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Jason stood at the edge of the looming castle, eyes darting left and right as the buzz from inside the building pulsated. He could care less what was going on inside, but he had a feeling it was a joyful event because it seemed to make the shadows of the castle glow with some kind of excitement and anticipation. His boots crunched the leaves under his feet as he traced the south wall away from the docking area so he took his steps more carefully. Last he heard, Manny Ruiz was spotted on a boat headed towards Spoon Island, probably hoping to hide himself within this large castle. He looked behind him and the short brunette he knew of as Sam was eyeing the paths going up towards the castle. “Do you see any sign of him?” she asked. Jason shook his head. “He’s here, though. I can feel it.” She nodded and followed as he continued his way around the building. Above, the sound of orchestra music started to flow through the air. Elizabeth sat in the castle room, fixing her hair, smiling with the overwhelming happiness that her day had finally come. She was going to marry her first love and she couldn’t imagine being happier. She looked around the room, remembering back to when she had lived here with Lucky, Nikolas and Gia. That had been a good time for a short while before her sister arrived. Elizabeth bit back the bad memory, adjusting the curlers in her hair as she gazed into the mirror. She had never felt so beautiful before and she still couldn’t believe that Nikolas and Emily had managed to pull off this dream wedding for her. Back at their apartment, she had told Lucky that all she needed was a simple wedding, but in her heart she had hoped for something grand. She wanted this to be the last time and she wanted to share this with all her friends and family. Elizabeth began to pull out the curlers as she arranged her hair to match her dress. She felt like a fairytale princess, just like out of a dream. Suddenly, a shadow cast over the doorway to her room and she jumped, turning toward the door. It was gone. “Emily, is that you?” she called out. Standing, she moved toward the doorway. Glancing out, she saw no one, but prickles of fear started to crawl up her arm. She shook it off, feeling ridiculous for her reaction. There was no reason to be afraid. This was her wedding day. Emily stood in the center of the empty ballroom, sighing at the fruits of her labor. It all looked so magical. An ache that had been forming since the day she decided to leave Nikolas felt a little bit more whole as she envisioned the happy day that had arrived for two of her best friends. She walked around the room, taking in the beautiful, soft lighting and dramatic decorations. Remembering the Bacchanalia, she closed her eyes and floated through the room. She remembered ball gowns and laughter, music and dancing, intrigue and excitement. She wanted this day to be as special and as remembered as that night. Perhaps, she could capture the magic for Elizabeth and Lucky and make their special day last longer than hers. That ache started to beat again and she quickly ignored it. Now was not the time to let her struggle get in the way of her friends’ happiness. Their wedding mattered more than her weaknesses. She walked toward the windows, looking out on the balcony. Guests had arrived and she had to be prepared. It was her job to make sure everything went smoothly and that Elizabeth would have her dream come true. She clenched her fists and reaffirmed her resolve. She would play the part of the well-adjusted ex-wife one day more. “You look beautiful,” a voice came from behind her. She turned and smiled that familiar smile that seemed to lay a shadow over her sadness. “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.” And so the play began again. Sam stepped down the hallway, gripping the gun in her hand with shaky anticipation. The man who had been stalking her was somewhere in this dank castle and she was determined to find him. Though her fear was starting to weigh down on her and she would like nothing more than to put lead in his skull, it was Jason that she was worried about. She needed to find Manny as soon as possible so that she could get Jason to the hospital. She had this dark feeling in the pit of her stomach that if he didn’t get medical attention soon, she would lose him. She couldn’t let that happen. Jason turned the corner following Sam, his eyes starting to strain under the poor lighting of the corridor. He blinked several times, hoping to adjust so that he could find the bastard that had been stalking his girlfriend, his only connection to his old life. “Jason, I think we’ll cover more ground if we split up,” Sam suggested, though she didn’t want to leave him alone. Jason shook his head. “I can’t risk him finding you or you facing him alone.” “Jason, we have to be realistic. This place is huge and he could be anywhere,” Sam said. “He is stuck in a corner. He made a mistake by coming here,” Jason replied. “We’ll find him . . . together.” She nodded. Adjusting the grip on her gun, she proceeded towards the main ballroom. Elizabeth stood in front of the tall mirror, eyeing the contours of her dress and the curls atop her head. She sighed contentedly. It was perfect. As she placed the tiara veil above her head, a gasp of memory came back to her. A memory of another dress and another tiara. A memory of white gloves and a black dress. Her hands instinctually went to her lips as she thought back to that night. You want to go for a ride? I can’t. Not with this thing on my head and this stupid dress. I don’t mean “stupid.” It’s—it’s beautiful, it’s elegant. It’s supposed to transform me. Into what? Elizabeth stared at herself in surprise. “Where did that come from?” she asked herself. But the memory wouldn’t go away. Her eyes trailed to her arms. You know, they're called opera gloves. Obviously, people must have worn them to the opera 100 years ago. I don't know why because they're pointless and useless. I mean, you can't touch anything, including your own face, without staining them. Maybe to keep your arms warm? You know, sleeves would work a lot better. Yeah, but sleeves wouldn't be as pretty. That's the real reason for the gloves. They make you look like a doll or an ornament – something people are supposed to admire. “Go away,” she said to herself. This ugly feeling started to rise inside her stomach as she remembered more and more of that night. Lucky doesn't understand what you do for me, and it's not his fault. I can't seem to tell him. Because, Jason, how do I explain to him that you listen to me? He tries -- he really does. But he wants so much, and he's certain he knows what I want. I made him believe that. It's not fair of me to change. You can't help it. No one can. Do you remember the year of the Valentine's blizzard? Lucky and I got stuck in a church. We promised to love each other forever. And then I spent an entire year without him. I never stopped loving him, and I never will. But I'm not the same person and he wants me to be. He wants me to be who he promised to love in that church. “Stop it,” she said aloud. Stepping away from the mirror, she proceeded to the bed. “That’s not me anymore,” she thought back. “That’s not Lucky anymore and that’s not Jason anymore either.” Looking over her shoulder at the shadow of her reflection, Elizabeth saw the perfect resemblance of a life-size version doll she had once had when she was a child. Cinderella . . . fairytale princess . . . Elizabeth couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to the girl that never wanted to be seen as a doll. Lucky snuck toward the empty corridor in hopes of finding Nikolas. He had seen Emily in the ballroom and wanted to take the opportunity to get Nikolas alone with his ex-wife. Lucky couldn’t give up his instinct that the two of them still had so much love for each other that just couldn’t be swept away by divorce papers. He smiled when he turned the corner and caught a glimpse of Elizabeth’s room. His first true love was inside that room and in a few minutes she would be walking down the aisle and she would become his wife. He remembered all the obstacles that they had faced including Helena Cassadine’s manipulations and his brief affair with Elizabeth’s sister. He had never thought it was possible for them to find their way back but someone had given him a miracle. Hearing the rising sound of music filling the halls, he realized that he had to go to the ceremony room. Giving one last smiling glance at Elizabeth’s room, he headed back the way he had come. Little did he know, a shadow was observing his movements, awaiting his departure. Jason crept slowly down the stairway, observing the crowd below. It seemed that the main event was about to begin and he had a window of time to explore the building while the guests were in the ceremony room. Sam entered the stairway behind him and gazed in the direction he was looking. “It looks like the wedding is about to start,” she commented. Jason nodded. “Once everyone is inside, we can check the balcony and the main entrance.” Sam’s eyes couldn’t help lighting up seeing all the well-dressed guests and the magical decoration of the main hall. “It looks beautiful,” she said. Jason looked around. It was too formal for him, too stiff. He shrugged. “It’s a wedding.” “I wonder if you had your memory if you would have been invited,” Sam thought aloud. “Why would I? Because it’s Emily’s friend?” Jason asked, his eyes following the line of people entering the massive doorway to the ceremony room. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be comfortable at this wedding. Maybe it was his aversion to formal events. Sam shook her head, her eyes covering the other end of the room. “No, you and Elizabeth, the bride, are friends.” Jason shrugged again. “I don’t remember her,” he admitted. “I actually thought she wanted you back when I was pregnant,” Sam recalled. Jason frowned, “Wanted me back?” “Yeah, you had a past relationship with her. At least that’s what I’ve heard. No one talks much about it,” Sam explained. “Not even her.” The lack of memory frustrated Jason. He had remembered Courtney and Robin, but he had a hard time remembering this Elizabeth person. He wished he could just get his old life back so he wouldn’t feel like an awkward puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit. “I think we can start moving in soon,” Sam observed. Jason nodded, gripping the metal in his hand. Once he got Manny, he was determined to get his memory back. Music started to rise as the last guest filed into the ceremony room. The only people left were the bridesmaids in the hall. The wedding march began to soar through the empty spaces in the castle as guests settled in their seats. Outside of the ceremony room, Emily looked around with concern. Elizabeth was nowhere to be found. “Where’s Liz?” Lulu asked. “I don’t know,” Emily said with worry. “I’ll go see what’s keeping her.” Emily walked toward Elizabeth’s room, wondering what was delaying her friend. Turning the corner, she had a bad feeling as she saw the doorway open. “Elizabeth?” she called out as she entered the room. She looked around and proceeded toward the closet. “Elizabeth? Where are you? It’s time for the ceremony to start.” She turned toward the bed and gasped when she saw that the only trace of her friend was the tiara veil resting on the pillow at the head of the bed.
Jason and Sam stood above the main corridor and kept a watch for Manny Ruiz. Sam turned sideways and moved closer to the east wing. “Do you think he’ll try to come through here while the coast is clear?” Sam asked.
Jason shook his head. “I think it’d be better if we check the underground passageways,” he recommended.
Sam replied, “You’re probably right. Unless he plans on taking a hostage . . .”
Jason paused. “He won’t while there’s a big crowd, but he might be waiting somewhere nearby. Let’s check the side doors and the back bedrooms near the ceremony room.”
Sam agreed and followed as Jason took the steps down to the side path. Suddenly, he gripped the wall and collapsed on the stair. “Jason!” she whispered aloud.
He steadied himself and shook his head as if trying to discard his mental condition.
“Jason, oh God, you need to go see a doctor,” Sam said.
“No!” he growled. “I told you, no doctors. Not until we find Manny and you’re safe.”
“Jason, this isn’t worth your health. I don’t want you to die on the chance that Manny might get to me while you get tests,” Sam argued.
Jason felt an anger bubble up inside him. “I told you I DON’T WANT A DOCTOR!” he shouted.
Sam stared at him in shock. She swallowed and replied, “O-Okay, Jason. I just wish you would change your mind . . . for me.”
Jason shook his head. “I’ll be fine.”
Sam looked at him with skepticism. “I know you think you will, but if you collapse when we finally find Manny like you did the last time, how will you be able to protect me?”
Jason felt this bitter instinct to rebel. Why was she trying to control him? “I’ll be fine,” he said again with an even tone. “Let’s just go find him.”
Sam nodded, conceding defeat. “I guess we should start with the left corridor.”
They both walked in that direction, a new tension filling the space between them.
Emily picked up the tiara and ran into the hall in a panic. In loud whispers, she called out, “Elizabeth?”
She followed the corridor away from the ceremony room, hoping that her friend would be just around the corner. She was afraid that Helena had gotten to Elizabeth.
“Elizabeth?” she said again. Following the hall to the balcony, she halted as she saw the vision in white. There was her best friend leaning against the balcony rail.
Elizabeth stood at the edge, gazing up at the night sky, her dress glowing with moonlight. Emily had never seen her friend look more beautiful. But something was wrong and she could tell that Elizabeth hadn’t just come out to check out the stars.
“Elizabeth, the ceremony is starting,” Emily spoke gently as she stepped out onto the balcony.
Elizabeth turned, startled by Emily’s presence. “I’m sorry, I just needed some air.”
There was some falseness in her friend’s voice, but Emily didn’t want to press. “Everyone’s in the ballroom. All we need is the bride,” Emily said with a soft grin.
Elizabeth nodded. “I should probably go inside. I don’t want to keep Lucky waiting.”
The plastered smile on Elizabeth’s face worried Emily. Had something happened?
Elizabeth eyed the glittering object in Emily’s hand. “Could-could you put that on for me?”
Emily stepped forward and slowly placed the tiara on Elizabeth’s head. “You look amazing, Elizabeth. Like Cinderella.”
Elizabeth’s eyes blinked but she simply smiled. “Thanks, Emily. Thanks for everything, for making my dream wedding come true.”
Emily was surprised when Elizabeth hugged her, as if Elizabeth felt obligated to make the gesture. “You’re welcome. You’re my best friend, Elizabeth, probably my first true female friend. All I want is your happiness.”
The emphasis in Emily’s voice seemed to miss its target. Elizabeth just nodded and walked toward the hallway. “Let’s get this wedding started,” Elizabeth said over her shoulder.
The tinkling laugh in Elizabeth’s voice comforted Emily somewhat. There was sincere joy there.
Nikolas stood nervously beside his brother, watching as his little sister, Lulu walked down the aisle. Emily would be next and he was wary of his reaction to seeing her walk down a wedding aisle once again. They had their fairytale wedding not too long ago . . . he hoped Lucky lived up to his name and was able to overcome everything Nikolas couldn’t.
For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live . . .
How he dreaded hearing those words. It would only remind him of his failure to keep them.
Lucky stood proudly, watching his sister walk with a bright smile on her face. The day had finally come, one he had waited for since he was a teenager. He would finally be married to Elizabeth and he couldn’t have imagined a better way of doing it. His family, his friends and all of Port Charles had come to celebrate. Of all the dreams Lucky had during his short life, this was the one that he had hoped for the most.
The crowd turned toward the doorway, awaiting the next bridesmaid. For several moments the space stayed empty and people started to look around nervously. The orchestra music hung in the air, followed by an expectant and pregnant pause.
Nikolas eyed the doorway, wondering where Emily was. “Something’s wrong,” he whispered to Lucky.
Lucky nodded, worriedly. “Maybe we should go see where they are,” he suggested.
The crowd let out a sigh of relief as Emily finally entered the doorway, dressed in a glittering black dress and holding a delicate bouquet of roses. The sweeping music began again and everyone relaxed in their seats.
“It wouldn’t be a Spencer wedding without some excitement,” Lucky smiled, relieved.
Nikolas nodded, but didn’t share in Lucky’s relief. Something was definitely wrong. He could tell by the look in Emily’s eyes.
Emily proceeded down the aisle, glancing left and right at her family and friends who filled the room. Her concern over Elizabeth was still nagging her, but she would have to worry about that later.
When she reached the end of the aisle she caught a glance at Nikolas and noticed his look of concern. She smiled gently and took her place at the front but it unnerved her that Nikolas could still see right through her.
All eyes turned as the “Wedding March” filled the room and Elizabeth appeared into view. Smiles spread throughout the hall, for surely there had never been a more beautiful bride than Elizabeth Webber, soon to be Spencer.
Elizabeth gripped her bouquet of roses and focused in on her future husband. The smile on his face filled her with the confidence and the happiness that she remembered. Whatever had bothered her earlier would have to wait. She was about to marry the love of her life and she would deal with her emotional crisis later.
She proceeded slowly down the aisle, catching sight of Luke and Bobbie, Audrey and Lulu, the Quartermaines and the rest of Port Charles. They had all come to share in her happy occasion and she was so grateful to Emily and Nikolas for making it happen.
As she neared the altar she started to remember just why she loved Lucky so much and just how much she had been waiting for this day. She took a deep breath and assured herself that everything would be alright.
Jason followed the hallway which finally led to a chamber beside the ceremony room. He decided that this would be the perfect spot if Manny had any intention of taking a hostage.
Sam entered the room behind Jason and looked warily around for hiding places or other exit points. “I think we’ve covered this entire outer wall, Jason. I don’t think he’s here.”
“He’s got to be here,” Jason said firmly, anger tingeing his voice.
“Jason, please don’t be mad at me,” Sam begged, hearing the distance in his voice. “I just want you to be healthy and alive. Is that so selfish?”
Jason knew there was some logic in that but didn’t she understand that he needed to do what he thought was best? “No, it’s not. But I can’t give what you’re asking me to do,” Jason replied.
Sam looked sadly at him, defeated and upset. “Can’t you just try? I know you think you need to save me, but why won’t you let me save you?”
“Because if it costs me your life, it’s not worth it,” Jason said. “You can’t change my mind.” And it irritated him that she would try.
“Jason, how do you expect me to stand by when you keep getting worse? I love you, Jason. When you love someone you can’t just let them fade away when you know you can save them,” Sam said.
Jason’s hand formed a fist and he wanted to punch a wall. He hated being weak and he hated that she felt like she knew what was best. Suddenly, Jason’s mind flashed to a distant memory, a lifetime ago.
He was lying on a couch, a short brunette leaning over him. He thought it might be Sam but her demeanor was uniquely different.
“Okay, now, this one’s the antibiotic. Open up.”
He opened his mouth and took the medicine.
“And this one’s for the pain. You know, it’ll probably bring down the fever as well. You okay?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Okay, now sleep,” she instructed.
He smiled, amused by her instruction. “When’d you get so bossy?”
He couldn’t make out her face but he could tell she was smirking. “I said sleep. Jason, if you change your mind about going to the hospital . . .”
“I-I just want to be by myself,” he insisted.
She smiled again in a way that made him smile too. “Like I’m going anywhere.”
“Jason, you remembered something, didn’t you?” Sam asked, recognizing that far-off look on his face.
He nodded. “I couldn’t make out her face . . .”
“Was it Carly?” Sam guessed.
He shook his head. “I couldn’t identify her voice . . . she had dark hair . . . she was young . . .”
“Brenda?” Sam tried again.
Jason frowned, his face revealing his desperate search inside his own mind. “No, I-I can’t remember . . . her eyes . . . I can’t make them out . . .”
“What else, Jason? Could it have been Robin?” Sam questioned.
He squinted. “No, I didn’t get that feeling that I had when I remembered Robin. This girl was different . . . I didn’t feel like I was disappointing her or resentful of her. I don’t feel like she betrayed me.”
Sam thought for a moment and then realized the ghost in his memory. “Elizabeth,” she said finally.
Elizabeth smiled at Lucky, excited that her life was about to take the next step. Though she had been married before there was something different because of everything she had to go through to get here. She had loved him for so much of her life and she had been hurt by him too. But everything happened for a reason and she believed that she had to feel all that to become the woman Lucky could love and who could love Lucky the right way in return.
Lucky gazed down at her glowing face and was overwhelmed with the joy that shined in her eyes. She had forgiven him for all that he had done and they had found their way back to each other. He couldn’t have asked for a better miracle.
The minister glanced at the both of them and he had never seen a couple more in love. “Elizabeth and Lucky have chosen to share their own vows, spoken to each other and for all of us, spoken from their hearts.”
The crowd ooh-ed and ahh-ed knowing that this couple had one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of loves.
Lucky tightened his hold of Elizabeth’s hand as he spoke from his heart. “You're just beautiful,” he sighed with admiration.
Elizabeth grinned, feeling the warmth of his love surround her.
He continued slowly, “I married you once when we were teenagers in an empty church, with only God and each other as witnesses. We were unable to keep the promises that we made back then, but we'll be able to keep them tonight. Because the time that we spent apart has only made the love that we feel even more precious. Elizabeth, I promise to give you the best of myself, to be your friend, your lover, and your partner. I promise to be the best father I can to Cameron and to all the children that we will have together. I promise to remember the girl that you were and honor the woman you are. I loved you then and I love you now. I'll love you always.”
Elizabeth had tears in her eyes as she listened to Lucky’s heartfelt words. She couldn’t have asked for a better man. She took a deep breath and began her own vows. “You were my first love, the brave and handsome boy who rescued me. Thank you for loving me that much to make me whole again.”
Jason stood in the room next to the ceremony room and heard Elizabeth’s voice echo through the doorway. “That’s her,” he said, recognizing the soft tone in her voice.
Sam touched his arm, knowing that she had been right. “What did you remember?” she asked.
Jason didn’t answer, trying to focus on Elizabeth’s voice as memories began to return.
“It's not as if I've never gotten past anything terrible. Last year, I was raped. For a while, I thought my life was over. I couldn’t imagine being normal again. But I had to fight my way back. And the only reason I did or could was because of Lucky.”
Jason blinked several times, remembering the tears in her eyes and the vulnerability in her voice. “She was raped,” he whispered. “And she thought he made her whole again . . . but he didn’t. No one can make another person . . . I tried to tell her that.”
Sam frowned. This was different from his other memories. The others had made him want to run away from the past. This one seemed to draw him in closer.
Jason’s eyes grew distant as he pushed back farther in his mind. “Lucky died—but then he wasn’t really.”
Sam was startled by Jason’s statement. “I-I didn’t know that.”
Jason listened closer as Elizabeth spoke again.
Out in the ceremony room, Elizabeth smiled brightly, continuing her vows. “We took our separate journeys to live and to learn. I guess we had to grow up a little bit before we could find our way back together. But I know that all the mistakes I made and the difficulties, they were all leading up to this very moment.”
In the chamber, Jason felt another memory crashing down around him while Sam looked on.
“God, how can I be such an idiot? How could I believe Lucky and Sarah, of all people? They both lied to me more than once, but did I think about that? Did I ever doubt them when they said they wouldn't get together? No, because I was too busy being a good sister for once in my life. God! God, what is wrong with me?”
He felt his heart ache for her pain. “You wanted to believe them.”
She shook her head. “No, I am just -- I'm such an idiot.”
She couldn’t have been more wrong. “No, you aren't,” he replied.
“Oh, right. Oh, good little Elizabeth -- loyal girlfriend, understanding ex-girlfriend. I have done EVERYTHING right. I have played by EVERY rule, and look where it got me,” she said sarcastically.
“He hurt her . . . bad,” Jason said, his voice cracking. “But she was too strong for that, too resilient. She knew she deserved better than him.”
“Who?” Sam asked.
“Lucky,” Jason replied. “Lucky who wasn’t dead anymore.”
Sam looked bewildered. “You mean the groom?”
Jason looked perplexed, like it didn’t connect in his brain. Nothing made sense.
“Jason, you look like you’re about to collapse,” Sam observed, putting her arm out to hold him.
He stepped back, not wanting her to stop whatever was happening to him. He needed to remember. He needed to know why he felt the way he did, now that he remembered Elizabeth . . . now that she was getting married to the man who had broken her heart.
She looked pained as she asked him, “Why didn't I listen to you? Why was I so willing to shut myself down just to be with Lucky? I signed my life over to him. I wasted years of waiting for Lucky to love me, and for what? To find him in bed with my sister?”
He sighed. “At least now you know the truth.”
She was wistful as she replied cautiously, “I wish I had gone away with you a long time ago, hopped on your bike and never looked back.”
“Something changed between us that night,” Jason said aloud. “She changed.”
“What do you mean?” Sam asked, completely lost.
“She was afraid to be free,” Jason replied, feeling a familiar chill start to crawl over him. “She was scared to be who she always was . . . because I left her with him. I left her behind.”
“Jason, you aren’t making any sense,” Sam insisted.
“I just thought she didn’t need me. She said she loved him more than her freedom,” he said, almost arguing with himself, fighting for some kind of understanding. “I couldn’t understand that. She had so many dreams . . . too many to be trapped in a life like that. But I didn’t want to make her leave. I didn’t want to trap her the way he did. I didn’t want to make her be the girl that had saved me . . . not when it made her cry.”
Sam walked toward him again, desperate to reach wherever his mind was taking him.
Jason turned away from her, walking closer to the wall that divided him from the ceremony room. He touched the wall, reaching for a memory.
He could picture her face, looking up at him with hope, so sad but so beautifully confident. He wanted to take it away, that desperate defeat that hid behind her eyes. “What do you want?”
She touched him and looked at him with something he felt he had been waiting for. “I want you.”
“She chose freedom,” he recalled. “She didn’t want to pretend for him anymore. Or for anyone.”
Sam felt this ill feeling in the pit of her stomach. She could feel Jason slipping away from her.
Jason concentrated as best he could. Something inside of him told him that Elizabeth, whoever she was, was the key to the life that was hiding inside his mind.
In the other room, Elizabeth squeezed Lucky’s hands even tighter and smiled with teary eyes. “Lucky, I promise I will never take you or our love for granted. I promise I will always stand by your side, support you, make you laugh, and cherish this amazing gift that I have been given, the gift of loving you as long as we both shall live.”
The guests smiled at the couple and watched as the minister gave the final instructions. Unbeknownst to them, another life-changing moment was happening in the room next door.
Jason looked at Sam with a sad expression that she didn’t recognize. “I thought it would work,” he explained. “I didn’t know why she needed me or what I gave her, but her faith was so---unshakeable.”
“But she walked away . . . or you did,” Sam interrupted. “When I met you, you were with Courtney.”
“It doesn’t make any sense,” he persisted. “She wanted to be free, she didn’t want anyone to treat her like she could break. She didn’t want someone who couldn’t see who she really was inside. Why would she marry him?”
“Jason, you’re starting to scare me. Sit down, you can’t get yourself all worked up like this,” Sam pleaded with him.
He squeezed his temples, trying to make out the rest of his memory. “Why can’t I remember?! There’s something there that’s telling me I have to stop this.”
“Jason! She loves Lucky, she wants to spend her life with him,” Sam shouted. “Look, I know you can’t remember, but Elizabeth is a kind, sweet person. She’s a nurse and a mother. She wants Lucky in her life. She forgave whatever it is that he did. This whole town thinks they’re perfect for each other.”
“I have to stop this,” Jason replied, driven by instinct alone.
“No, Jason!” Sam called after him.
As he walked toward the doorway, cheers from the guests echoed through the walls and stopped Jason in his tracks. Orchestra music began to flow through the air again and the sound of people bustling filled the room. The ceremony had ended.
Sam stood behind him and whispered, “Jason, it’s too late.”
And like a whisper that had floated on the wind, it was gone. Whatever had brought him those memories broke away and he was back in that room with Sam again. He was back, a man without a past, without a connection to Elizabeth. His eyebrows knitted together and whatever feelings had urged him to stop the wedding disappeared. “It’s gone,” he said softly.
Sam sighed with relief. “Jason, we have to get you to a hospital. These memories, these flashbacks are wearing you down.”
Jason felt disoriented and suddenly tired. He remembered why he was there and said evenly, “I said no hospital. We’re finding Manny. Let’s go.”
Sam eyed him with shock. The transformation was too quick, but she knew that it would be worse to keep arguing with him, so she followed behind.
Elizabeth smiled as everyone gathered around the ballroom. All her family, all her friends, everyone was there to celebrate the happiest day of her life. It was fitting that it would take place in Port Charles, the place where she changed from a girl to a woman.
Lucky looked down at his new wife and saw the light glowing from her eyes. He kissed her forehead in appreciation. They were husband and wife and he would dedicate his life to keeping that light in her eyes.
Elizabeth grinned at her husband, thinking back to when they had first met. The day she had first arrived in Port Charles seemed like a lifetime ago. She had just come to make trouble for her sister, but then she met Lucky. She had a crush on him then but she didn’t love him until after that Valentine’s night when she was forever changed.
Nikolas walked toward the newlyweds and called out to the crowd, “All right, everyone, if you don't mind, please gather around. First, I just want to thank you all for making this such a great surprise for Elizabeth and Lucky. Most of you probably have absolutely no idea why we chose to have the wedding right here in the ballroom of Wyndemere, but there's a bit of a story behind it. Some years ago, we held a bacchanalia ball here. Everyone say "bacchanalia."
The crowd chanted back, “Bacchanalia.”
Elizabeth and Lucky laughed as they remembered that night.
Nikolas continued, “Thank you. It was in honor of my late uncle, Stefan's engagement, and for those of you who were there, oh, what a party it was . . . and we'll just leave it at that. But what you may not know is that Elizabeth and Lucky were falling in love for the very first time that night. Well, they watched the entire party through the window outside in the garden, and, I don't know, I guess once they witnessed the festivities in here, they just got swept up in the romance of it all, because they shared their very first dance outside in that garden.”
Elizabeth smiled while the crowd gave out a loud, “Awwww . . .”
Nikolas grinned and added, “For years Emily and I have had both the privilege and honor to listen to the myriad of complaints as to how they were always on the outside looking in, both figuratively and literally.”
Elizabeth paused at that comment. She looked at Lucky and he seemed too wrapped up in the festivities to notice Nikolas’ strange statement. She had looked in on Nikolas’ life with fascination but never envy.
“On the occasion of my brother's wedding to his beautiful, beautiful bride, we thought it was time that they come inside from the garden. So without further ado, I present to you for their very first dance as husband and wife, Lucky and Elizabeth Spencer,” Nikolas introduced.
The crowd clapped as the newlyweds took their first dance.
Elizabeth was awkward at first, that feeling that had nagged at her earlier was returning again. Lucky was smiling at her and so she did her best to hide that feeling from her face. It seemed to work as Lucky was laughing and grinning as he took her across the ballroom.
Jason could still hear the faint sounds of the music coming from the ballroom. He trailed the doorway towards the underground passageways. He had lost that connection to his past but the memories had left footprints in his mind. He realized that Manny had grabbed Elizabeth . . . Elizabeth who had chosen him. He didn’t understand why she married Lucky, but now he knew why Manny had come to Spoon Island. He wanted to finish whatever he had started when he had kidnapped Elizabeth.
“Do you think one of the guards made a mistake?” Sam said, walking slowly behind Jason.
“No, he’s here. I can feel it,” Jason replied. “He came here to get to Elizabeth.”
Sam paused, suddenly uncomfortable at the mention of the other’s woman’s name. She had been worried about Jason’s memories about Robin, but now she knew she should have feared Elizabeth more. “Why would he want to get to Elizabeth? The whole town already knows what he looks like and Elizabeth didn’t learn anything new.”
“I don’t know, but something about her must have fascinated him,” Jason answered, continuing down the stone path towards the water.
“If you think he’s here to grab Elizabeth, don’t you think it’d be better to stay near her?” Sam asked, though she hated having to make the suggestion.
“She’s fine until the reception is over,” Jason said. “If we can find Manny before then, away from the crowd, it’ll be easier.”
Sam nodded. She looked ahead with her flashlight and saw that they had hit a dead end. “Well, it doesn’t look like he’s anywhere down here.”
Jason turned around. “Then we’ll just have to check in the castle again,” he said firmly.
Sam decided that there was nothing she could do to persuade him to step back and take care of himself now. She wasn’t Manny’s target anymore.
The bouquet and garter had both been tossed and it wouldn’t be long before she and Lucky would be headed on their honeymoon. Soon she would be in Italy . . . finally. She had spent years dreaming of going there and though she was a nurse now, her inner artist was overjoyed at the prospect of spending a few days in Italy.
She stood by the door and looked out over the crowd. There was so much happiness in this room, so much celebration. She had never felt so loved by so many people. Yet something still bothered her . . .
”You're talking about going to Italy someday like you know it can't happen.”
“Lucky and I might go to Italy on my modeling money. The only thing is when I imagine seeing Italy, I imagine I'm with you.”
Elizabeth frowned. Why was she thinking so much about Jason today? He wasn’t even there . . . he couldn’t even remember her.
She didn’t think of him when she married Ric and she certainly hadn’t thought about him these last few months. Well, except for that one time when Emily had asked her for advice about her relationship with Nikolas . . . why did Emily bring up Jason instead of Ric? Elizabeth couldn’t help but ask herself that. She recalled telling Emily she was relieved when things had ended between her and Jason . . . which reminded her of her recent conversation with Lucky. They had been discussing Courtney and she remembered thinking that she was glad she didn’t stay with Jason because she would never have had Cameron. And then there was Manny Ruiz who had grabbed her . . . so maybe she had been thinking about him . . .
“Elizabeth,” Lulu called out to her, snapping her out of her train of thought. “It’s time for the toast.”
Elizabeth smiled and replied, “I’ll be right there.” Elizabeth lifted the skirt of her dress and walked toward the center of the room, deciding that whatever was bothering her were just old memories and didn’t mean anything.
Lucky held his hand out to his new wife and kissed her hand which made her blush. She looked so radiant and happy, and he felt so blessed. He picked up the champagne glass and handed one to Elizabeth. Lifting his glass, he spoke to the crowd, “To Elizabeth. You never gave up. You've given me the honor of being a father to your child. You're the love of my life, tonight and forever.”
The crowd lifted their glasses and responded, “Hear, hear.”
Just then, Jason and Sam had wound their way back to the ballroom and stood outside, hearing the crowd cheer Lucky and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth lifted her own glass and looked to her new husband. “And to Lucky, my first and last love . . .”
Jason froze, and like a burst of electricity of a plug placed back into an outlet, his heart started pounding furiously.
He was standing in his penthouse. It looked different, bare. She was standing there, and he could finally make out her eyes. They were angry depths of blue and they looked so much more hurt than they had in his last memory. He felt himself speak, “Look, you -- you have a right to be mad, but just try to understand this has nothing to do with you.”
Her eyes grew angrier. “Uh-uh, no. Sorry. I'm here and I'm in it and I count. You know what the ironic thing is? Is that you actually did tell me the truth. I just didn't want to hear it. When you kept pushing me away and you warned me about who you really are, I should have listened instead of making you up in my head. But you are Sonny's enforcer, first, last, and always. I hope it's enough.”
And then it was gone, taking with it the wind in his lungs. “She walked away,” he said as he tried to catch his breath. His heart was still pounding hard and he felt Sam’s arms try to catch him as he started to slip towards the floor.
“Jason!” she shouted. “Jason, please, we have to get out of sight before Manny sees us,” she pleaded.
He managed to get to his feet and followed her into one of the side rooms, but this strange feeling overwhelmed him and he fought as hard as he could to get rid of it.
“Jason, oh God, are you okay?” she asked as she rested him against a chair.
He swallowed a deep breath and nodded, his eyes growing wet with tears. “I-I can’t stop it . . . I feel—“
“What did you remember, Jason?” Sam asked, taking a seat across from him, holding his shaking hands in hers.
“I lied to her . . . I tried to tell her it wasn’t about her, but she was so angry . . . she told me that I wasn’t the person she-she made up in her head,” he explained, as he fought off the ugly feeling he just couldn’t understand.
Sam was overwhelmed with worry as his face was white as a sheet and his words stammered in his mouth. “Jason, it’s okay, it’s just a memory.”
“No, it’s something else, I can’t, it doesn’t make sense, I feel . . .”
Sam’s eyes darted toward his face hoping to make out what was causing him such pain. “What do you feel? Sadness? Anger? Betrayal?”
He shook his head furiously. “No, no, it doesn’t make sense, she was leaving and I was just standing there and what she said was the truth but I---“
Sam held Jason’s sweating face between her hands and looked deep into his eyes. “Jason, look at me. Whatever it is you’re feeling you can tell me. It’s okay, whatever it is.”
Jason didn’t see her at first but then the fever broke and he finally was able to form the words. “I felt . . . relieved.”
© Q 2006 |