Kimberly arrives at her hotel room to find Alexis waiting outside. She�s wearing a black suit and black sunglasses.
Kimberly: �Nice look, Lex. Are you drunk or something?�
Alexis: (pulling down her glasses and glaring at her) �Kimberly Corday, where have you been all night? I tried calling you twice.�
Kimberly: (grinning as she unlocks her door and steps inside) �Come in and I�ll tell you.�
Alexis dropped into a chair and looked expectantly at her best friend as she went on.
Kimberly: �I guess that I had a little too much wine because I got woozy and Scott suggested I spend the night.�
Alexis� mouth drops open in shock.
Kimberly: �Don�t worry. I slept on the couch.�
Alexis: (smiling) �Then why are you smiling like the cat who swallowed the canary? Come on Kim, what else happened?�
Kimberly: �Damn. You know me too well.� She laughs. �Okay, he kissed me.�
Alexis: �And?�
Kimberly: �And, wow, it was a good kiss!� Changing subjects, she smiles. �So, why do you have such large bags under your eyes, Alexis? Did you get lucky last night?�
She watches in amusement as Alexis� face turns bright red.
Alexis: �I refuse to answer that question. Let�s just say that some things are even more enjoyable when you�re pregnant.�
Kimberly: (laughing) �Well, Ms. Married Woman, have you had breakfast yet?�
Alexis shakes her head as Kimberly picks up the phone and calls room service.
Kimberly: �Hello, this is Kimberly Corday in room 234 and I�d like two orders of mint chocolate cookies and two glasses of orange juice. Thank you.�
She hangs up the phone and grins as Alexis opens her mouth to object.
Kimberly: �Oh come on, Alexis. At least we�ve moved up from cold Chinese food and sparkling seltzer for breakfast.�
Two hours later.
Alexis and Kimberly stood in the center of Wyndhams�� formal department.
Alexis: �Kim, I really should be at work.�
Kimberly pulls a long ice blue dress from the rack and looks at it. She hands it to Alexis.
Kimberly: �This would look good on you.�
Alexis: (taking a close look at the sleeveless dress- silk with a crisscross back) �It�s pretty but where would I wear it?�
Kimberly: (grinning) �Isn�t Ned�s birthday coming up in a couple weeks? He�d faint if he saw you in this dress. Besides, you can wear it after you have the baby too.�
Alexis tilts her head to the side and thinks about it for a moment.
Alexis: �Well, it would be nice to do something special for his birthday. Just the two of us because his family would just give us migraines.�
Kimberly: (nodding) �I would be more than happy to watch Avery. Come on, go try it on. This dress is awesome.�
Alexis: (heading for the dressing room) �Fine.�
Kimberly waits outside as Alexis puts the dress on and comes out.
Alexis: �Well?�
Kimberly: �Wow. You look amazing.�
Alexis turns around and walks towards the mirror to look at herself.
Alexis: �It does look nice.�
Kimberly: �Nice? That dress was made for you.�
Just then, someone comes out of the dressing room behind them.
Voice: �Do you mind? I need to see the mirror.�
Alexis and Kimberly turn around to see Mackenzie, clad in a black mini dress that looks as if it has been painted on her body. She wears a taunting smile on her face.
Mackenzie: �Nice dress, Alexis. You look at least forty.�
Alexis: (losing her temper) �Excuse me? I am not forty, you little brat.� She pauses. �I don�t know exactly what your agenda is, Mackenzie, but if you think that treating me like crap is going to make you look good in Ned�s eyes, than you are sorely mistaken. I don�t like it when anyone messes with my family and mark my words, I will crush you if you ever try to hurt Ned again.�
Mackenzie: �Hurt him? Hurt him? How did I hurt him?�
Alexis (glaring at her) �Let�s see, showing up in Port Charles without any notice for one. And decking me for another. Should I go on?�
Kimberly: (looking Mackenzie up and down) �So this is Ned�s little sister? You didn�t tell me she looks like a little tramp.�
Mackenzie: �Watch it, you bit...�
Alexis: (jumping in) �If I were you, I wouldn�t finish that sentence. You really shouldn�t play with the big girls until you�re old enough.�
Without warning, Mackenzie lunges for Alexis but Kimberly jumps in the way and gives Mackenzie a good shove, sending her flying backwards and she lands on top of a pile of hangers.
Mackenzie: �I could have you arrested for that.�
Kimberly: (shrugging) �Go ahead. Who are the police going to believe, you or me? After all, Alexis is friends with the police chief and several of the officers. Besides, she could get you arrested for decking her last week.�
Mackenzie: �Yeah right. She�s too much of a goody-goody to do anything.�
She strides past them and back into her dressing room to change. Alexis, seething, goes to get her clothes on, and when is done, she comes out to find Kimberly grinning maniacally. She looks at her questioningly, but Kimberly doesn�t say anything. They go out and Alexis pays for the dress and then turns to Kimberly.
Alexis: �Why are you grinning?�
Kimberly: �Stay here.�
She strides back into the dressing room and pushes Mackenzie�s room door open. Mackenzie is standing there in just her underwear.
Mackenzie: �What the hell are you doing?�
Kimberly doesn�t say anything. She just grabs all of the clothes in the cubicle and runs out.
Mackenzie: �Hey! Get back here!�
Kimberly keeps running, past Alexis, and dumps the clothes in a cart marked holds.
Alexis: (catching up with her) �What was that all about?�
Kimberly: (grinning victoriously) �Little Miss Attitude won�t be going anywhere for a while. She has no clothes.�
Alexis: (laughing) �Kim, you are so bad.�
Kimberly: (grinning) �I know. And that�s why you love me.�
One week later.
Alexis is feeling a little more relaxed. She hasn�t seen Mackenzie since the day of the incident at Wyndhams, and she is still laughing about what had happened that night...
*** F L A S H B A C K ***
Mackenzie storms into the Outback where Ned and Alexis are having dinner.
Mackenzie: �You little snot!� She stops in front of Ned. �Are you aware that your wife and her little friend with the bad dye job stole my clothes this afternoon at Wyndhams and left me in a dressing room?�
Ned: (honestly confused) �I have no idea what you�re talking about. But it sounds like a personal problem.� He motions for Mac to come over. �Mac, this crazy woman just showed up and is accusing Alexis of stealing her clothes.�
Mac: (taking Mackenzie�s arm) �You need to leave, miss, and I don�t want to see you making trouble for these two again.�
Mackenzie: (on the way out the door) �I�ll get you back for this, Alexis!�
Ned turns to Alexis.
Ned: �What was she talking about?�
Alexis: (trying to not laugh) �I have no idea.�
Ned: (looking at her closely) �You and Kim stole her clothes, didn�t you?�
Alexis: (innocently) �She can�t prove anything and that�s all I�m going to say...�
*** E N D O F F L A S H B A C K ***
Ned is standing at the foot of their bed in his pajamas.
Ned: �Alexis? Alexis?�
Alexis: �Huh?�
Ned: �You really must be tired if you can�t focus on anything. why don�t you go to sleep?�
Alexis: �I think I will.� She yawns. �Will you be joining me, Mr. Ashton?�
Ned: (going into the bathroom to brush his teeth) �Just a second.�
When he comes out, he climbs into bed and Alexis snuggles up against him. He turns out the light and gently strokes her hair. A few minutes of silence passes before Ned looks
down at her.
Ned: �You okay?�
Alexis: �Sure. Why wouldn�t I be?�
Ned: �I don�t know. You just look kind of distracted.�
Alexis: (taking his hand) �I�m fine. I was just thinking about my childhood in Greece.�
Ned: �You were? What about?�
Alexis: (sighing) �When you were stroking my hair, I remembered when I was nine and Stavros cut all of my hair off.�
Ned: �He cut your hair off? Why?�
Alexis: (shrugging) �For his amusement, I guess. I was so angry that I socked him in the stomach. He slapped me across the face and locked me out of the house. It started raining and I was sobbing and pounding on the door but he still wouldn�t let me in. Stefan didn�t know where I was so I ran off to the edge of the island and looked down from the cliff. I thought about jumping off, but then, this single star appeared in the sky. I thought that it was my mother, coming to tell me that everything would be okay. Stefan showed up a few minutes later and took me home. He trimmed the rest of my hair so it would look decent. Before Stavros cut it, my hair went past my waist.�� G � �j
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ng through life in a monotone. I did my work, went to bed, got up in the morning and did it all again. I didn�t want to trust anyone. Up until I met you, Kimberly was the only person who I had ever fully trusted after getting off of the island. You have no idea what you�ve done for me, Ned. You recreated a soul that had been shattered time and time again and you loved me unconditionally. I can never repay you for that.�
Ned: (whispering) �You don�t have to because you did the same for me. Alexis, you owe me nothing. After Lois left me, I lost my soul. When I fell in love with you, you helped me find it, and you took it.� He looks deep into her eyes. �Alexis, you aren�t just my wife. You�re not just the mother of my child, or my best friend. You�re my soul. And you will be forever.�
Alexis doesn�t say anything. Tears running down her face, she turns and puts her arms around him and they stay that way until Ned gently lays her down and makes slow, passionate love to her for the rest of the night...
One week later.
Alexis is in her bedroom getting ready for Ned�s birthday dinner. She�s wearing the dress she picked out with Kimberly, her hair in a French twist. Avery is sitting at the end of the bed watching her.
Avery: �Wow, Mommy! You look so pretty!�
Alexis: (turning from the mirror to look at her) �Thanks, Sweetie. Do you think Daddy will like my dress?�
Avery nods enthusiastically.
Alexis grins, thinking about her upcoming evening. She had talked the management into closing the PC Grill for the evening so they could have a private party.
Ned is in a meeting and is going to meet her there.
Alexis: �Are you ready to go to Kim�s house? She said that she�s going to take you and Serena to Discovery Zone in the mall with Serena�s daddy, Scott.�
Avery: �Cool! Is Serena spending the night too?�
Alexis: (picking up her purse and Ned�s gift, a gold Rolex) �I think so. Go get your backpack and Victoria. I�ll meet you downstairs.�
She turns the light off and goes downstairs. Avery appears a minute later and they leave the house and head for Scott�s house.
Avery: �Where are we going? Kimberly doesn�t live here. She lives at the hotel.�
Alexis: �I know that.� (she looks at her daughter and smoothes back a hair that has fallen in her face) �Kim asked me to drop you off at Serena�s house.�
Avery: �Oh.� (she�s silent for a moment) �Serena is so cool. She likes me and she�s nine.�
Alexis: (pulling up in front of the firehouse) �That�s great. She�s a nice girl.�
Avery runs up and rings the doorbell. Inside, Serena looks through the window.
Serena: �It�s Avery!� she runs to the door and flings it open. �Hi!�
Avery: (smiling shyly) �Hi!�
They step into the house as Kimberly and Scott come into the living room.
Kimberly: �Alexis, you look amazing!�
Scott whistles at her.
Alexis (blushing) �I have to get going.� She kneels down to Avery�s level. �Avery, have fun with Kim and Scott and Serena, okay?�
Avery: (giving her a hug) �I will. Serena has the Spice World movie!�
Alexis kisses her forehead and then stands up.
Alexis: �Kim, I�ll come get her tomorrow morning since you have a meeting.�
Scott: �Don�t worry about it. I�ll pick her up when I pick Serena up and she can come back here, if that�s okay with you. Since it�s Saturday, Serena doesn�t have school, and I have work to do at home, so they can play together.�
Alexis: �That would be great. Thanks, Scott.� She heads for the door. �I�ll see you tomorrow, Avery.�
Avery: �Bye �Lexis Spice.�
When Alexis gets to the Grill, she goes inside and sets Ned�s present on the table, and goes to find the waiter, Reese, so he can light the candles and get the wine.
Alexis: (aloud) �Oops. I must have dropped Ned�s card on the way out of the house. I guess he can read it when we get home.�
When Reese is done, she tips him and takes a good look at the room. Soft music is playing on the stereo and there is a centerpiece of roses on the table. She looks at her watch and then leaves the room to go to the bathroom...
Mackenzie drives into the hotel parking lot, her hands shaking as she parks her black Lexus. She can still hear Helena�s words in her ears.
The week before, she had been called at work by a man named Leo, and told that Helena Cassadine wanted to see her at the city prison. Curious to know what she wanted, Mackenzie went down to see her. Helena had made her intentions clear very quickly.
*** F L A S H B A C K ***
Helena: (inside her cell) �Look, Miss Cisnaros, if you do not help me kidnap your brother�s wife, Alexis, I will kill you.�
Mackenzie: (looking into Helena�s steely blue eyes) �You�re bluffing. You don�t even know me.�
Helena: �I know enough. I know who your father is, Mackenzie. Or should I call you Ms. Barrett?�
Mackenzie: (her face paling) �What do you want from me?�
Helena: �It�s simple. I want to avenge Alexis for what she has done to me. I know for a fact that she rented out the Port Charles Grill for your brother�s birthday. We are going to abduct her.�
Mackenzie: �We? I don�t mean to point out the obvious, but you�re in prison.�
Helena: (laughing) �Not for long. Leo is working on an escape for me. We�ll meet at the back entrance of the hotel at seven o�clock that night, where I will give you your next instructions.�
Mackenzie: (testing her) �And if I don�t agree?�
Helena (laughing) �Young lady, do not toy with me. If you refuse, this town will not only know that your father is Harlan Barrett, but they will be reading your obituary in the PC Gazette...�
*** E N D O F F L A S H B A C K ***
Mackenzie goes around to the back of the hotel to wait for Helena. A few minutes later, a figure dressed in black, wearing a red wig shows up.
Helena: �Ah, good. You�ve chosen to come this evening.�
Mackenzie: (glaring at her) �Helena, you forced me to come.�
Helena (shrugging) �Details, details. Are you ready?�
Mackenzie takes a deep breath as Helena hands her a dark haired wig. She puts it on and they proceed into the hotel through the back entrance. As Alexis comes out of the bathroom, someone grabs her from behind and drags her out of the hall and back through the exit. She tries to scream, but a pair of hands holding a rag cover her mouth. Then everything goes black...
At seven o�clock on the dot, Ned, dressed in a tuxedo, walks into the Grill, looking for Alexis. There is no one in the room except Reese, who was setting out a cake.
Ned: �Reese, where�s Alexis?�
Reese: �I think she went to freshen up.�
A feeling of foreboding comes over Ned as ten minutes passes and Alexis doesn�t arrive. Grabbing his cell phone, he dials Kimberly�s cell phone.
Kimberly: (over the screaming children at Discovery Zone) �Hello... What did you just say, Ned?�
A few minutes later she hangs up the phone and turns to Scott, who is handing game tokens to Avery and Serena. He looks concernedly at her.
Scott: �Kim, what is it?�
Kimberly: �Ned just called.� She waits until the girls run off before going on. �Alexis is missing.�
Scott: �Missing? I thought they were having dinner at the Grill.�
Kimberly: (standing up and putting her coat on) �They were supposed to. She�s vanished. I have to go over to the hotel and help Ned look for her. Can you watch Avery?�
Scott: �Sure. We�ll go back to my place. Call me if you hear anything.�
Kimberly: �I will.�
She grabs her purse and races out of the mall and to her car. On the way there, she says a quick prayer under her breath.
Kimberly: �Dear God, please let Alexis be all right...�
Late that night.
Ned sits in his study, looking at the picture of Alexis he keeps on his desk.
Ned: �Brinna, where are you?�
Just the phone rings.
Ned: �Hello?�
Nikolas: �Ned, is there any word? Kim called me.�
Ned (sighing) �Nope. It�s like she�s vanished into thin air.�
Nikolas: �Do you want me to fly up?�
Ned: �No, you have exams right now. We�ll be fine. Avery is at Scott Baldwin�s house having a sleepover with his daughter. I called Mac and he told me that the police are going to start searching again in the morning.
Nikolas: �Have they checked with my father?�
Ned: �Yeah. He�s at home with Christabel, and he has witnesses to state that he was home all evening.�
Nikolas: �Emily wants to talk to you. I called her and she came right over...�
After talking to Emily for a few minutes, Ned hangs up the phone, and leaves the study, his face drawn and tired. Just then, he spots an envelope by the door with his name on it in Alexis� handwriting. He picks it up and opens it to find a birthday card.
On the inside, Alexis has written him a message.
�Dear Ned, Happy birthday to my best friend! Well, you know that you�re more than just my best friend, but it would take well over this card to write exactly what you mean to me. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I love you more than anything, and the years I�ve spent with you have been the best ones of my life. Just wait until tonight, EJ. There just so happens to be a can of whipped cream in the fridge, if you get my point. I love you forever, Alexis.�
Ned reads the card twice and then sets it down on the table. Sinking onto the couch, he begins to cry softly...
12 hours later, in Greece.
Alexis is lying unconscious in the basement of the Cassadine Compound. Her eyes slowly open and she tries to focus.
Alexis: �Ned?�
Just then, Helena comes sweeping into the room.
Helena: �Ah, you�re up, Alexis.�
Alexis: �Helena? Aren�t you in prison? Where am I?�
Mackenzie: (coming into the room) �Oh, she�s up.�
Alexis: (weakly sitting up) �Mackenzie, what�s going on here?�
Helena (glaring at her) �You insolent little brat. Are you really that stupid that you don�t know where you are? You�re in Greece my dear.�
Alexis: (borderline panicking) �Where�s Ned? What happened to his party?�
She tries to stand up but Helena gives her a shove, making her fall back onto a pile of rags.
Helena: �Don�t even think about moving.� (she starts to walk towards the stairs) �Mackenzie, watch her. I have to go call Leo.� She leaves the room.
Alexis: (stands up and looks at Mackenzie) �Mackenzie, you little bitch. How could you do this to me? To your brother?�
Mackenzie goes over to her and slaps her.
Mackenzie: �Don�t ever call me that again or you will be so sorry.�
Alexis feels a sudden twinge of pain in her abdomen and sinks to the floor.
Mackenzie: �Don�t even think about faking a stomachache for sympathy.�
Alexis: (tears beginning to fall down her face) �I�m pregnant, you moron!�
Back in Port Charles.
Ned is pacing back and forth in front of the window when a car pulls up in the driveway.
Kimberly gets out and runs up to the door, a look of pure horror on her face.
Ned: �What is it, Kim?�
Kimberly: �Ned, I was just at the hotel talking to a few members of the staff, and one of the waiters remembers seeing a woman with brown hair coming through the kitchen.�
Ned: �Brown hair? I can�t think of anyone with brown hair that would hurt Alexis.�
Kimberly: (sitting down on the couch) �What if their hair wasn�t really brown?�
Ned: (his face slowly changing to one of terror) �Oh my God. What if it was Helena?�
Just then the phone rings.
Ned: �Hello... are you sure?... Mac what if she has her?... okay... call me if you hear anything... okay, bye.�
He turns to Kimberly.
Ned: �That was Mac. Helena has broken out of prison.�
Kimberly: �Oh no! How did she get out?�
Ned: �Apparently, someone helped her. Mac is going to get a look at the prison visitors� book and see if any names ring a bell.�
Kimberly: �We better find something soon. I�m so worried about Alexis.�
Ned: �You aren�t the only one.�
At the Cassadine Compound.
Mackenzie: �You�re pregnant? You have to be kidding.�
Alexis: �I�m not. Mackenzie, if you have any compassion at all, please get me something to eat. If I don�t eat something soon, I�m going to be in a lot of trouble.�
Mackenzie: �You�re such a whiner. Fine. I�ll get you something to eat.�
She leaves Alexis and goes upstairs to the parlor, where Helena is sitting.
Mackenzie: �Were you aware that our little hostage is with child?�
Helena: �You�re kidding! Alexis is pregnant with another Quartermaine child?�
Mackenzie: (nodding) �I�m supposed to get her something to eat.�
Helena: �Fine. But you do realize that we have a small problem here.�
Mackenzie: �What would that be?�
Helena: �Sooner or later, Ned is going to figure out that I have her, and he�s going to come running over here to save her. We�re going to have to come up with something to uh, permanently dispose of her.�
In Port Charles that afternoon.
Mrs. Lansbury opens the door to Wyndemere as Ned comes charging in. Stefan, sitting on the couch, looks up in surprise.
Stefan: (standing up) �What are you doing here? I was under the impression that you and my sister wanted nothing to do with me.�
Ned doesn�t say anything for a moment. He goes charging over to Stefan and grabs him by his shirt collar.
Ned: �Where the hell is my wife?�
Stefan: �What are you talking about?�
Ned: (yelling) �Stefan, if you don�t tell me where Alexis is, I will kill you!�
Stefan: (pulling Ned off of him) �I have no idea what you�re talking about. Has Alexis disappeared?�
Ned: �Cut the crap, Cassadine. Tell me where she is!�
Stefan: (looking him in the eye) �Ned I swear, I have no idea where Alexis is. I would never stoop so low as to kidnap my own sister.�
Ned: (defeated) �Then where could she be? Stefan, you have to help me. I think your mother has Alexis.�
Stefan: �God no. Where are they?�
Ned: �I have no idea.�
Stefan: (sincerely) �I will help you find Alexis.�
Ned: �Good. Between you, me and Jax, we should come up with something.�
Stefan: �Jasper Jax? Why would you ask that rogue to help you?�
Ned: �Because he has connections.�
Stefan: �Than I can�t help you. I refuse to work with that man.�
Ned: (losing his temper) �Fine! Do what you want Stefan, but know that you are going to die a miserable jerk if you keep this up. I don�t want your help anymore. I�ll find Alexis myself.�
He runs out of the room, Stefan looking at him in shock.
That night at the Cassadine Compound.
Alexis is lying on top of the pile of rags trying to sleep. The remnants of her dinner, French bread and water, are lying next to her. As she closes her eyes, a song begins to play in her head as she sees scenes from her life going by.
When I first saw you, I already knew.
There was something inside of you.
Something I thought that I would never find,
Angel of mine.
(Fade to Ned and Alexis� first dance at the 1997 Nurses Ball)
I looked at you, looking at me.
Now I know why they say the best things are free.
I�m going to love you, boy you are so fine.
Angel of mine.
(Fade to Ned at the alter on their wedding day, Alexis coming down the isle)
How you changed my world, you�ll never know.
I�m different now, you helped me grow.
You came into my life, straight from above.
When I lost all hope, you showed me love.
I�m checking for you boy, you�re right on time.
Angel of mine.
(Fade to Ned holding Alexis in his arms on their balcony after she returned from seeing Helena in Greece)
Nothing means more to me than what we share.
No one who did so well can ever compare.
Just like the way you move is still on my mind,
Angel of mine.
(Fade to Ned and Alexis making love on their kitchen floor during her �cooking lessons�)
What you mean to me, you�ll never know.
Deep inside, I need to show.
You came into my life, straight from above.
When I lost all hope, you showed me love.
I�m checking for you boy, you�re right on time.
Angel of mine.
(Fade to Alexis holding Avery in the hospital with Ned looking down at them)
I never knew I could feel each moment as if it were new.
Every breath that I take, the love that we make
I only share it with you.
(Fade it to Ned and Alexis sleeping with Avery between them)
When I first saw you, I already knew.
There was something inside of you.
Something I thought that I would never find,
Angel of mine.
(Fade to Alexis and Ned walking on the beach in the moonlight on their honeymoon)
You came into my life, straight from above.
When I lost all hope, you showed me love.
I�m checking for you boy, you�re right on time.
Angel of mine.
(Fade to Ned and Alexis� midnight swim in their pool)
How you changed my world, you�ll never know.
I�m different now, you helped me grow.
I looked at you, looking at me.
Now I know why they say the best things are free.
I�m checking for you boy, you�re right on time.
Angel of mine...
(Fade to Ned and Alexis kissing when he returned from Seattle)
Alexis wipes the tears from her eyes and goes to the little window in the room, not big enough to climb out of, but big enough to see outside.
She immediately spots the star that Ned had deemed as theirs and says what she said as a child when she was locked in this room.
Alexis: (quietly) �Star of mine, shine so bright and help me escape this captive night.�
Beginning to sob, she sinks down to the ground and cries herself to sleep.