The next morning in Port Charles.
Ned, Scott, Kimberly and Jax are sitting in the Ashtons� living room drinking coffee and trying to figure out a plan.
Ned: �The way I see it, if Helena has her, there has to be someone helping her.� He picks up the phone. �I�m going to call Mac.�
Five minutes later, he hangs up the phone, his face an ugly shade of purple.
Ned: �Mackenzie visited Helena last week.�
Kimberly: �Mackenzie?!? That little bitch is going to hang for this!�
Jax: �You mean your sister? Why would she be visiting Helena?�
Ned: (shrugging) �She seems to have some problem with me and Alexis. And if she has enough gull to team up with Stefan, then she definitely has it to work with Helena.�
Scott: �So where do we go from here?�
Ned watches sadly as Scott picks up Kimberly�s hand and holds it.
Ned: �Assuming that Mackenzie and Helena have Alexis, we have to figure out where they are. I�m guessing that it isn�t anywhere obvious.�
Kimberly: �Do you think that they could have taken her to Greece?�
Ned: �I doubt it. The Cassadine island has been sealed off since Helena was arrested.�
Kimberly: �But it�s worth a shot, don�t you think?�
Jax: �I�m in.�
Scott: �Me too.�
Kimberly: �Wait, if you�re going to Greece, I�m going too.�
Ned: �What about Avery and Serena?�
Jax: �Bobbie and Jerry can watch them, I�m sure. After all, Bobbie is one of Alexis� best friends. I�ll call them.�
Ned: (looking at them) �Thank you so much you guys.�
Five hours later. Somewhere over the Atlantic.
Ned: (standing and looking out the window) �I hope she�s okay.�
Kimberly: �I�m sure she is. One thing I know about Alexis is that she has nerves of steel.�
Ned: �Actually, she really doesn�t. She just pretends to be brave all the time.� He smiles. �You and I are probably the only people who she�s ever let her guard down with.�
Kimberly: (quietly) �I know. She told me about how Helena used to beat on her.�
Scott: (joining them) �So, are we just going to head out to the island or what?�
Jax: �I highly doubt that Helena knows we�re coming. After all, we aren�t in the ELQ jet.�
Ned: �You�re right. Taking your plane was a smart move.� He laughs cynically. �It�s funny. I was just here a few months ago with Nikolas during the trial.�
Scott: �Maybe you should look into getting frequent freak island visiting miles.�
Ned laughs for the first time in a long time.
Greece. Upstairs in the house.
Helena: �We have a problem. A private plane took off out of Port Charles this morning.�
Mackenzie: �Was it the ELQ jet?�
Helena: �No. It was J&J Jacks of Alaska. Any threat?�
Mackenzie (shocked that she may come face to face with Jax) �You could say that. Jasper Jax is one of the richest men in Port Charles. He is friends of some sort with Ned.�
Helena: �Then we must proceed with our plan to eliminate our guest. Are you ready?�
Mackenzie nods as Helena goes into a drawer and pulls out a black steel box. From it, she pulls an explosive device.
Mackenzie: (her eyes wide) �Is that a grenade?�
Helena: �Top of the line. Can you guess what we�re going to do with it? As soon as the Jacks jet touches down in Athens... Boom.�
An hour later, the plane touches down in Athens and the foursome debarks and gets into the limo Jax has arranged. They head for the Cassadine Compound.
Back at the compound, Helena sets down her phone.
Helena: �Leo has informed me that four people- three men and a woman, from Port Charles have just gotten into a limo headed for here. Let�s get out of here.�
They grab their bags and rush out the door. On the edge of the property, Helena pulls the tab on the grenade and throws it at the house.
They climb into a launch as a huge explosion rocks the house.
Helena: �Da Svidanya, Alexis dearest.�
In the limo, The four see the smoke coming from the north. As they get to the bottom of the hill, Ned screams.
Ned: �It�s coming from the house! Oh my God, Alexis is in there!�
He gets out of the limo and races up the hill and to the launch, with Kimberly, Jax and Scott behind him. They get into a boat and race over to the island, which is now on fire.
Ned: (sobbing) �She has to be alive!�
Jax: �Calm down, Ned. We can go and look, but there�s a slim to nil chance that anyone could be alive in there.�
Ned: �I don�t care! I swore to protect her! I can�t leave her!�
Before anyone can say anything, he races into the house, smoke immediately overcoming him. The other three run after him without hesitation.
Ned: (screaming) �Alexis? Can you hear me?�
Meanwhile, in the basement, Alexis, semi-conscious, is lying under a table.
Alexis: (weakly) �Ned...�
Then everything goes back.
Upstairs, the foursome is looking frantically for Alexis. It�s been over an hour.
Kimberly: (running to Ned, her soot covered face streaked with tears) �I have an idea. Alexis told me that Helena would lock her up somewhere, but I can�t remember where...�
Ned: �It was the basement! I bet she�s down there!�
He rushes to the staircase with Kimberly on his heels. Taking the stairs two at a time, they make it to the basement and begin sifting through the rubble for Alexis.
Just then, Ned sees a foot sticking out from under a pile of rags.
Ned: �Alexis?�
There is no answer.
He goes over and shoves the rags aside to find Alexis, bruised and dirty, lying unconscious on the ground.
Ned: �Kim! I found her!�
Kimberly runs over to find Ned on the ground next to Alexis� limp body. He feels for a pulse.
Ned: �She�s not breathing. Quick, help me give her CPR!�
Kimberly begins doing chest compressions as Ned gives her mouth to mouth.
Ned: (tears running down his face) �Alexis, live. You can�t die on me.�
Jax and Scott come running down the stairs to them.
Scott: �Oh my God! What happened to her?�
Kimberly: �She�s not breathing.� She continues CPR on Alexis� chest.
Ned: (to Alexis) �Alexis, you can�t die. I love you so much. Please, Brinna, wake up.�
Jax: �We went to the side of the house and the private launch is missing.�
Ned and Kimberly continue to work on Alexis, not saying anything.
All of a sudden, Alexis� heart starts again and she begins to cough.
Ned: (gently cradling her in his arms) �Alexis, it�s Ned. Can you open your eyes for me?�
Alexis slowly opens her eyes, one of them black from Helena�s fist.
Ned begins to cry again.
Ned: �I knew you weren�t dead. You�d never die on me. You promised me whipped cream for my birthday.�
Alexis tries to laugh, but it hurts too much. She points at her ribs.
Ned: �Scott, go tell the boat captain that we�re on the way.�
Scott and Jax rush from the room.
Kimberly: (looking down at them) �I�ll go catch up with them so you two can have a few minutes alone.�
As she leaves, Ned pulls Alexis closer.
Alexis: (whispering) �I�m sorry.�
Ned: �You have nothing to be sorry for. You have no idea how worried I�ve been about you. You really scared me, Alexis Brinna.�
Alexis starts to cry.
Alexis: �It was Mackenzie and Helena.�
Ned: �I know. Don�t worry because we�re going to take care of that. Scott, Jax and Kim are going to deal with those two.�
He gently kisses the one unbruised area on her face and stands up, holding her tightly against him. They head for the stairs and out of the remains of the house.
Two hours later. St. Claires� Hospital, Athens.
Ned, Jax, Kimberly and Scott sit in chairs waiting for the doctor to come out. Dr. Anthony Lavin comes out in scrubs.
Dr. Lavin: �Mr. Ashton, your wife is resting comfortably. She has two broken ribs and a laceration on her face. She also has a broken femur and a slight concussion.�
Ned: �Is she going to be all right?�
Dr. Lavin: �She�ll be fine in a couple of weeks. I want to keep her here overnight for observation, and you can take her back to New York in the morning.�
Ned: �What about the baby?�
Dr. Lavin: �Your child suffered no damage. I recommend that Alexis stay in bed for the next two weeks because her blood pressure was so high.�
Ned: �Can I see her?�
Dr. Lavin: �Go ahead.� He walks away.
Ned heads down the hall to Alexis� room. She is lying in the bed, a gauze bandage on her head, her leg in a cast.
Ned: (standing at the foot of the bed) �I don�t think I�ve ever seen you looking so beautiful before.� Under the bruises, he can see her blushing.
Alexis: �Aw, go on. No really, go on. Do you know how much I�ve missed you?�
Ned: �If it�s half as much as I missed you, you must have been going insane.�
Alexis: �All I could think about was that I may never see you again.�
Ned: �That will never happen.� He comes closer to her and softly kisses her lips and then pulls away from her.
Ned: �I don�t want to hurt you.�
Alexis: �Your kisses could never hurt, Ned. I�m so sorry about your birthday.�
Ned: �Having you back is all that matters.� His tone turning serious. �Ms. Davis-Ashton, did you hear what Dr. Lavin said about you spending two weeks in bed?�
Alexis doesn�t say anything.
Ned: �You may not listen to doctors, but you will listen to me, Alexis Brinna. For the next two weeks, you are not to do anything that conflicts with your resting in bed. No work, no going out, and no speaking to your brother.�
Alexis glares at him.
Ned: �Glare all you want, but you will do as I say. I don�t want anything to happen to you or our baby.�
Alexis: �Fine. You win.� She grins suggestively. �Does that mean that I can�t do anything that involves movement?�
Ned: �Not until I think you�re perfectly healthy. Kim wants to see you, so I�ll go get her.�
Alexis: (as he walks out the door) �You know, no extreme movement for me may be a downfall for you too. Just think about that.�
She�s still laughing as Ned goes out to the waiting room.
A few minutes later, Kimberly comes into the room, a bemused look on her face.
Kimberly: �I hear that you�re already arguing with Ned?�
Alexis: (grinning) �I just pointed out to him that me being unable to move is a disadvantage for any extra curricular activities he wants to do.�
Kimberly: �You know, you really scared me. I was so afraid that Helena had killed you.�
Alexis: �For a while, I thought she was going to. The bruises on my face didn�t come from those lovely explosives she used to total the villa.�
Kimberly: �I want to kill Mackenzie. I can�t believe she teamed up with that witch!�
Alexis: (shrugging) �Evil people flock together.� changing subjects. �How�s Avery?�
Kimberly: �She doesn�t know that you were kidnapped by �auntie� Mackenzie and �grandma� Helena. We told her that you were on a little business trip. She and Serena are staying with Bobbie and Jerry.�
Alexis looks relieved.
Alexis: (grinning) �So, what�s going on with you and Scott? I mean, he dropped everything to come with you guys. Jax too.�
Kimberly: �We came on Jax�s plane. The four of us spent the last three days trying to figure out where you were.� She pauses. �As for Scott and I, we haven�t really talked since the night you disappeared, but he was holding my hand for a while.�
Just then, Dr. Lavin comes into the room.
Dr. Lavin: �Ms. Davis-Ashton, you need to rest.�
Kimberly: (going over and giving Alexis a hug) �I�ll see you later, okay?�
She leaves and goes back to the waiting room, where Ned, Jax and Scott are.
Scott: (standing up and going to her) �Do you want to go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat?�
Kimberly: �Sure. I could use a cup of coffee.�
They go get into the elevator.
Fifteen minutes later, over two cups of Starbucks coffee, Kimberly and Scott are looking intently at each other.
Scott: �Are you okay?�
Kimberly: �Yeah, I�m fine. I was pretty shaken up when Alexis was missing, as you know. She and I have been best friends since college, and we�re more like sisters than friends.�
Scott: �I can see that. I just can�t believe that Ned�s newfound sister would help Helena kidnap her. Alexis never did anything to Mackenzie.�
Kimberly: (shrugging) �I have a feeling that Mackenzie Cisnaros came to Port Charles to create as much trouble as she can for Ned and anyone related to him.�
Scott: �I hope that she and Helena spend the rest of their lives in adjoining cells at Attica.�
Kimberly: �I second that. I�m just worried that they�re going to come back and put so much stress on Alexis that something happens to her baby.�
Scott: �That would be terrible. I know the feeling of when something goes wrong with your child. Serena was born a month premature.� He looks her in the eye. �Have you ever considered having a child?�
Kimberly: (shrugging) �I don�t know. I mean, I�d like to have a baby, but as you can see, I�m not exactly married.�
Scott: (before he can stop himself) �I bet you�d have a beautiful baby.�
He blushes as Kimberly slowly smiles. She reaches across the table and takes his hand.
Kimberly: �It looks like the sun is about to set. Do you want to get out of here and take a walk around the block?�
The next morning at the airport.
The limo stops in front of the Jacks jet and everyone gets out, Ned carefully carrying Alexis, and they get onto the plane.
Once the plane is in the air, Jax gets on his cell phone to do some business. Kimberly goes over to the window to look outside. Scott joins her eventually.
Scott: �The view is beautiful.�
Kimberly: (turning around to look at him) �Not half as beautiful as the sunset last night.�
Scott: (leaning close to her) �You have no idea how much I want to kiss you.�
Kimberly: �What�s stopping you?�
They lean close and Scott quickly kisses her lips, a gesture that is not lost on Alexis, who is sitting on the couch with her broken leg propped up on Ned�s lap.
Ned: �How are you feeling?�
Alexis: �The pain pills are helping, even though I�m kind of groggy. I feel like I just drank an entire bottle of champagne.�
Ned: (smiling) �I�m glad that you�re feeling better.�
Alexis: �What are we going to tell Avery about my leg and my ribs?�
Ned: �I don�t want to lie to her, but I don�t want her to know the truth. What if we said that you fell when you were on your business trip?�
Alexis: �That would work. You know, I�m surprised that Avery wasn�t incredibly upset about me being gone, and then you.�
Ned: (laughing) �Well, I kind of told her that you were going to bring her something back, and so was I. Besides, I had no choice but to leave her.�
Alexis: �Well, Mr. Bribery, we don�t exactly have anything for her.�
Ned: �Already taken care of. I called New York�s FAO Schwarz from the hospital when you were asleep. They�re sending a princess outfit for her and a Spice Girls poster. She�ll be at home when we get there. Monica picked her up a couple hours ago.�
Alexis: �Good. That ought to soften the blow.� She smiles. �I can�t wait to see her.�
Six hours later, Ned and Alexis get out of Scott�s car and after thanking their friends, go up to their front door and inside.
Avery: (racing down the hall) �Mommy! Daddy!� She stops short, seeing Alexis on crutches. �Mommy, what happened?�
Alexis: �I fell and hurt my leg, but I�m okay. Aren�t you going to give me a hug?�
Avery races over to her and Alexis manages to lean down and hug her. When she stands up, Ned sweeps Avery into his arms.
Ned: �Did you miss us, Tigger?�
Avery: �I missed you very much. I love my princess dress, Daddy, and Aunt Monica helped me put my Spice Girls poster up on my wall.�
Monica:(coming into the room) �Oh good, you�re home. Alexis, how are you feeling, after your uh, fall?�
Alexis: �I�m feeling better. Ned�s going to tell you about the rest of my trip, so Avery, why don�t you show me where you put your poster?�
Avery: �Okay, but can you go up the stairs?�
Alexis (nodding) �I think I can manage.�
They head upstairs, Avery walking next to Alexis as she hobbles up the stairs. Ned turns to Monica and they sit down on the couch.
Monica: �So, what happened? Bobbie only told me the basics.�
Ned: �To sum it up, Helena and Mackenzie kidnapped Alexis at the Grill on my birthday and took her to Greece. They left her in the basement, and when they found out that I was on the way, they blew the place up. I found Alexis unconscious in the basement.�
Monica: �Oh my God! Is her leg the only thing hurt?�
Ned: �Nope. She has a concussion, the bruises on her face, and two broken ribs.�
Monica: �Wait, who�s Mackenzie?�
Ned: �Monica, I�m telling you this in confidence. Well, it seems that me and Dillon are not my mother�s only children. Mackenzie Cisnaros is her 26 year old lawyer daughter who looks like a supermodel and acts like a mobster.�
Monica: (shocked) �Who is her father?�
Ned: �Dear old Mom won�t say. All I know is that Mackenzie is out for blood when it comes to me, and she teamed up with Helena to kidnap my wife.�
Monica: Poor Alexis. I can�t believe that anyone would do something so cruel.�
Ned: �It gets worse. Alexis is two months pregnant.�
Monica: �Did Helena know that?�
Ned: �Yes, and that�s the only reason why she allowed Alexis to have food.�
Monica: �Did the explosion do anything to the baby?�
Ned: �No. My unborn child is healthy for now. Alexis is supposed to spend the next two weeks in bed, but you know how she is.�
Just then, Monica�s pager does off and she looks at it.
Monica: �I�m sorry, but I have to get to the hospital. Tell Alexis I�ll come see her tomorrow, and that she�d better stay in bed.�
Ned: �Okay.� He stands up and gives her a hug.
After Monica leaves, Ned goes upstairs to see what Alexis and Avery are doing. Alexis is sitting on Avery�s bed, watching Avery modeling her princess dress. It�s a long purple satin dress with sequins on it, a silver crown, and fake high heels.
Ned: �Look at you, gorgeous.�
Avery:(looking up at Ned) �Do I look like a real princess, Daddy?�
Ned: �Avery Madelynn Ashton, you are the best looking princess I�ve ever seen.�
Avery: (grinning) �You should buy Mommy a dress like this, Daddy! She looked like a princess in the dress she was wearing on your birthday!�
Ned: (looking at Alexis) �I bet she did. I�m just sorry that she had to go away on her trip.�
He gives Alexis a mock glare. �You�re supposed to be in bed, Alexis.�
Alexis: �I�m fully aware of that.� He continues to glare at her. �Fine. I�ll go to bed.�
She stands up and hobbles out of the room, leaving Avery looking up at Ned.
Avery: �Why does Mommy have to go to bed?�
Ned: �She�s tired, that�s all. Look, I�m going to go help her, so you get your pajamas on and then come in our room, okay?�
He goes down the hall and into their bedroom where Alexis is making her way over to her dresser to get pajamas.
Ned: �Let me help you.� He goes over and gets a pair of her silk pajamas and takes them over to where she is now is sitting on the bed.
Alexis: �You know, you don�t have to baby me.�
Ned: �I can if I want. Do you want me to help you change?�
Alexis: (giving him a little girl smile) �Yes.�
Ned quickly removes her clothes and puts the pajamas on her, and then tucks her into bed.
Alexis: �You know, if I wasn�t in massive pain, you undressing me could be a major turn on.� She grins innocently.
Ned: (sitting down next to her) �You are an awful patient.�
Alexis: �I do try.�
Just then, Avery, wearing white flannel pajamas with little pink roses on them, comes running into the room and carefully climbs onto the bed.
Avery: �Mommy, does your leg hurt?�
Alexis: �Not right now, but be careful to not touch it, okay?�
Avery: (nodding) �Mommy, why are you in bed? I know you�re tired, but are you something else too?�
Ned and Alexis exchange a quick look.
Ned: �Well, Avery, we have something to tell you.� He looks at Alexis.
Alexis: �Well, Avery Madelynn, you�re going to be a big sister.�
Avery: (confused) �What do you mean? I don�t have a sister.�
Ned: �Well, in seven months you�re going to. Mommy is having a baby!�
Avery: (looking at Alexis) �You�re having a baby? Why? You have me!�
Alexis: (figuring out how to word her next statement) �Avery, we thought you�d like to have a little sister.�
Avery: �But I don�t know what to do with a little sister.�
Ned: (putting her on his lap) �Well, you can play with her, and since she�ll be new, she won�t know how to do anything, so she�ll need her big sister to teach her stuff- like how to read, and rollerblade, and you can show her your ballet.�
Avery: �When she�s my age, can I teach her the Spice Girls songs?�
Alexis: �Sure you can. You can teach her whatever you want. Sound good?�
Avery: (grinning) �That�s cool. I want to be a big sister. How long until I get my sister?�
Ned: �She�s going to be born in April. That�s seven months from now.�
Avery: �That�s forever!�
Alexis: (smiling) �That�s not so long.� She yawns.
Ned: �I�m going to put you to bed, Avery, so Mommy can get some sleep. Give her a kiss goodnight, okay?�
Avery crawls over to Alexis and gives her a kiss. Ned picks her up and takes her out of the room. Alexis sighs and leans back against the pillows.
When Ned returns, he strips down to his boxers and gets into bed with her.
Ned: (pulling her close) �Do you know how worried I was about you?�
Alexis: �Kim told me you were on the verge of losing it.� She smiles. �That�s very sweet.�
Ned: �I was. Alexis, do you honestly know what you do to me?� he pauses. �When you�re with me, I�m the happiest man on earth. When you�re gone, I worry about you constantly. When I found out you were missing, I wanted to die.� He takes her hand. �I can�t live without you, Alexis.�
Alexis: �I feel the exact same way about you. You know, when I was lying in that basement, cold and hungry, all I could see in my mind was you and our life together. I could hear a song in my head over and over. It sums up exactly how I feel about you.�
Ned: �What is it?�
Alexis: �I would rather let you hear it than me singing it. Hang on for a second.�
She picks up the phone and dials a number. When someone picks up, she mumbles something into the phone, hangs up, and turns on the radio.
A few minutes later, the DJ of the local radio station comes over the airwaves.
DJ: �We�re now going to play a request...�
The opening chords to Angel of Mine begin to play.
Ned: (smiling) �Would you like to dance?�
Alexis: (smugly) �I thought I wasn�t allowed to get out of bed.�
Ned: �I suppose that I can make an exception just this once.�
Before Alexis can say anything, he gets out of bed and gently lifts her up. He holds her in his arms and they sway to the music next to the window, bathed by the light of the moon.
When the song is over, they exchange a long look.
Ned: �Have I ever told you that I love you?�
Alexis: �Yes, but you�re more than welcome to tell me again.�
Ned: �I love you.�
Alexis: �I love you too.�