, 2000 when Jason came back the first time, and in the middle of the Dead Ted storyline. So there will be actual dialogue from the show, but a hell of a lot of deviation from it as well.

Key Changes: After the Nurses Ball, where Carly went after A.J., Sonny never took her to the island, and they are not getting along.

Other than that, Alexis is engaged to Ned, Sonny has been arrested because of Carly. Emily is the only one who knows something is wrong with Lucky. That's all for now.]

The Ripple Effect

Chapter 1

~Docks~

Elizabeth Webber sat on the dock looking out at Spoon Island, she had been sitting there for a long time, trying to deal with the latest bad run-in, in a long list of bad run-ins with Lucky. She was so tired of feeling this way, so tired of getting her hopes up only to see them go splat because of Lucky. Maybe it was time to let go of Lucky entirely.

She began to swing her legs over the murky water of the Port Charles River. She knocked a rock into the river and watched the effect it's intrusion caused on the water. The ripples formed where the rock landed then gradually moved away until it was calm again, at least on the surface anyway. But underneath the surface, the rock was still falling, and there was no telling what kind of damage it would cause.

If she were big on metaphors she would compare herself to the water. The surface she projected to everyone was calm, sometimes serene, with only the occasional deviation or ripple when everything got to be too much for her to bear. She picked up a rock and dropped it in the water to start the ripple action again.

But underneath, she was pure havoc in motion. The fake smile and image she projected day after day, was such an ingrained part of her that it was starting to smother her. She had started to lose her temper today at Kelly's after Lucky had told her again how she should be with Nikolas, and then Emily had followed on his heels with Lucky still loved her. She had snapped back, and both of them had looked at her with such a look of surprise and hurt, that she had immediately stifled her temper, and smiled.

She shook her head it amazed her that no one knew she was pretending. That in fact she was angry and lying to everyone all the time. Who knew she was such a good liar? She smirked she wished she had been this good at lying back in her Lizzie days, she would have gotten away with so much more, if she had been.

She laughed softly, she got away with it because no one expected Elizabeth to lie. She glanced up at the darkening sky, when was the last time she hadn't had to pretend? Her face softened into a smile, with Jason.

She glanced back at the bench where he had told her goodbye. He would know she was pretending. He would see through her fake smile in a heartbeat. Who was she kidding if he were here, she probably would have enough guts to stop pretending entirely. God she missed him. She missed riding with him, laughing with him, but most of all she missed talking to him. Losing him had been hard.

Jason shifted closer to her on the bench and took her hand. "You're not losing me, I'm just going away."

"Yeah well for how long Jason?" She muttered. She felt a shiver down her back and glanced around, it felt like someone was watching her. She didn't see anyone else on the dock, so she went back to her thoughts. Lucky kept saying that they had changed, maybe he was right. No. He had to be right, he was convinced that she belonged with Nikolas, so he had definitely changed. But she hadn't changed, she was still the same, wasn't she?

She thought about it and let out a laugh. "Well you moved out of Gram's into your studio, you stood up to everyone over your friendship with Jason. You let people believe he was your lover to protect him. You were accosted by a crime boss, had a bomb in your studio, treated a gunshot wound, started college, got an F, had a bodyguard." She stopped for breath. "Gee Elizabeth I guess you have changed too."

"And now I'm talking to myself." Elizabeth groaned.

"You think your face looks funny when you're taping me up, you should see your face when you're painting something that isn't working." Jason said shifting slowly on the couch keeping one hand on his side, while he did.

"And how do you know it wasn't working?" Elizabeth asked in curiosity, because she had been stuck yesterday.

"You talk to yourself." He told her with a smile.

Her eyes widened in shock. "I do not." God she couldn't have done that.

"Yeah." He nodded. "It was just a little."

She leaned closer, bracing herself. "Well what do I say?"

"I don't know." Jason shrugged, flinching a little at the pain that movement caused him. "You kind of mutter."

She laughed at the memory, then glanced around again, uneasy all of a sudden. She got to her feet, suddenly aware that it was night and it was getting darker by the minute. She picked up her purse and headed towards her studio. Maybe it was time to try to put another feeling on paper. Anger would be a good one. She started up the stairs, only to come to a stop at the top. She felt eyes on her again, and this time she knew who they belonged too.

"Elizabeth."

She turned around, for her eyes to confirm what she already knew. Jason Morgan was standing by the water's edge, he was dressed in a brown shirt and blue jeans and he was smiling at her.

"Hi."

"Jason." Her smile bloomed across her face, lighting up the evening. She flew off the stairs and ran over to him. He opened his arms and hugged her, lifting her off her feet when he did. "You're back." She tightened her arms around his neck, relishing his embrace. He hadn't held her like this before, she had wasted a lot of time with him.

Unsure of where that thought came from she pulled out of his embrace, but kept her hand on his arm, afraid he might disappear if she let him go. "So where have you been? When did you get back? And does Emily know yet?"

Jason smiled at her. He had missed her a lot while he was gone, he didn't know how much until he looked out the window of the warehouse and saw her sitting on the dock. He'd left Benny behind without a word in his haste to get to her before she left. "Late yesterday and no I have not seen Emily yet."

Thank God he was here. Some of the worry and dread she had been carrying around for weeks had already vanished at the sight of his face. "But I can tell her right? I mean it's not a secret?" She moved her hand down his arm to take his hand. "Because." She broke off her eyes going darker and his hand tightened on hers in response. "Oh God Jason, please you have no idea how amazing it is that you're here right now. Emily really needs you." And so do I.

Jason put his other hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?" He could see from her eyes that something was haunting her.

She wanted so badly to tell him, but she knew it was Emily's story to tell. "All I can say is that a lot has happened. But she really, really misses you. So can I call her?" She smiled up at him begging with her eyes to get her way. "Like now. Please."

He shook his head, he could never say no to her. "Yeah sure."

She reluctantly let go of his hand and dug in her purse for her phone. "I can't believe you're here. This is so incredible." She missed the warmth of his hand, so without thinking she reached out to touch his arm, while she touched re-dial on her phone. "So are you alright? Where have you been?"

Before he could answer, Emily answered the phone and Elizabeth stepped away to talk to her. He studied her, she had changed in the last seven months, and it was more than a new hairstyle. He couldn't help but feel a pang at the loss of her long curly hair. The change was more than just physical, her eyes weren't so haunted anymore, she seemed more confident and comfortable as well. The way she was dressed seemed to show that as well. He glanced at the dark red sleeveless shirt and black pants, it was similar to the outfit she was wearing that night in Jakes. But her attitude tonight was completely different. She looked amazing and he was having a hard time keeping his eyes off of her. He shook his head to clear that thought and focused on her end of the conversation.

"Only the single best thing that could have happened." Elizabeth looked over at him and smiled. "Now trust me, you're going to kick yourself for wasting time on the phone when you could've gotten here faster, so hurry up."

He watched her close the phone and shove it in her purse, he knew something was wrong.

"I cannot wait to see the look on Emily's face when she sees you. She is going to flip."

Jason took her hand, leading her to the bench, he waited for her to sit before he spoke. "Why has she needed me? What's going on?"

Her eyes were guarded. "I'll let Emily tell you."

Jason sighed, he wouldn't push her. "You look different."

"Different?" She repeated making a face. "I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

He tugged on her hand, shooting her a look. "Definitely good." He studied her face. "You look older somehow."

She flushed lightly, feeling the weight of his stare, her stomach gave a slight lurch. Get a grip Elizabeth, this is just Jason. "Well I am older."

"I haven't been gone that long."

"Yes you have." She said quietly before going on in a rush. "A haircut, I guess a new attitude. Lord knows I needed one."

"I don't know." He shifted on the bench moving closer. "I like the old Elizabeth Webber." He had left a girl, whom he had been thinking about too much and returned to find a woman. A woman that he already knew he would think about even more.

"I'm still the same brat I always was." She didn't remember having so much trouble breathing when she had sat beside him before. Nervous of his close scrutiny of her she changed the subject. "Do you remember when we sat here and you said goodbye and I said, 'No. I'll see you later'?" She laced her fingers with his. "I knew I'd see you again."

"I thought about you a lot." He admitted. She hadn't stopped touching him since she saw him, not that he minded. "How's your painting? Was your professor better than the first guy you had?" He frowned remembering the night he had found her so upset because the professor had hated her work. He had blocked a lot of that night from his memory, but he could still remember her pain.

She shrugged. "Well he seemed to like me better, so that's good, and I'm learning new techniques."

"Do you like what you're painting now?" There was still a hint of sadness in her eyes and he wondered the cause.

"Sometimes." She grinned at him. "I still think my painting of the wind is the best I've ever done." That's because it was for Jason. She shook her head clearing the thought. She shifted on the bench so she was facing him, their clasped hands resting on her knee when she brought her right leg up to cross a foot under her knee. "I've bet you've seen the wind in a lot of different places, right?"

Jason reached out and brushed a stray strand of her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Her skin felt so soft under his fingers. He was used to touching her hand, not her face. "No I've only seen the wind with you." His finger lingered on her skin for another minute before he let it drop. "But I have been a lot of places."

Just breathe. You suck your stomach and air in and then you push it out. That was how you breathed. She had been doing it for almost 19 years so why was she having problems remembering how to do it now? Feelings she didn't know she was capable of having were exploding inside of her, and all he had done was lightly brush her cheek. She forced her attention back on the conversation. "Like where? Did you make it to Italy? They say the light in Italy is different than anywhere else in the world."

"No. I didn't make it to Italy, so I'll have to take your word for that."

She shifted again moving closer to him on the bench, she couldn't believe he was here. She didn't remember the last time she had felt so happy. "Then where did you go?" She backtracked remembering that he didn't like a lot of questions. "Besides Minnesota. When Emily got that postcard, we sat around for weeks trying to figure out why you'd go there."

Arsonist. A.J. Carly. Michael. "I was looking for someone." He said simply.

"Oh." Her eyes were bright with curiosity but she let it drop.

"I found him in Indiana." He always seemed to answer questions with her that he would ignore from other people. "After that I started traveling for fun, just seeing whatever I wanted to see."

Elizabeth sighed wistfully. "I can't wait to do that. To go anyplace I'd like."

He could hear the sadness in her voice. "Have you been okay?"

It was funny how four little words could bring her down. Jason, her friend, the only one she could be fully honest with was back in town, and to tell the truth, she didn't want to get into the whole Lucky situation with him. Not yet. She had missed him so much, she'd rather just sit and listen to him talk. "I've been fine. So where else did you go?"

"Elizabeth." Jason said with a sigh.

She rolled her eyes. "I forgot for a minute." He looked at her in puzzlement. "I forgot that you're the only one who sees through me, and calls me on my pretending."

"Why are you pretending?" He thought she had stopped doing that. He knew what happened to her when she pretended too much, and the pressure got to her. She went looking for a release and it wasn't always in a good way.

"It's been difficult since Lucky came home." She admitted finally, turning her head to look at the water.

"Lucky?" He repeated in shock.

"You didn't know?" She thought sure Sonny would have told him, to ease his mind. Although they had never discussed it, she knew he felt some guilt over the fact Lucky had died in his building. The same type of guilt she used to feel because she was the one that had given Lucky the candles she thought had killed him. It was useless and it had no merit but it was still there.

"He's alive?" Jason asked stunned. A sense of relief and a sense of trepidation moved through him. Relief that his friend wasn't dead and that Elizabeth had her love back. Trepidation because he had started to have feelings for her. Those feelings were one of the reasons that he had come home to Port Charles. Seeing her tonight had only solidified them for him.

"Yeah." She focused on his face. "Turns out he was kidnapped by Faison and the body they found was somebody else. It was put there to make us think it was Lucky." She shook her head. It still seemed a little unreal to her. "I guess Helena Cassadine figured out he was alive and rescued him."

He wondered why she still seemed sad, when Lucky was alive, it didn't make sense, unless. "Is he okay?"

"He's alive." She said immediately running her hand through her hand before speaking. "He seems alright." She pulled away from him and moved to the water's edge. That wasn't fair. Lucky was alive, alright, and not in love with her anymore.

"Then why are you upset?" Jason asked standing beside her but keeping his eyes on the water.

"Let's not do this now. You're back for the first time in over seven months and I would rather talk about anything than Lucky." Elizabeth said brightly pasting a smile on her face.

Jason glanced over at her and waited.

She turned back to the water with a sigh.

Elizabeth was quiet for so long that he was about to let it go. He knew she would tell him eventually. That was the way their relationship worked, she could tell him anything, and normally did. It had started with that first meeting in Jakes and in the months that followed they only got closer. Even though he had been gone for over seven months, he was amazed at how easy it was to pick back up where they had left off. Like only a night had passed. Everything was the same except for one thing. He was more aware of her as a woman than he had ever been.

He focused on the water, he had begun to develop feelings for her, feelings that went beyond friendship, after he was shot. He could still remember the first time he really thought about her that way. It was a couple of days after he was shot. She was checking him for a fever and her hands were cold so she pressed her cheek on his forehead. She smelled like snow, pure and sweet. His feelings for her seemed to grow and change the entire time he stayed with her in the studio, but he also knew it was too soon for them to act on them. She was still in mourning, and he was dealing with Sonny and Carly's betrayal. But he also knew that had he stayed around those feelings would have only gotten stronger and stronger. Coming face to face with her tonight convinced him, that his feelings had grown, even when he was away from her. It was an unsettling realization for him because Lucky was back now.

"Do you remember how you used to find me, all sad and missing Lucky?" She broke the silence, keeping her face averted from him. "You'd sit and listen while I told you how perfect our love was and how it would last forever."

"Yeah I remember."

"Well," she turned to face him. "It didn't."

Jason turned as well, that explained the sadness. "When did he come home?"

"The end of April." She clasped her arms around her waist. "You know at first I didn't want to believe he was alive. I didn't want to hope only to lose him again."

"That makes sense." He said quietly.

"Except that's what happened anyway." She turned to look at the water again. "Lucky's alive, but he doesn't love me anymore."

Jason reached over and pulled her into an embrace, her arms looped his waist, and he rested his chin on her head. "I'm sorry about that."

"I love him as much as ever." She said softly, but did she? She banished the thought and went on. "When he was gone I had to pretend I didn't miss him, and now that he's alive I have to pretend that I don't love him." His chest muffled her words, but he didn't let her go, and she pulled him closer still. "I'm so sick of faking how I feel. I'm just so tired of it."

"You don't have to fake anything with me."

She pulled back to look up at him. "You're still the only person who makes me feel I don't have too." She told him before moving back to rest her head on his chest.

They stared at the water, both taking comfort in the embrace, an embrace that went on too long, to be just an embrace between friends. Darkness had fallen around them, the water was a dark void, and the only way you knew it was there was the sound it made when it lapped up against the dock. Neither one seemed to want to break the silence or the embrace.

"Jason?"

Jason let go of Elizabeth reluctantly, turning to face his sister. "Hey."

"Jason." Emily cried running towards him relief in seeing him, made her eyes tear up.

"Whoa." Jason caught her automatically, turning his head meeting Elizabeth's eyes in concern. She just shook her head and moved over to them.

"Oh my God. Never, never go away. Promise me." Emily begged pulling back from him.

"Hold on." Jason framed her face in his hands, seeing her tears, when he did. "What's wrong?"

"Everything is wrong. I mean Sonny got arrested, Carly lost her baby, Grandfather's trying to get Michael back." Emily rambled.

"Slow down." Jason said waving her words off. "What's going on with you right now?"

Emily sighed heavily. "I wish you would have been here."

"Here for what?" He asked Emily before turning to look at Elizabeth. Something had happened and from the way they were acting it had to be something bad. "Will one of you tell me what is going on? I can't help until I know."

Emily looked to Elizabeth in question, Elizabeth nodded in her head in encouragement. "I needed you Jason, it all started when…"

"Hey everybody, what's going on?" Lucky Spencer called walking up to the trio. "Jason it's great to see you."

Jason was close enough to Elizabeth that he felt her response to seeing Lucky. Tension had caused her body to jerk upright, breaking contact with his. He glanced at her and saw the wary look in her eyes, when she faced Lucky. "Yeah." He replied studying Lucky, he looked so different it was hard to believe that it was the same Lucky Spencer. "You too."

"When did you get back?" Lucky shifted subtly edging Emily behind him so he faced Jason.

"Last night." Now he could read the uncertainty on Emily's face. What was going on?

"It's great to see you, but we all have to get going." Lucky said.

"Lucky I was just about too…" Emily began touching his arm.

Lucky cut her off. "I'm sure you have a lot of family stuff you need to fill him in on, but can't it wait? We need to get to Kelly's."

"Lucky." Elizabeth stepped closer. "Emily has really missed Jason, this is the first time they've seen each other." She explained slowly, trying to reach him, he was acting odd again. "I think they need to catch up."

"Well it's not like he's going anywhere right?" Lucky snapped at her.

That was enough for Jason and he moved closer to Lucky. "You know I'll walk Emily over when were done. Kelly's isn't going anywhere either."

Lucky's eyes widened in surprise at the challenge in Jason's words. He had gotten used to the kid glove treatment, that most people seemed to use on him. He didn't like it but sometimes it came in handy. He squinted in the dim light focusing on Jason's calm face. He wouldn't get the kid glove treatment from Jason, he could see that already. A feeling of anger coursed through him, when he saw how close Elizabeth was standing to Jason. She was standing beside Jason when she should be beside him, he shook his head, beside Nikolas. "See the thing is." Lucky said suddenly aware of the silence. "It's kind of important."

"Lucky." Elizabeth tried again, putting her hand on his arm.

Lucky shrugged it off. "Don't make a big deal about this Elizabeth." Elizabeth belongs with Nikolas. "Beside Nikolas is there waiting for you."

Elizabeth groaned stepping back from him in disgust, not this again. "And your point is?"

"Elizabeth you be…"

"Enough." Elizabeth snapped. If she heard him say that one more time she was going to scream. "Fine I'll go to Kelly's with you and Emily can stay here with her brother."

"No." Lucky cried.

"Hey Jason?" Sonny's voice interrupted the tense scene and Jason turned to see him walking down the docks in their direction.

"I guess Sonny's here to see you." Emily said quietly. "I'll call you tomorrow." She clutched his arm in panic. "You will be here tomorrow won't you?"

Jason patted her hand. "I'm staying at Jakes, and my cell phone number hasn't changed." His eyes flicked to Elizabeth to make sure she heard him, and she nodded. "Call me." Again he was addressing both of them.

Emily hugged him. "It's really good to see you Jason, I'm so glad you're back." She let go and turned around heading for Kelly's.

"Come on Elizabeth." Lucky said shortly when she made no move to follow.

"You know I got things to do at home, I'll just get the update tomorrow."

Lucky took her hand. "You know this is important. You need to be there." His eyes were soft for a moment and then he went on. "Besides there's Nikolas to think about."

Elizabeth jerked her hand away. For a second, just a second, she had thought the old Lucky was back. But she was reminded again that the old Lucky didn't exist anymore. How many more times would she have to be reminded of that fact before she finally accepted it? "Fine I'll catch up."

"Elizabeth…"

"She said she'd catch up." Jason interrupted. He didn't like what he was seeing.

"Fine." Lucky snapped walking away.

Elizabeth stared after him before turning to look at Jason. "Welcome to my world." She said bitterly.

"What's going on?" Jason asked quietly.

She looked past him, to Sonny, who was waiting a few feet away. "Another time Sonny's waiting for you."

Jason pinched his nose in frustration. He did need to talk to Sonny. "Call me."

"Count on it." She said smiling at him. "Hi Sonny. Bye Sonny." She called before walking away.

"Elizabeth." Sonny called after her with a smile.

She stopped a step away, and turned back to give Jason another hug. "Did I tell you how much I missed you?"

He hugged her back. "I missed you too."

She stepped back reluctantly. "See you later."

Jason nodded, watching her until she was out of sight before turning to face Sonny. "What the hell is going on with Lucky?"

~Kelly's~

"Okay now that we're all here." Elizabeth said rolling her eyes at Gia. "Why did you stop Emily from telling Jason what's been happening?"

"Jason's back in town?" Nikolas asked. That's all he needed.

"Whose Jason?" Gia asked determined not to be left out of anything.

"Yes he is and Lucky practically dragged me away from him." Emily explained taking a drink of her soda. "What is your problem?"

"You were going to tell him." Lucky told her as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yes. He could help us." Emily retorted.

"He would know what to do." Elizabeth added.

"This Jason knows what to do with dead bodies?" Gia asked. Who were these people? They were more messed up then she thought.

Emily ignored her. "So why did you shut us down?"

"We agreed that we would keep this between us." Lucky said.

"Well we're not handling it very well." Elizabeth replied. "He could help, no questions asked. This whole mess could be over with tonight."

"I think I like this Jason." Gia said.

"You won't once he finds out you blackmailed his sister." Elizabeth told her with a glare, before turning it into a smile of anticipation. "You know that's another reason to tell him."

Gia shifted nervously in her seat. "He's her brother."

"Among other things." Emily leaned closer to Gia and lowered her voice. "Of course we don't talk about those things." God it felt so good to make this bitch uncomfortable.

Elizabeth met Emily's eyes and she swallowed her laughter. "But, just because we don't talk about them, doesn't make them any less real."

"Elizabeth leave her alone." Nikolas said tiredly. It was already happening. Jason was barely back in town and Emily and Elizabeth were already changing. "Getting back to the point."

"Yeah. Why shouldn't we tell him? He'll know how to fix the problem." Elizabeth repeated turning to face Lucky again.

Lucky clenched his fists under the table, her unquestioned belief in Jason infuriated him. There was a time when he was the only one she believed in like that. Now it looked like she didn't even believe him at all anymore, she wanted Jason to fix things but that was his job.

"Yeah." Emily was saying. "If my brother had been in town when this whole thing started, I would've gone to him right away."

"I thought you said, you didn't want him to know." Lucky snapped. Now Emily was beginning to doubt him too.

"I'm for anyone who gets me out of this mess." Gia said. "What?" She asked catching Nikolas's glare. "Anything has got to be better than what you can think of."

Emily ignored the dig. "I didn't want him to know at first, because I didn't want him to think less of me." Elizabeth reached over and patted her hand in comfort. "But I know how stupid that was now, he could never think less of me."

"That's right, he wouldn't." Elizabeth agreed. "Besides Emily is his sister, he will do whatever it takes to get her out of this no questions asked. I say we call him."

"No." Lucky snapped slamming his drink on the table causing the others to look at him in surprise.

"I think," Nikolas said trying to take the attention off his brother. "What Lucky means is the fewer people who know the better."

Both Emily and Elizabeth shook their heads. Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak and Lucky cut her off.

"Besides the only reason he is back is to help Sonny. Do you really want to distract him from that."

"Now who is Sonny?" Gia asked she needed a scorecard.

"He could do both." Elizabeth said stubbornly, although Lucky did have a point. A point she didn't really like. Was the only reason Jason was back to help Sonny? If so, did that mean that once he did, he would leave again? She didn't like to think of him leaving. Some of the happiness she had been feeling ever since she saw Jason faded.

"Besides," Lucky lowered his voice. He had found the angle he needed to back the girls off, and he would use it so he remained in control. "We are talking about the murder of a cop. The last thing Jason or Sonny needs is to be involved in the murder of a cop."

Emily blanched. "I don't want to get my brother in trouble with the police."

"Why can't I know who Sonny is?" Gia demanded. She wasn't surprised when she was ignored.

Emily looked at Elizabeth. "I think maybe Lucky is right."

"Why is it okay for you to get me involved in the murder of a cop but not this Sonny or Jason?" Gia commented loudly, getting their attention.

"You stupid little witch…" Elizabeth began leaning across the table her eyes flashing.

"Look it." Emily interrupted. "You're the one that involved yourself in this whole thing. You." She poked Gia's shoulder. "Followed me to a motel room, and then blackmailed me all right? You put yourself in this position. We're." She gestured around the table. "Just trying to get you out of it."

"Alive Gia." Elizabeth said leaning back. "Although why we're trying to save your scrawny ass I don't know."

"So we're agreed?" Nikolas asked trying to stop the argument. "No one tells Jason."

Lucky nodded immediately, after a minute, so did Emily, then Gia. He looked at Elizabeth. "All of us need to agree."

"I still think…"

"Look it's Emily's problem." Lucky snapped drawing her focus on him. "Isn't that what you keep telling me? She said no, so you won't tell him."

Elizabeth chafed under the order, she glanced at Emily and caved. "Whatever." She decided that she would tell Jason if things got out of control, she would go to him without a second thought. Emily winked at her, as if she knew what Elizabeth was thinking and agreed with her.

"So which one of you is paying?" Gia asked biting into her burger.