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Mitch managed to get paroled upon having convinced the officials that he had reformed. Returning to Llanview in 1986, Mitch presented himself to be a “changed man.” Claiming to have had a spiritual awakening, Mitch created a public image that presented him to be a religious evangelist. Everyone was skeptical, and as well they should have been, because it was all an act. As nefarious as ever, he secretly plotted to make Tina and Viki’s lives miserable…while setting up a phony religious commune, bilking people out of their money. Using his charm, and powers of persuasion, Mitch lured many of Llanview’s citizens into joining his cult—particularly young women, who he would the manipulate into doing his dirty work for him, while he kept up his “clean” image.

Shortly before Mitch’s death, he had programmed another of his followers, the young and naïve Allison Perkins, to kidnap the baby that Viki was now pregnant with upon its birth. In September, after Viki gave birth to a baby girl, Jessica, Allison snuck into Llanfair (Viki’s mansion) and kidnapped the infant from the house. The child, however, was returned four weeks later…

In 1987, Mitch was seen again—this time as a voyager on the “Star Ascension,” during Viki’s out-of-body experience as she suffered from a brain aneurysm. During the high stakes dream, which dictated whether she would live or die, Viki was able to ultimately destroy his power over her.

In 2002, an alive and well Mitch Laurence quietly returned to Llanview and befriended Natalie Balsom (who at the time was in angst over her stalled relationship with Cristian Vega.) Under the assumed name, Michael Lazarus, Mitch continued to build a rapport with Natalie, as he kept his presence shielded from the rest of the town. After having fully succeeded in charming Natalie, the two eloped. Natalie was eager to introduce her new husband to her mother, who was other than Mitch’s old nemesis, Viki.

It had been recently revealed that Viki had given birth to two daughters all those years earlier, and that Natalie was Jessica’s twin sister. Viki was mortified when she caught a gander of her new son-in-law. Like everyone else, she had assumed Mitch to be long dead. She also knew that any relationship he was having with her daughter was a sinister and manipulative one. During their confrontation, Mitch cockily revealed that he was fully aware that Natalie and Jessica were born twins and that he had instructed that Allison to switch them as babies. The biggest bombshell, however, was when he revealed that (before he had been assumed dead) he had drugged, raped, and impregnated Viki with Jessica in the same window of time that she and Clint had conceived Natalie.

Viki’s obstetrician, Dr. Walter Balsom had been one of Mitch’s cult followers—who he had instructed to not tell her that she was pregnant with twins. Upon Viki’s giving birth to the first child (Natalie), Mitch apparently reappeared in the delivery room (while Clint had stepped out to alert the family of the one baby) as Viki—unbeknownst to everyone else—progressed to give birth to the second (Jessica.) During the delivery…Viki was so startled by the presence of Mitch (who had “died” months earlier), the shock of having twins and being told by Mitch while in labor that he had raped and impregnated her, that she allowed him to take off with the one baby. Viki then proceeded to altogether suppress the memory, believing that she had only given birth to the one (Clint’s.)

Mitch took Jessica, while Clint and Viki brought home Natalie. He later instructed Allison to kidnap Natalie (whom was being called Jessica) and return the real Jessica in her place. Natalie was then placed with Dr. Walter Balsom and his hard-drinking wife, Roxanne. Mitch’s reasoning for all this: he wanted his daughter to grow up in the lap of luxury, while Clint’s daughter would subsequently have nothing. Mitch’s retelling of these events jogged Viki’s memory of the ordeal, and she was mortified to recall every detail.

Jessica - Soapcentral

She was so distracted with living her own life that she didn't realize Viki had once again been taken over by alternate personality Niki Smith. When Viki/Niki pushed her husband Ben out a window and put him in a coma, she blamed Natalie, and Jessica fully backed her, believing Natalie not only wanted to take everything of hers, she wanted to destroy everything of Viki's. By the time realized the truth, Ben was in a more permanent coma after being accidentally shot by the cops during a standoff with Viki/Niki and Allison Perkins. Remorseful about her horrible, judgmental behavior, Jessica tried to extend an olive branch to Natalie.

Jessica's life began to spiral wildly out of control within weeks of this crisis. Long-thought-dead Mitch Laurence had slowly wormed his way back into the Buchanan's lives, marrying Natalie under an assumed identity. By the time she realized who he was, she was trapped and Mitch said the only way he'd free her was if Viki allowed him to get close to Jessica. Mitch revealed the revolting details to Viki, details so horrific she had blocked them out for decades: Mitch had broken into Llanfair, drugged the maid, and then drugged Viki's tea. While she was out of it, he raped her. Nine months passed, and she gave birth to twins. Mitch gave Natalie to trashy Roxy because she was Clint's daughter and deserved only the worst in his eyes. Jessica was his real daughter, and as an immobile Viki looked on, Mitch kidnapped Jessica. Although he had Allison return Jessica within a few weeks due to him having to disappear and wanting the best in life for his daughter, Viki was still guilt-ridden about not trying to stop him and then blocking everything out.

Mitch wanted Jessica to know she was his, and wanted to tell her. Viki sent Jessica and Seth out of town, only telling Jessica that she was in danger. After a while Jessica couldn't stand being kept in the dark any longer and locked Seth in the bathroom to return to Llanview. When she made it back, Mitch found her and told her every ugly tidbit. In disbelief, Jessica asked Viki, and Viki admitted Mitch was correct. Jessica was sickened by the image of Viki letting her go, and no amount of rational arguments from Viki or anyone else could help ease Jessica's rage. Her entire life now felt like a huge lie. She wanted nothing to do with the Buchanan name or the family she grew up with. She hid out with old friend Al Holden. Seth found her, and when she learned he'd known everything and didn't tell her, she dumped him, claiming she had lost her identity while involved with him.

Jessica was in grave danger with Mitch staying around, constantly looking for her. She went to his mansion to tell him she would never love him, and only the timely intervention of Todd saved her from assault. Jessica decided to flee town and stay with Clint for a while. Viki managed to track her down at the airport, and the two made a guarded peace before Jessica boarded her plane.

Jessica returned to town several weeks later, and was almost immediately kidnapped by Mitch to participate in a bizarre heart transplant scenario with Natalie. The police rescued the sisters just in time. Jessica warmed towards her mother again as well as bonding with Natalie, and although she detested Mitch, he persisted in his attempts to win her over. At one point they argued and he was accidentally blinded by chemicals. She was guilt-stricken, and attempted to form a relationship with him. He was then presumed dead (again) after falling into the river while trying to get Jessica away from Blair, Lindsay and Dorian, who had kidnapped her. Jessica had willingly participated in the kidnapping because she wanted Mitch to pay for his crimes, but had never wanted him to die.

Slowly, she began to get over his demise and fall in love with Antonio Vega. They had clashed on cultural and class levels for months, but now saw the best in each other. Unfortunately, just as Jess opened up again, a still-alive Mitch kidnapped her. He drugged her and saw her as the Viki to his Victor Lord. She managed to send several cryptic messages to her family and Antonio, thanks to a kind young cult member named Brian. Viki was also taken prisoner, and when Brian tried to help them both escape, Mitch shot him in cold blood. Moments later the police rescued the two women, but Jessica was traumatized by being drugged and mentally tortured by her father, as well as the enormous guilt of Brian dying because of his part in her escape attempt. She pushed everyone, especially Antonio, away, and with Jess having to deal with being a suspect in Mitch's death (real this time) and not-so-dead-Keri returning to town with her and Antonio's daughter Jamie, the wall Jessica had built grew higher and higher. However, when Antonio found himself accused of Keri's murder, Jessica's defenses broke down and, as she worked to find evidence to clear him, she opened her heart to his love.