Late that night, Ned went upstairs to go to sleep and was surprised to see that Alexis was in their bed. She was asleep and he climbed in slowly so he wouldn�t wake her. He closed his eyes and was soon asleep... Alexis looked up onto a stage as music began to play. �What�s going on here?� she called, her voice echoing through the empty Vasarri room. As the words died on her lips, Ned came walking onto the stage and began to sing �Two Princes� by the Spin Doctors, a song that Alexis knew vaguely. When the song reached the part about the girl having to choose between the two men, Gregory came out on stage and began to sing along with Ned, the two men alternating the lines. Alexis watched dumbstruck as they sang and when the song ended, Gregory walked to the edge of the stage. �Alex, I still love you. Come back to the city with me and we�ll create the most unstoppable duo of litagators ever. We�ll be free, no Quartermaines, no Stefan, just you, me and a private jet waiting to take us anywhere you want to go.� �Move it, Fortino.� Ned cut in. �I have a private jet too, and Alexis isn�t going anywhere with you. In case you�ve forgotten, we�re married and we have a daughter. She loves only me, don�t you, Brinna?� Alexis opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. �Alexis, you have to choose.� Both men said in unison. Alexis opened her mouth again and screamed. �No! Don�t do this, Gregory! I love Ned! Stop...� Alexis felt herself being shaken awake. She opened her eyes to see Ned looking concernedly at her. �Lex, are you okay?� Alexis sat up and rubbed her eyes. �I was having a dream.� �I gathered that.� Ned replied. �I heard what you were saying.� �What?� Alexis asked, unaware that she had been talking aloud. Ned smiled. �You were telling Gregory to stop because you loved me.� He watched her blush as he went on. �Brinna, I am so sorry for being such a jerk to you. I know that I have nothing to worry about because you would never leave me for Gregory.� �I would never ever do that to you, Ned.� Alexis told him, tears falling down her cheeks. �I�d be nothing without you. You�re not just my husband, you know. You�re my best friend, my partner in crime, my soul. I�ve never loved someone as much as I love you.� She grinned. �And for you to think for even a millisecond that I�d ever throw that all away, I just want to smack you.� Ned smiled at her. �I love you, Alexis. It�s like they said in that Tom Cruise movie. You complete me. Lex, I�m so sorry. You can smack me if it will make you feel better.� �It won�t.� Alexis said. �I�d rather kiss you.� She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. When they pulled apart, Ned was worried to see that she was still crying. �What�s wrong?� Alexis wiped a tear away and shrugged. �Ned, I�m scared. The hearing is in two days. What if Gregory can�t get me off? What if this case goes to trial? What if I have to spend the rest of my life in prison without you or Avery?� �That will never happen.� Ned told her firmly. He picked up her hand and kissed it. �Alexis Brinna Davis Ashton, I swear to you that you will not go to prison. Even if I have to break you out, and we go on the lam for the rest of our lives, and have to dye our hair blond, we will never be apart.� Alexis snickered. �I can�t see you as a blond.� �You�re missing the point.� Ned laughed. �I get it.� Alexis said, kissing his neck. �Now will you do me a favor?� �Anything.� Ned said. �What is it?� Alexis gave him a seductive smile. �Lay me down and make love to me for the rest of the night.� �You got it.� Ned replied, a wicked smile on his face. He put his arms around her and slowly lowered her down, slipping down the straps of her pajamas as he went...
The next morning, Ned woke up holding Alexis in his arms. He nudged her gently. �Lex, we have to get up.� �I don�t want to.� Alexis mumbled sleepily. �Too bad.� Ned said, kissing her forehead. �You can either get up now or I�ll go get a glass of cold water.� �Okay, okay.� Alexis said, sitting up and wrapping the sheet around her. She slowly climbed from the bed and yawned. �I am so tired.� She glared at him playfully as he got out of bed and put his robe on. �This is all your fault, Ned. You kept me up all night.� �Me!� Ned chortled. He grabbed her and threw her down on the bed. They began to kiss amorously as Avery came bounding into the room. Ned and Alexis hastily broke apart as Avery threw herself on top of them. �Mommy! Daddy! You aren�t mad at each other anymore?� �Nope.� Ned said, kissing the top of her head. �Good!� Avery exclaimed. �It�s not good when you�re mad at each other. By the way, Nikolas is already gone. � �He�s with Emily.� Alexis said, getting up again and heading for the bathroom. �I need to take a shower.� �A little hot and sweaty, eh, Lex?� Ned teased as he tickled Avery. Alexis stuck her tongue out at him and flounced into the bathroom, laughing as she closed the door. �I want to take a bath.� Avery told her father. �Can I take one with Mommy?� �She�s taking a shower.� Ned replied. �Wait, hold on.� He picked her up and walked over to the bathroom door. �Lex?� �Yeah?� Alexis called back. �You can come in. I�m just brushing my teeth.� They entered the bathroom and Ned put on his sweetest grin. �Lex, Avery, who just so happens to have no school today, really wants to take a bath with you and I was thinking that you could be a little late for work today, right?� �Why are you going to work?� Avery demanded. �I�m home today.� �I know.� Alexis said. �You�re coming to work with me. You can play with me and Daddy.� She looked thoughtful for a second. �I guess that we could take a bath together, Avery.� �Yay!� Avery cheered as Alexis turned on the faucet and filled the huge tub with hot water and bubbles. When the tub was full, Alexis slid in and under the bubbles and Ned lifted Avery in with her. As he started to leave, Avery piped up, �Daddy, why don�t you come in too?� �Are you sure you want a boy in there with you?� Ned teased, looking at Alexis. She grinned at him. �I suppose that you can join us as long as you don�t splash water in our eyes.� �I�ll try to behave.� Ned said solemnly as he untied his robe and joined them in the bathtub. As soon as he had sat down, both Alexis and Avery began to splash him over and over. �Hey!� Ned exclaimed. �No fair!� Avery laughed. �Don�t be a baby, Daddy.� Alexis unsuccessfully tried to fight back a laugh and Ned leaned over and dunked her under the water. When she came up, bubbles sticking to her head, she attacked Ned, pushing him under the water as he sputtered in protest. �You two act like little kids.� Avery said, shaking her head in mock-disgust. Alexis and Ned looked at each other and cracking up, grabbed Avery and began to tickle her...
That night, Ned held Alexis in his arms as the clock struck two. They weren�t talking much, they were just enjoying their time together. �Ned?� Alexis asked. �Yeah?� he mumbled sleepily. Alexis turned to look at him. �Do you think that I�m going to get off?� �I honestly don�t know.� Ned replied. �I am praying that you won�t have to stand trial, and I know that Gregory has put together a very impressive case, but with Dara representing Stefan, your guess is as good as mine.� He pulled her closer. �Lex, don�t worry. I will move heaven and earth to protect you.� �I love you.� Alexis whispered. �I love you too.� Ned replied. They closed their eyes and were soon asleep... When Alexis woke up at seven, Avery was asleep at the end of their bed. Her Tigger blanket was pulled over her and she was holding Victoria in her arms. Alexis gently nudged Ned, who slowly opened his eyes. �What?� Alexis pointed to Avery and seeing her, a grin spread across Ned�s face. �You can�t say that isn�t the most adorable thing.� Alexis took his hand. �We have an absolutely perfect little girl. I�d say considering who our families are, we did a pretty good job.� �Are you okay about today?� Ned asked her in a low voice. She shrugged. �I�m as good as I can be considering that if this goes to trial, I could be looking at a wardrobe of blue polyester prison uniforms for the rest of my life.� �Don�t think like that.� Ned commanded her, lightly kissing her lips. �You�re going to get off and spend the rest of your life in your usual Armani powersuits. Well, those and our bedsheets.� Alexis laughed. �I love you. You always make me feel better.� �Want a tip?� Ned asked her. �Sure.� She replied, as he went on. �Wear something that will make the people see that you�re not intimidated at all. You should wear the type of clothing I love best on you.� �Ned,� Alexis said, rolling her eyes. �I can not show up in court wearing a sheet.� Ned laughed. �That�s not what I meant. I was thinking short and black. You�ll look so gorgeous that all of the men will be drooling over you. But if any of them get near you, I�ll kill them because you�re taken.� Alexis smiled. �Always and forever.�
At one o�clock on the dot, The Honorable Jeffrey Harris came walking into the courtroom and sat down on his bench. Rapping the gavel, he announced. �The hearing of Stefan Cassadine vs. Alexis Davis-Ashton in the matter of the death of Katherine Cassadine will now come to order.� Alexis quickly looked at Ned, who was sitting in the seat behind her. �I love you.� He mouthed. She smiled quickly and looked back at the front. Gregory, who had seen what had happened, frowned. Alexis looked over at him but he faced front. �Uh oh.� Alexis thought. �I don�t need this now.� She looked around the courtroom. Although it was just the hearing, the media was there and so was many Port Charles residents, including Nikolas, Bobbie, Emily and Monica, who had come to pledge support for Alexis. Dara stood up. �On behalf of Mr. Cassadine, I would like to begin...�
That night, Alexis sat on the couch crying. �I can�t believe that this is going to trial.� �Don�t cry.� Ned told her, patting her back. �You aren�t going to go to prison, so stop worrying right now, Alexis Brinna.� �Ouch.� Alexis said. �You only call me Alexis Brinna when you�re mad.� �I am.� Ned said, rubbing her back. �But not at you. I�m mad at your pathetic excuse for a human being, jerk brother, Stefan Cassaslime.� Alexis smiled. �You�re not the only one. I thought that Nikolas was going to punch him.� Ned pulled her into his lap. �Alexis, I am not going to let anything happen to you. I swear. Albeit, I said that a few nights ago when I was promising you that this wouldn�t go to trial, but, you know what? I am sure this time.� �I�m glad.� Alexis said, sniffling a little. �But I have a little problem here. The trial starts next week and I need to see my doctor really bad. The problem is that she�s booked up for the next two weeks.� �Are you sick?� Ned asked worriedly. Alexis shook her head, smiling. �I�m not sick. I�m pregnant.� �Pregnant?� Ned repeated. �You�re pregnant? How do you know? When did this happen?� Alexis laughed. �First of all, this morning before we left for court, I took one of those home tests and it came up positive. Second, I think that this happened that day in my office. I�m pretty sure that it was that day.� �Oh my God!� Ned exclaimed. �We�re having a baby?� �Shh.� Alexis hissed. �Avery is asleep.� Ned shrugged, and grabbing her by the hand, dragged her out of the house and to the backyard. �Ned Ashton, what are you doing?� Alexis demanded. �It�s eleven o�clock at night so we�re going back in the house.� �No we aren�t.� Ned said in a child-like voice. �We�re going swimming.� �Swimming?� Alexis repeated. �Um, no.� �Um, yes.� Ned mocked her. �What? You�re going to tell me that pregnant people can�t swim? Come on, Brinna. Go swimming with me.� Alexis grinned as he leaned over and kissed her. �Fine. Let me go upstairs and get my suit.� Ned shook his head and grabbed her as she began to walk away. �You aren�t going anywhere except into that pool. Now take off your clothes or I�m going to do it for you.� �Skinny dipping?� Alexis exclaimed. �No way! In case you have forgotten, our daughter and our nephew are upstairs.� �So?� Ned asked. �They�re asleep. Come on, Alexis. Throw caution to the wind for once.� Alexis glared at him for a long moment but then with a sigh, slipped her clothes off and without waiting for Ned, dove headfirst into the pool. Ned quickly joined her in the water and pulled her into his arms. �I love you so much, Lex.� �I love you too.� Alexis replied. �Can you believe that we�re going to have a baby?� �You have no idea how happy I am about this.� Ned told her, kissing her neck as they sat down on the steps of the shallow end. �It�s been so much fun having Avery around that I can�t wait to have the whole experience again.� Alexis smiled. �I distinctly remember the night Avery was born, you promised me that I�d never have to be in that much pain again.� �Too bad.� Ned replied, flicking some water at her. �Having our daughter was worth it for me to have to hear you scream for three hours.� Alexis splashed him with a bunch of water and then took off across the pool. �Get back here, you brat!� Ned exclaimed, swimming after her. When he caught up to her, he immediately dunked her under the water. �Grrrr.� Alexis said, coming up to the surface. She jumped on his back. �I�m going to get you back for that. You�re going down, Ashton.� She pushed on his back until he went underwater. Ned stayed under the water for a minute, opening his eyes and leaning over to kiss Alexis� bare stomach. When he came up, he kissed her on the lips. �I can�t believe that you�re pregnant again! Why didn�t you tell me as soon as you found out?� �Because,� Alexis replied simply. �I wanted to tell you when we�d be able to celebrate, not on the way to court.� �Celebrate?� Ned asked. �How?� Alexis just smiled at him. �How do you think?� Without a word, She took his hand and swimming over to the side of the pool, they climbed out. Ned wrapped his arms around Alexis and gently lowered her down onto the grass. He climbed on top of her and they became lost in their own little world...
�Be careful!� Alexis hissed to Ned as he carried her up the stairs an hour later. �I don�t want you to run into anything in the dark.� �And endanger the life of my unborn child?� Ned said, a smile on his face. �I don�t think so.� He walked into their bedroom, and after closing and locking the door, gently put her down on the bed. He climbed under the sheets and Alexis slid in next to him and rested her head on his chest. Ned slid a hand under the sheet and placed it on her stomach. �Lex, do you know how happy I am now? Well, other than the fact that you�re about to stand trial for murder.� �Ugh.� Alexis said. �Did you have to remind me of that? I was basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking out on the lawn.� She grinned. �Can you believe that we�re going to have another baby? Maybe a little boy who looks just like you.� �That would be so great.� Ned said. �I wonder what Avery is going to think about having a little brother or sister.� �I hope she�s happy about it.� Alexis mused. �Ned, this can be a secret between us for a while, right? I mean, with the trial and all, I don�t want it to get out.� �Of course.� Ned said, kissing her forehead. �I love having a secret with you. You know, there�s something I want to talk to you about.� Alexis shifted to face him. �What?� �You know,� Ned said. �I�ve been thinking that if we�re going to have a baby, we need more room. I mean, we have our room, Avery�s room and a guest room for Nikolas or Emily. Wouldn�t it be nice if we had a real house, with a lot of room as opposed to the guest house on the family�s grounds? Besides, we�d get away from those dysfunctional people that we call our family.� Alexis nodded. �That would be nice. I mean, I�d like to keep a guest room for Nikolas and Emily, and with the baby, we�d have to turn our study into a bedroom. Ned, I totally agree with you. I�d love to get a new house.� �Really?� Ned said. When Alexis nodded, he grinned. �In the morning, I�ll make a few phone calls, look at some listings. It�ll keep our minds off the trial.� �Are you sure?� Alexis said teasingly. �I mean, if I get sent to prison, you won�t need a new house.� Ned poked her in the side. �You are such a little brat.� Alexis stuck her tongue out at him and closing her eyes, soon fell asleep as Ned watched her... �I love you,� He whispered. �And I won�t ever let anything happen to you.�
�Are you tired yet?� Ned asked as he led Alexis up the steps of the fifth house they were looking at. It had been two days since they had decided to buy their own house and they had spent the entire afternoon looking at houses. �Nope.� Alexis replied. �Why do you keep asking me that?� �Because,� Ned grinned. �You�re carrying my baby.� He leaned over and quickly kissed her lips and opened the door. The real estate agent, Diane Stevenson, was waiting for them inside. �Ned, Alexis, I think this is the perfect house for you. There are five bedrooms, a study, four bathrooms, a spacious kitchen and a huge backyard for your daughter.� �I must say that I like the exterior look of the house.� Ned said. The house was a large white three story in west Port Charles and was close to Avery�s school. �I do too.� Alexis agreed. �Well,� Diane said. �I�ll let you two look around a little.� �Okay.� Ned said, taking Alexis� hand and walking out of the room. They went into the kitchen, and after looking around, went out to the backyard. There was a swimming pool and a large tree with a swing hanging from it. There was a small blue treehouse in the tree, directly above the swing. �Avery would love this.� Alexis said. �I really like this house, but we should look at the upstairs too.� Ned nodded and they went into the house and upstairs. The master bedroom was at the end of the hall. It was a large room with a jacuzzi in the bathroom and huge windows. The other bedrooms were spacious and had huge closets and windows. �I love this house.� Ned said. �I can picture Avery running around the house and swinging in the backyard.� �Me too.� Alexis said. �Well, what do you think?� Ned grinned. �I want it. You?� �Definitely.� Alexis replied. �It�s a beautiful house. Let�s go tell Diane.� Holding hands, they went down the stairs and into the living room where Diane was waiting. �What do you think?� she asked. �We love it.� Ned said. �Do you have the papers with you?� �I do.� Diane said. �You�re sure that you want this house?� �Totally.� Ned replied. �I can write you a check right now.� �That would be fine.� Diane said, pulling a sheaf of papers from her briefcase. She handed them to Alexis, who began to look them over. Ned pulled out his checkbook... A half hour later, Diane presented Ned with both the deed and the key to their new house. �I�ll fax you a copy of the papers when I get back to the office.� She picked up her briefcase and walked to the door. �Enjoy your new house.� As soon as she had left, Ned pulled Alexis into his arms and kissed her deeply. �I love you.� He said. �And I love our new house.� �Me too.� Alexis said. �I can�t wait until we move in.� �Me neither.� Ned said. He smiled a wicked smile. �And more importantly, I can�t wait to go skinny dipping in our new pool.� �You won�t hear any complaints from me.� Alexis said, kissing him again. She looked at her watch. �We have to get home to Avery.� �Okay.� Ned said, taking her hand. They walked out of the house and locking the door behind them, got into the car and drove away. �Thank you.� Ned said. �For what?� Alexis asked, puzzled. Ned turned and smiled at her. �Thank you for agreeing that this is the perfect house. I can�t wait to be alone with my family, away from my other family.� �You�re welcome.� Alexis said, placing her hand on his thigh. �You�re more than welcome.�
Six days later, the Ashtons had moved into their new house. Bobbie, Emily and Nikolas had helped them move into the house that Avery had proclaimed as �the awesomest house ever.� Ned and Alexis had kept their old bed, but bought new linens and drapes. They had chosen a white down comforter with eyelet lace trim and matching sheets, pillows and curtains. Avery�s room had white walls and big posters of Pooh and Tigger on them and a Tigger themed canopy bed. One of the two guest rooms was done in a sunflower pattern, and the other in maroon and creme stripes. �What about this room?� Nikolas had asked about the sixth bedroom, the one closest to the master bedroom, when they took him and Emily on a tour. �We haven�t decided yet.� Ned replied quickly, giving Alexis a quick smile. The first night they stayed in their new home, Ned came downstairs from checking on Avery to find Alexis, wearing one of his workshirts, standing at the bottom of the stairs. �Well, well, Ms. Davis-Ashton.� He grinned. �What do we have here?� Alexis smiled back. �Your pregnant wife, who has been waiting for you to come down and remove this shirt.� �I can do that.� Ned said, beginning to unbutton her shirt. He lifted her up and carried her up to their bedroom, where he laid her down on their bed. �Oh, Ned.� Alexis whispered. �I love you so much.� She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him on top of her. �I can�t believe that we�re finished moving in to our house.� Ned let his hands roam down her body to her stomach, where they stopped. �I can�t believe that there is a baby in there, Lex.� �I know.� Alexis said. �I am so happy about being pregnant that it keeps my mind off the trial.� Ned looked down at her and then slid off of her body and laying down next to her, took her hand. �Alexis, there is no trial. Well, at least there is no real trial. Even though you�re all worried, I know that deep in your heart, you know that you aren�t going to prison.� �How do you know that?� Alexis challenged him. �Because.� Ned said simply, kissing her wrist. �We know each other better then we know ourselves. Alexis Brinna, I know what you�re thinking even before you do.� Alexis didn�t say anything. She wanted to believe him, but was more scared then she was admitting. Ned had instilled so much faith in her that she didn�t want him to think she was a coward. Ned, sensing her mood, pulled her into his arms and gently placed a hand on her stomach. �I love you, Lex.� �I love you too.� Alexis whispered, closing her eyes and in the safety of Ned�s arms, fell into a deep sleep. Ned watched her fall asleep and then sighed deeply. There was less then a week until the trial. Dispite what he had been telling Alexis, he knew that this was more than just a trial. He was entrusting the life of the person he loved more than anything into the hands of Gregory Fortino. The result of Cassadine versus Davis-Ashton was going to be determining the future of Alexis Davis-Ashton, and Ned knew at that moment, looking down at her sleeping figure, that he would stop at nothing to protect her.