JESSICA'S PRE-NASH HISTORY
Cobbled together from ABC.com recaps and lightly edited.



Jessica Buchanan was born to Victoria and Clint Buchanan and kidnapped shortly after her birth. Deranged Allison Perkins kept the baby for weeks before she was finally returned to her mother's arms. As Jessica grew up to live a privileged life at Llanfair, Viki instilled fairness and kindness in her daughter, who became a strong, independent teenager.

When Viki and Clint were having marital problems, and Viki began a relationship with Sloan Carpenter, an upset Jessica rebelled by smoking and drinking. Eventually she was able to cope with her parents' divorce and resumed the life of a normal high schooler.

Jessica met Cristian Vega, an artistic teen from Angel Square, a rough neighborhood. The two shared an instant attraction, but Clint and Cristian's mother Carlotta disapproved of the relationship. The two were forced to see each other in secret until their respective parents warmed to their relationship.

With their relationship going strong, Cristian wanted to have sex with Jessica, who was uncomfortable at the thought. One night, things went particularly far and Jessica and Cristian got close to having sex -- only to have Clint walk in on them. Furious, he forbid Jessica from seeing Cristian. Their subsequent attempts to see each other only ended up getting the two in more trouble.

Eventually Clint allowed Jessica to start seeing Cristian again. Despite Cristian's desire, Jessica did not want to have sex. At the prom, Cristian gave into momentary temptation and kissed another girl. Jessica saw and, hurt, broke off with Cristian. Eventually the two reunited, but Cristian entered college and the young lovers' different worlds began to interfere with their relationship.

Cristian's old friend, Roseanne Delgado, came to Llanview with an attraction to Cristian. As Cristian and Roseanne grew closer, Jessica grew jealous, despite Cristian's assurances that things between them were platonic. At the same time, Jessica found herself growing close with Will Rappaport. Jessica caught Cristian and Roseanne kissing, and refused to speak with Cristian. When she finally did attempt to contact him, she caught him in an embrace with Roseanne (it was platonic). Upset, Jessica went to Will's. The two ended up getting drunk and Jessica lost her virginity.

Cristian managed to gain Jessica's forgiveness and the two grew closer, but Jessica learned she was pregnant. Jessica and Will struggled with what to do, and drove Cristian away in the process. Jessica decided to get an abortion out of state and on the way there, she and Will got into an accident with Cristian and Roseanne. In the hospital, the doctors revealed that Jessica was pregnant. Cristian realized it was Will's child, but vowed to stand by Jessica. Will eventually revealed to all that he was the father of the child, as Jessica struggled with whether adoption was the answer for her. Eventually, she decided to keep the baby. This caused complications with Cristian, as Will wanted to be a part of the child's life. Cristian proposed to Jessica and she accepted. At the engagement party, Will and Cristian got into a huge argument. Jessica, attempting to avoid them, left and went into labor. She ended up being hit by a car. The car drove off and Jessica was eventually rushed to the hospital, where her daughter, Megan, was stillborn. Jessica spent some time in a coma before recovering.

When she woke up, Jessica had no memory of Cristian and drew closer to Will. Upset, Cristian slept with Roseanne. Jessica regained her memory but learned of Cristian's infidelity. This, combined with Roseanne and Will's scheming, broke the two up. Jessica also realized that Dorian was responsible for the accident that killed Megan. Out for revenge, Jessica began arranging events so that Dorian believed she was being haunted. Viki found out about Jessica's actions just as Jessica was about to hit Dorian with her car. Viki calmed Jessica, who realized that she had not been conscious of her plot to avenge Megan's death.

Will and Jessica began a relationship, which was quickly marred when Will was arrested on embezzlement charges (he had been set up by Jessica's grandfather Asa). Cristian worked with Jessica to try to get Will released. When the train carrying Will to prison crashed, Jessica, Cristian and Will all went on the run together, during which time Jessica and Cristian grew particularly close. With Will still on the run, Jessica returned to Llanview with Cristian, and the two almost reunited. However, Jessica found out that Cristian hid an important letter from Will to Jessica, so she broke up with him. Eventually the charges against Will were proved false, and he and Jessica moved in together.

The murder of Will's uncle, Colin MacIver, placed a huge strain on the couple when Jessica began to suspect that Will was the culprit. Will consistently told Jessica lies or half-truths, which only angered Jessica more. Eventually the two broke up and Will left town. Jessica, who was taking classes at Llanview University, met Seth Anderson and the two began dating. She also befriended Natalie Balsom, a student without much money. Natalie and Jessica began to develop a close friendship when Natalie dropped a bombshell: she was Viki's real daughter!

Natalie, who was working with Allison Perkins, explained that she had been born to Viki and Clint and that she had been the baby kidnapped -- but Jessica was the one returned. Jessica, was, in fact the daughter of Roxanne Balsom, who raised Natalie. Natalie also blindsided Jessica when she revealed that Seth was her boyfriend and had been working with Natalie to get close to Jessica and gain access to Llanfair. When a DNA test proved Natalie's claims, Jessica was devastated. She was furious with Seth, and horrified to meet her supposed birth mother, Roxanne, who was a foul mouthed alcoholic.

Seth had developed real feelings for Jessica and tried to prove himself to her. Eventually she forgave him and the two began a relationship, much to Natalie's chagrin. Jessica warmed to Roxanne, as well as Rex Balsom, Roxy's son. Despite Viki's attempts to prevent it, Jessica's world was further turned upside down when presumed dead Mitch Laurence returned to Llanview and dropped another bombshell: he was Jessica's father. Mitch revealed that years earlier, he had drugged and raped Viki, and when she gave birth she gave birth to twins (Jessica and Natalie) with different fathers (Jessica was Mitch's, Natalie was Clint's). Mitch had Natalie whisked away to Roxanne and her husband (Mitch's accomplice) home where she was raised, while Jessica was raised in the comforts of Viki's posh home. Jessica was devastated by this information. She learned Seth knew the truth the whole time and, feeling betrayed, dumped him. She pulled away from Viki and her family while she tried to sort this new information out, and left for London for some time.

Jessica returned to Llanview a few weeks later and was immediately thrown into a bizarre attempt, by Mitch, to give Jessica's grandfather Victor Lord (who was actually alive) a heart transplant. Jessica was freed and Mitch attempted to get close to his daughter, but she rejected every attempt. After an accident, Jessica accidentally blinded Mitch with chemicals, which left her guilt ridden. However, Jessica still realized Mitch's maliciousness and participated in a kidnapping plot against him, which resulted in Mitch's presumed death.

Jessica grew close with Cristian's brother, Antonio and despite initial clashings, the two fell in love. Mitch showed up alive and kidnapped Jessica. She eventually escaped, but the ordeal caused her to push away from Antonio. Jessica witnessed a violent confrontation between Walker Laurence and Mitch on the docks and hit Mitch over the head, killing him. Walker stole evidence so that no one would be punished for the crime. Confiding in Antonio, he and Jessica grew close again. The two saw their way back together but had to contend with Antonio's vengeful ex-fiancée, Keri. When Keri died and Antonio was blamed for her death, Jessica worked to help him clear his name.

Jessica became Professor Stephen Haver's research assistant, unaware that he was the Music Box Killer. When Antonio and the police department fingered Stephen for the killings, Jessica refused to believe it. After being kidnapped, drugged and hypnotized by Haver, Jessica agreed to take part in a plan to bring him to justice. After taking Jessica's sister Natalie hostage, Stephen Haver was finally captured by the LPD. The experience left Jessica disturbed, and she was shaken by her inability to see evil in others. The experience brought Antonio and Jessica closer together.

Antonio began investigating the Santi family, lead by underworld figure Manuel Santi. His work put a major strain on his relationship with Jessica, especially when she walked in on Antonio stripping at the Hook-Up! Antonio explained he was working under cover and Jessica agreed to avoid prying into his work. But the more Antonio got involved with the Santi's the further he pushed Jessica away. She refused to stand by idly, and decided to follow him to Puerto Rico where he had gone with believed Santi operative, Sonia Toledo. In Puerto Rico, Jessica was the first to get to a Santi vault where she found a young man chained to the wall. The young man turned out to be Tico Santi, Antonio's cousin and the younger son of Manuel Santi. It was soon revealed that Sonia and Tico had also been raised together, and the two decided to move to Llanview to meet the rest of their family.

Tico felt indebted to Jessica for saving his life and the two began spending time together. Tico helped Jessica face her darkest fears when she took him to see the mansion where Mitch had held her hostage. Tico decided to buy the house, and moved in with Sonia and their governess, Angelina. Jessica was left intrigued by Tico's life, and began writing a series of newspaper articles about him. Antonio did not approve of Jessica's involvement, which further caused a rift in their relationship. Before long it became obvious that Sonia had her sights set on Antonio, and Jessica did not mince words when she told Sonia to stay away. But Sonia wasn't the only one interested in breaking up Antonio and Jessica- it soon became clear that Tico had more than friendly intentions with Jessica.

Antonio became more and more obsessed with the secrets of the Santi family, and was stunned to find a letter addressed to him after Angelina's mysterious death. It was revealed that Angelina was actually Isabella Santi- the wife of Manuel Santi, and that Antonio was their first born son. Jessica made every effort to help Antonio through this discovery, but the truth caused him to push away those closest to him. Tico purposely arranged it so Jessica would see Antonio and Sonia in a close moment. Jessica misinterpreted the scene, and was hurt. Jessica accompanied Tico to the Llanview heart gala, and was stunned when he proposed marriage. With Tico she saw a more stable and open future, and Jessica accepted his proposal. Antonio tried to stop the ceremony from taking place, but when Jessica learned he slept with Sonia, she decided to go ahead and marry his brother.

Tico's evil ways were exposed when Jessica learned he was connected to Cristian's death. Cristian miraculously returned to Llanview, and Jessica helped Cristian and Antonio bring Tico down. Tico took Jessica hostage, and Cristian saved her. Tico accidentally shot himself in a struggle against Cristian, but stabbed Jessica before he was taken to the hospital. During her hospital stay, she witnessed Tico's murder when someone pulled the plug on his life support system. Due to her medicated state, Jessica had no memory of who pulled the plug.

Jessica and Antonio struggled to work through the prior months, which was complicated when Jessica remembered Antonio as the one that killed Tico. Jessica also began receiving threatening notes from a stalker, and Antonio promised to protect her. Jessica suspected Cristian was the culprit. Cristian was then revealed as Tico's killer. Despite her false accusation against him, Antonio remained committed to working things out with Jessica. Cristian was sent to jail, but Jessica's stalker continued to torment her, leaving Antonio committed to discovering their true identity and stopping them.

Soon after, it was revealed that Jessica actually had a split personality known as Tess, and that she was responsible for stalking Jessica. Tess wanted a life of fun and freedom, and was determined to break up Jessica and Antonio in order to achieve this. Unbeknownst to Jessica, Tess spent her nights moonlighting in bars and sleeping with various men. It was during a bitter custody battle between RJ and Antonio that Jessica heard Tess's voice in her head, and realized she was suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder, which had previously affected her mother. Tess was resolute to hinder Antonio's chances at winning custody of his daughter Jamie, and even went as far as snooping in RJ's apartment for information on Antonio. Tess inadvertently started a fire in the apartment, but luckily Jessica emerged and saved Jamie. After discovering she had a split personality, Jessica decided it would be best to keep it secret from those she loved. She felt the truth would ruin Antonio's future with his daughter, and hinder her mother's faltering health.

Jessica enlisted the help of psychiatrist Dr. Jamison and the two practiced hypnosis to get to the bottom of Jessica's disorder. Tess emerged, but did not reveal what occurred in Jessica's life to create an alter ego. Tess continued to emerge, and soon Jessica's Uncle Todd discovered the truth. Todd demanded that Tess tell Viki the truth, but it only resulted in Tess verbally assaulting Viki, causing her to have a heart attack. Jessica reemerged and was disgusted with the damage her alter had caused. Determined to get help, she checked herself into a mental hospital, with only Todd knowing her location. Jessica told Antonio and Viki that she needed "time away to think."

At the mental hospital, Tess continued to taunt Jessica with the secret that caused their split. Tess reemerged and managed to escape the hospital. She headed to New York City, where she met Nash Brennan.

To read about Tess and Jessica's interaction with Nash, click here.