When they reached the precinct, the police commissioner, Mac Scorpio, his wife, Felicia Scorpio-Jones and his assistant V Ardonowski were waiting. Just as Alexis was being led into the conference room, Stefan, his eyes bloodshot and his suit wrinkled, came racing into the police station and lunged at Alexis. �How could you? How could you kill her?� Before he could lay a hand on her, Ned jumped in between them. �I swear, Cassadine, if you lay a hand on my wife, I�ll permanently rearrange your face.� Stefan backed up a little and began to scream, �I can�t believe it. How could my Kazia be gone? We were so happy together.� �Mr. Cassadine, why don�t you sit down and get a hold of yourself?� Mac said as Felicia led him to a chair. �Felicia, would you stay out here until Mr. Cassadine has calmed down? V and I are going to question Alexis.� �Okay.� Felicia said as Mac led Alexis into the questioning room with Ned behind them. Once they were in the room, Mac removed Alexis� handcuffs and had her sit down in a chair. Ned sat next to her and held her hand tightly. �So, Alexis,� Mac began. �Do you have any idea how the dagger that is being analyzed to see if it�s Katherine�s blood ended up in your desk?� �I honestly have no idea.� Alexis said. �Please believe me. I�d never kill anyone.� �Alexis, we�re not accusing you of anything.� Mac assured her. �We�re just trying to figure out what happened to Katherine.� The questioning continued until Alexis was about to fall asleep at the table. It was now almost eleven o�clock and Mac still had no proof that Alexis had killed Katherine. Although the blood on the dagger had matched Katherine�s, since no fingerprints had showed up yet, they couldn�t say for sure that Alexis had used the dagger. The lab was planning on doing more in-depth tests on it the next morning. Stefan had left at ten thirty because he needed to get home to Christabel. As mad as she was, Alexis� heart went out to her brother in his time of grief. �So, Mac, can Alexis go home tonight?� Ned asked. �I�m sorry, Ned,� Mac said. �We have to keep her here until tomorrow, and then you can post bail for her.� Alexis looked at Ned, her eyes full of terror. �I have to stay here?� Mac nodded. �I�m afraid so. If it were up to me, I�d release you into Ned�s custody, but it�s standard procedure for all departments that are affiliated with the NYPD to keep murder investigation suspects overnight.� He turned to V. �Will you please lead Alexis to an empty cell and get her a pillow and blanket?� �Sure thing.� V said, standing and motioning for Alexis to do the same. Ned stood too, and without a word, slipped his wedding ring off and slid it onto her finger. �I love you.� He whispered in her ear. �I�ll be back tomorrow to take you home.� He kissed her quickly and then walked away as Alexis was led to her cell.
The next morning, Ned came walking into the police station and went over to Mac. �I�m here to pick up Alexis.� Mac looked up, a pained look on his face. �Ned, we ran some tests on the dagger and there was a fingerprint on it that matched Alexis�. She�s going to be held until we can get a hearing because Stefan is planning on pressing murder charges against her.� �Are you kidding?� Ned asked, his voice rising. �She�s his sister! Stefan must know that Alexis didn�t kill Katherine.� Mac shrugged sympathetically as he went on. �Can I please see Alexis?� �Sure.� Mac agreed. �Take as long as you need.� �Thanks.� Ned said. He walked out of the room and down the hall to where the cells were located. They were all empty except for one. Alexis, dressed in her clothes from the day before, was sitting on her bed with her face in her hands. �Lex,� Ned called softly. Alexis lifted her head up and Ned could see the tearstains on her face and her watery eyes. �What are you doing here?� she asked as she walked over to the bars. �Do you think that I�d leave my wife alone in this hellhole?� Ned asked. �I�m not getting out of here.� Alexis told him miserably. �My own brother is trying to get me convicted of murder. Do you know how that feels? He hired Dara Jensen! She hates me! She�d do anything she could to get me tarred and feathered.� She began to cry again. �Shh, baby, don�t cry.� Ned told her. �Everything�s going to be okay.� �How do you know that?� Alexis sobbed. �They think that I�m a murderer! Ned, I didn�t murder Katherine!� �I know that.� Ned told her. �And soon everyone else is going to know that too.� �What are you talking about?� Alexis sniffed. �Hold on for a sec.� Ned said. �I�ll be right back.� A few minutes later, Mac appeared and unlocked her cell. �Where are you taking me?� Alexis asked, surprised. �To the questioning room. Ned requested that you be allowed to go there to have a meeting with him about your representation in this case.� He led her to the room, and after telling her to stay in the room until she wanted to leave and he would come get her, closed the door after her. Ned was sitting in one of the two chairs. As she sat down, he took one of her hands. �I�m surprised they didn�t put the handcuffs back on.� She told him. �I asked them not to.� Ned said. �I promised Mac that you would behave.� �Ned, what are we going to do?� Alexis whispered. �I want to go home and be with you and Avery. How is she?� �Miserable.� Ned answered truthfully. �She wants her Mommy to come home. Monica told me that she cried off and on until I came home. Nikolas is also very concerned about you and he�s in the process of finding you a good lawyer.� Just then, his cell phone rang. �Ned Ashton... Oh hi, Nikolas... You did?... Are you sure about this?... Okay, well you�d know... All right, I�ll tell her... I�ll see you at home... Bye.� He turned the phone off and turned to Alexis. �Well, Nikolas found you a lawyer. It was hard to do because you�re the best lawyer we both know, and since you�re obviously unavailable, we had to go for second best. Someone named Gregory Fortino. From what I�ve heard, he�s an excellent defense attorney.� Alexis groaned. �I know.� You know him?� Ned asked. �Actually, I�m not surprised, you top notch lawyers all know each other. Let me guess, you and him were in the same social circle when you lived in Manhattan?� �Nope.� Alexis said. �We went to Harvard together. Even ended up working at the same firm when we were first out of law school. I landed a big case right off the bat, and of course he wanted it. I guess that you could call us arch-nemesises. He must be laughing his head off now at the prospect of having to defend me.� �Lex,� Ned said. �I can get you a different lawyer if you�d like.� �No, Gregory is fine.� Alexis replied. �Even though he�s a big pain, he�s an exceptional lawyer.� She smiled. �Thanks for getting me a lawyer so fast.� �Anything for you.� Ned said, reaching across the table and pushing away a lock of hair that had fallen in her face. �You know, last night, we were interrupted by the cops. And now, well, what do you think of the idea of me throwing you down on this floor and ripping your clothes off?� Despite her mood, Alexis actually laughed. �You�re the only one who can make me laugh when I�m upset. That�s one of the things I love the most about you, Ned.� Ned picked her hand up and gently kissed her palm. �I love you, Lex, and you�re going to get out of here soon. I promise.�
Luckily for Alexis, Ned made good on his promise. The next afternoon, Gregory showed up at the PCPD and went straight into the questioning room, where Ned and Alexis were waiting. Alexis looked up as he came through the door. He looked exactly like he had the last time she saw him. Clad in a black Armani suit with a matching briefcase, his blond hair was perfectly styled and his blue eyes devoid of any emotion. The Ashtons stood when he came into the room. �Alexis.� Gregory said. �It�s been a while.� �It sure has.� Alexis said, shaking his hand. �Gregory, this is my husband, Ned Ashton.� �It�s a pleasure.� Gregory said in his customary refined tone, shaking his hand. He looked at Alexis again. �Well, it seems that we have a lot of work to do here. Your nephew, Nikolas Cassadine, briefed me on what happened, but I need details and anything that will help clear you.� �It�s only a hearing.� Ned replied. �Yes,� Gregory said, �That may be so, but we need to put together a convincing appeal for the hearing. Anything to keep from having to go to trial. Now, let�s begin.� He pulled out a notepad and a pen. �Alexis, tell me everything you can remember about the night Mrs. Cassadine was murdered, where you were, anyone who might have seen you ectra.� Alexis took a deep breath and began to speak. �That night, I went to a meeting at my daughter, Avery�s pre-school. It started at seven and I returned home at nine. Nikolas was baby-sitting Avery and when I got home, his father, my brother, Stefan, was there and he was having a fight with Nikolas. I threw him out, and then I went upstairs, put Avery to bed and after taking a shower and doing some work on my laptop, I went to bed.� �Where was Nikolas after you came home?� Gregory asked, making some notes on his pad. �He went out with his girlfriend, Emily.� Alexis replied. �He didn�t come home until late.� �Well,� Gregory said, pulling out a folder and reading from it. �Stefan states that he received a note from Katherine saying that she would be visiting some friends that night, Mac and Felicia Scorpio. According to them, she never came over and they never spoke with her. The next morning, an anonymous call was made to the PCPD saying that she was dead, and that night, another call was made stating that the murder weapon was at the address they named, which ended up being yours.� Their meeting went on for another hour, Alexis answering Gregory�s questions, him writing down everything she said. �Gregory, I didn�t kill Katherine.� Alexis told him. �I hope you believe me.� �I do.� He assured her. �I know that your killer instinct lies only in the courtroom.� He smiled. �But now, we have to make sure that the judge believes you.� �Gregory,� Ned began. �I know that the hearing isn�t for another two days, but is there any chance that Alexis could be released into my custody? She�s no threat to anyone and our daughter is totally miserable without her at home.� �I�ll see what I can do.� Gregory said, standing up. �I think I�ll go have a little chat with the chief of police.� As he left the room, Ned turned to Alexis. �Wow. You were right. He is an outstanding lawyer. He got right down to business and is very polite. I�ve never met a lawyer like that. Well, present company excluded.� Alexis smiled and took his hand. �I love you.� She laughed. �And if I have to spend another night in this place, I may take you up on your throw me down on the floor and rip my clothes off offer.� �Well, hopefully, you�ll be able to go home, and I can rip your clothes off without getting arrested for it.� They sat in silence until Gregory returned, Alexis resting her head on Ned�s shoulder. As Gregory walked in, they both stood up. �You can go home.� He told her. Alexis� face turned to a mask of shock. �Are you serious? I can leave this hell-hole?� Gregory nodded and held out a piece of paper. �You have to sign this affidavit stating that you won�t leave Port Charles, or go near Stefan until the hearing.� �Anything!� Alexis cried, grabbing the paper from him and quickly signing. �Ned, Commissioner Scorpio wishes to speak with you.� �Okay,� Ned said, leaving the room, as Gregory turned to Alexis. �He seems nice.� �He�s the best thing that ever happened to me.� Alexis told him. �By the way, you�re looking good as always.� �Ah, stop.� Gregory said. �But I could say the same for you. The last time I saw you, you were a miserable little thing, and now, look at you. Aside from the fact that you�ve spent the last two days in jail, you have this glow. Your husband has a profound effect on you.� Alexis blushed. �Greg, I want to thank you for taking on my case. It means a lot to me to have one of the best lawyers in New York defending me.� �One of the best?� Gregory repeated. �Who else is the best?� Alexis smiled. �Me, of course.� Gregory laughed and lightly touched her hair. �You haven�t changed a bit, Alex.� Just then, Ned, who had heard what Gregory said, came walking into the room. �Lex, are you ready to go?� �What do you think?� Alexis asked. �Gregory, we�ll see you tomorrow morning at our house right?� Gregory nodded. �We need to work on what happened between the night Katherine was murdered and when you were arrested. I�m really interested in how the murder weapon ended up in your desk.� �Me too.� Alexis said as Ned took her hand and they walked out of the room, and out of the police station. �Yes!� Alexis cheered when they were outside. �I�m no longer a jailbird!�
When they pulled up at home, as soon as they walked inside, Avery�s voice came from upstairs. �Daddy, is that you?� �Yeah.� Ned called. �Come and see what I brought home with me.� Avery came bounding down the staircase and seeing Alexis, hurled herself into her mother�s outstretched arms. �Mommy!� Alexis hugged her daughter tightly. �Oh, Avery, I missed you so much.� �Are you going to stay at home now?� Avery asked as Monica came walking into the room. Alexis nodded. �I think so.� Monica came over to Alexis and gave her a quick hug. �I�m glad you�re home. Your daughter has done nothing except ask me when you were coming home.� �Thank you so much for taking care of her, Monica.� Alexis said. �You�re more than welcome.� Monica replied. �I enjoyed doing it. I took her to work this morning and Bobbie and I took turns watching her. Avery was pretty impressed by the surgical glove balloons I made her.� Ned smiled and kissed his aunt on the cheek as she headed for the door. �I�ll let you three be alone now, but I�ll call you later, okay Alexis?� �Sure.� Alexis said. As the door closed, Ned wrapped his arms around both of them and they just stood there for a long time, basking in the glow of being together again...
That night, Alexis was sitting on the couch watching TV when Ned came in from tucking Avery into bed. He laid down on the couch with his head in her lap. She began to stroke his hair and smiled down at him. �I am so glad to be home.� �I bet you are.� Ned said. �You know, Avery is going to be asleep in a matter of minutes, so why don�t we finish what we started two nights ago?� �Good idea.� Alexis said as Ned sat up and laid her down on the couch before climbing on top of her. �I love you, Ned.� She whispered as he slowly kissed her neck. �I love you too, Alex.� Ned said, waiting for her reaction. Alexis quickly sat up. �What did you just call me?� �I called you Alexis.� Ned said. �That�s your name.� �No you didn�t.� Alexis said. �You called me Alex. Why did you do that?� �Hasn�t anyone ever called you that?� Ned asked, dodging the question. Alexis shook her head. �Not that I know of.� �Oh really?� Ned asked. �Think harder. Maybe an old acquaintance who just may be your lawyer?� �What are you getting at?� Alexis asked, an edge in her voice. �Nothing.� Ned said innocently. He got off of her and sat down facing her. �I was just thinking that maybe your description of your former relationship with Gregory was less than accurate.� Alexis looked down. �What are you talking about? We went to law school together. There�s no crime in that.� Ned looked into her eyes. �I can tell that you�re leaving something out.� �Oh, and how is that?� Alexis snapped. �Because.� Ned replied. �I can see it in your eyes. Now what is it?� �Fine.� Alexis said, getting up and pacing in front of the couch. �Gregory and I were friends. Okay, a little more than friends.� �Did you sleep with him?� Ned demanded. �What difference does it make?� Alexis asked. �Answer the question.� Ned said in a tight voice. Alexis stopped pacing. �You should lower your voice or you�re going to wake Avery up.� �Answer the question, Alexis.� Ned repeated, standing up. �Did you or did you not sleep with Gregory Fortino?� Alexis looked him straight in the eye. �Yes. I did. But it was a long time ago, Ned. It�s been eight years. Why does it matter?� �I just wanted to know.� Ned said. �I mean, sue me, but I don�t like it when my wife keeps things from me.� �Ned.� Alexis said impatiently. �I didn�t tell you because I thought that you�d want Gregory removed from my case, okay? He�s an excellent attorney and I want him to represent me. I didn�t keep anything from you.� Ned glared at her. �No wonder you�re such a good litagator. You can make anything sound good.� �What the hell is that supposed to mean?� Alexis snapped. �Do you think I have some secret thing for him?� �How do I know?� Ned replied. �I mean, since you don�t tell me anything.� �Maybe you should just take me back to jail, Ned.� Alexis said. �Being there would be more enjoyable than listening to this.� �Who needs jail?� Ned asked in a low voice. �You could go stay with your old pal, Gregory.� Alexis� eyes filled with tears and she ran up the stairs without another word. Ned watched her go, and instantly felt bad about what he had just said. �Alexis?� He called, running after her. There was no reply as their bedroom door slammed shut...
�Alexis,� Ned said, coming into the bedroom. �I�m sorry.� �Go away.� Alexis snapped from the bathroom. Ned walked over to the door and tapped on it. �I�m so sorry, Lex. I overreacted.� �I would like to be alone now.� Alexis said in a low voice. �Please just go away.� Ned didn�t say anything as he walked over to the bed and sat down. Alexis came out of the bathroom a few minutes later. Ignoring him, she pulled her pajamas out of a drawer and after changing into them, walked past Ned and out the door. She marched across the hall to Avery�s bedroom and went inside. �Mommy, is that you?� Avery whispered. �Yeah.� Alexis said. �You�re supposed to be asleep, young lady.� �I know.� Avery replied innocently. �But I heard you and Daddy fighting. Mommy, are you going away again?� �Never.� Alexis whispered, sitting down on the bed and stroking her daughter�s hair. �I�ll never leave you again, Avery.� �Mommy,� Avery asked. �Will you stay in here tonight?� �Sure.� Alexis replied. She slipped under the sheets next to her daughter. Avery sat up and kissed her mother. �I love you, Mommy.� �I love you too, Avery.� Alexis said as she closed her eyes. Within minutes, they were both asleep...
The next morning, Ned rolled over in bed to find Alexis� side untouched. He was surprised because he had assumed that eventually she would come to bed. He got out of bed and went into Avery�s room to wake her up. Alexis was lying in the middle of the bed and Avery was draped horizontally across her. Ned smiled and walking over to the bed, whispered, �Avery, time to get up for school.� Avery�s brown eyes fluttered open and she sat up, accidentally ramming her elbow into Alexis� chest. �Oof.� Alexis said, opening her eyes. She focused on Ned and she scowled. �I need to get ready for my meeting.� As Avery jumped out of the bed, Alexis slowly sat up and climbing from the bed, walked out of the room and into her bedroom, closing the door after her. �Let�s get you dressed, Tigger.� Ned said, going over to her closet and picking out a white dress with little blue flowers and a matching hat. �Where did you get this dress?� �Emily bought it for me.� Avery said. �She took me shopping and Nikolas did too.� �That was nice of them.� Ned replied, putting the dress on her and reaching for her hairbrush. When Avery was dressed, Ned took her downstairs and got her some cereal. �Can I watch Rugrats?� Avery asked. �Sure.� Ned told her, taking her into the living room. �I�m going to get dressed and then I�ll come have breakfast with you.� He went upstairs and into their bedroom. �Alexis, we need to talk.� Alexis didn�t answer. She continued to get dressed in a maroon skirt with a matching jacket. �Alexis, I�m serious. We need to come to some sort of agreement before our daughter figures out that something is wrong.� �Avery heard us fighting last night.� Alexis snapped. Ned looked up from putting his pants on and shrugged. �We still need to clear this up.� Alexis glared at him. �What? You don�t trust me and that�s that. No flowers and candy is going to clear that up.� �Fine.� Ned said. �If you don�t need me this morning, I�m going to go to work.� �Fine.� Alexis said. �Will you drop Avery off at school?� �I was planning on it.� Ned said, putting on his tie. �I�ll see you later.� Alexis watched as he walked out of the room. Just then, the doorbell rang. She went downstairs and opened the door to find Gregory standing there. �Good morning.� He said cheerfully. �Are you ready to work?� �Sure.� Alexis said in a deadpan voice. �What�s wrong?� Gregory asked concernedly. Alexis opened her mouth to speak but just then, Ned came in with Avery. �Who�s that?� Avery asked, pointing at Gregory. �That�s your Mommy�s old friend, Gregory.� Ned told her, picking her up and walking out of the house. �Bye, Mommy!� Avery called. �Bye, Avery.� Alexis called back. �I�ll see you after school.� The door shut and Alexis turned to Gregory. �Can we get to work?� �Sure.� Gregory said as they walked over to the couch. �Alexis, have you considered who may be setting you up?� Alexis shrugged. �I mean, being a Cassadine and a Quartermaine at the same time, I�m not the most popular person in Port Charles, but I can�t think of anyone who downright hates me, well other than my brother.� �What about Luke Spencer?� Gregory asked. �I know that he has a permanent vendetta against anyone who has Cassadine blood in them.� �Nah.� Alexis said. �Luke and I have an understanding. We pretty much leave each other alone but once in a while, we do our trading insults act.� She grinned. �For the most part, it�s just for our amusement.� �What about the other Quartermaines?� Gregory said. �Would Edward go this far to get you away from Ned?� �Wow, you really did your homework, didn�t you?� Alexis asked. �But no, Edward and I have had a truce of sorts since Avery was born. I honestly can�t think of anyone who would set me up.� �Well, there must be someone out there.� Gregory said. �And it�s our job to find them and make them pay for what they are doing to you.� �You�re very dedicated.� Alexis observed. Gregory shrugged. �You know, Alex, I�d do anything for you.� Alexis blushed but didn�t say anything. �Uh oh.� She thought silently. �What�s going on here? Is Gregory still in love with me?�