Jax: �I still hate this song.�
Ned: �You�re telling me. Alexis will have a heart attack, she�ll be laughing so hard.�
Nikolas: �Come on. You promised to give it a fair shot.�
Ned: �But I draw the line when I have to wear Alexis� pajamas.�
Meanwhile at Ned and Alexis� house.
The girls finish working on the song and then take a short break.
Alexis: �I am so tired!�
Kimberly: �I hate this song! Have I mentioned that?�
Emily: �Only about a million times.�
Bobbie: �Do you want to do it again?�
Kimberly: (surprising them) �Let�s take it from the top.�
The night of the Fire and Ice Ball.
Alexis comes down the stairs of their house. Ned is at the bottom, dressed in a tuxedo.
He gets a good look at her, and it takes his breath away.
Ned: �Exquisite is the only word I can think of.�
Alexis spins around slowly to model the cranberry dress she is wearing. It has diamond straps and a crepe layer. Her hair is up in a loose bun and she�s wearing a magnificent necklace with diamonds on it.
Alexis: (her face turning the color of her dress) �You look pretty heavenly yourself, Mr. Ashton. Are you ready to go?�
Ned: �Yeah. Where�s Avery?�
Avery: (running down the stairs) �Here I am! I�m so happy I get to go!� She�s wearing a fancy children�s party dress- hunter green velvet with a crinoline skirt underneath. Her head is a mass of chestnut curls framing her face.
Ned: �You look beautiful, Miss Ashton.�
Avery: �Thank you, Daddy.�
Ned picks her up in one arm and takes Alexis� hand with the other.
Ned: (as they walk out the door) �I�m so lucky. I�m going out with the two prettiest girls in the world.�
When they get to the Vasarri room, Lois is waiting outside.
Ned: �What are you doing here?�
Lois: �Alexis called me. She wanted Brooke to be here tonight.�
Brooke comes out from behind Lois.
Brooke: �Daddy!� She hurls herself into his arms.
Ned: (looking at Alexis in pure amazement) �I can�t believe you did this.�
Lois: �I have to get going. As you know, Brooke is spending Christmas with you, so I�ll see you guys on January third when Brian and I get back from Aspen. I already dropped her stuff off at the house when you were at work.�
She kisses Brooke and then leaves.
Brooke: (excitedly) �I can�t wait to see you dance!� she grins. She looks adorable in a navy blue party dress with a pink rose at the top. Her dark brown hair is in a long braid.
They go inside, where Kimberly, Scott and Serena are waiting.
Serena is wearing a red satin party dress, a red bow in her pale blonde hair. Scott looks handsome in his black tuxedo, and Kimberly is an amazing sight in a long and clingy black satin evening gown, her blonde hair piled on top of her head.
Scott: �Well, don�t you four look nice.�
Alexis: �Kim, what did you do with our, uh, stuff for our performance?�
Kimberly: �Bobbie has it. She�s inside with Jerry.�
Alexis: (to Ned and Scott) �Will you excuse us while we go find Bobbie?�
Scott: �Sure. We�re waiting for Jax anyway.�
Alexis and Kimberly walk off, with Serena, Avery and Brooke trailing after them.
When they get inside, Bobbie, dressed in a lavender silk gown, is sitting at their table with Jerry, who is clad in a black tuxedo.
Serena: �Where�s Lucas?�
Bobbie: �He�s coming in a little bit with Maxie and Georgie.�
Jerry: �Is my brother here yet?�
Kimberly: �Nope. Ned and Scott are waiting for him.�
Jerry: �He said he was bringing someone with him.�
As if on cue, Ned and Scott walk in with Jax behind him. On Jax�s arm, in a long creme satin dress, is none other than Julia Barrett, the sister of his late wife, Brenda.
Jax: �Hello everyone.� He gestures at Julia. �Julia Barrett, meet Ned�s wife, Alexis, and her best friend, Kimberly Corday.�
Julia: �It�s a pleasure to meet you, Alexis. Actually, Kimberly and I know each other.�
Jax: �How would that be?�
Kimberly: �I took on a case for her company when I was in England two years ago. Julia, it�s nice to see you again.�
Just then, Lucy comes out onto the stage and speaks into the microphone.
Lucy: �Ladies and Gentlemen, would you kindly take your seats.�
Everyone sits down in this order around the two circular tables that have been pushed together: Serena, Avery, Brooke, Ned, Alexis, Kimberly, Scott, Jax, Julia, Bobbie, Jerry, Nikolas and Emily, who arrived late.
Lucy: �I�d like to welcome everyone to the first annual Fire and Ice Ball.�
Everyone claps.
An hour later, Alexis and her friends are in the dressing room, getting ready for their act.
They finish getting dressed in their outfits and go backstage to wait for their cue.
Lucy: (on stage) �And now, I�d like to present Alexis Davis-Ashton, Bobbie Jacks, Kimberly Corday and Emily Quartermaine.�
Everyone claps as the curtain rises.
Ned, Scott, Jax and Nikolas are in shock at the sight of Kimberly, Emily and Bobbie in red and white striped flannel pajama bottoms and matching pajama tops. Their hair is all in braided pigtails.
The set is decorated as a living room with a Christmas tree, a fireplace with stockings, and a chair with a table. Tacked to the fireplace is four lists reading- Alexis� Christmas list, Kim�s Christmas list, Bobbie�s Christmas list and Emily�s Christmas list.
Emily: (as Dave) �All right, you Chipmunks. Ready to sing your song?�
Kimberly: (as Simon) �I�ll say we are.�
Bobbie: (as Theodore) �Yeah, let�s sing it now.�
Emily: �Okay Simon?�
Kimberly: �Okay.�
Emily: �Okay Theodore?�
Bobbie: �Okay.�
Emily: �Okay Alvin? Alvin? ALVIN?�
Alexis: (running in, dressed the same) �OKAY!�
All: �Christmas, Christmas time is here. Time for toys and time for cheer. We�ve been good, but we can�t last, hurry Christmas. Hurry fast.� They dance back and forth like little kids, in a single line across the stage.
All: �Want a plane that loops the loop. Me I want a hula hoop� As they say this, they all gyrate in a circle after pointing to themselves with both thumbs. �We can hardly stand the wait. Please Christmas, don�t be late.�
Instrumental montage as they run around the stage like little kids. Linking hands, they dance around in a ring.
The guys are in hysterics in the audience.
Lucy is in shock, because she thought they were going to sing Santa Baby. She slowly realizes that the guys have to sing it, and she starts laughing.
They stop dancing and then face forward again.
Emily: �Okay fellas, get ready. That was very good Simon.�
Kimberly: �Naturally.�
Emily: �Very good Theodore.�
Bobbie: �Aahhaahh.�
Emily: �Alvin, you were a little flat. Watch it. Alvin. ALVIN!�
Alexis: �OKAY!�
All: �Want a plane that loops the loop.�
Alexis: �I still want a hula hoop.�
All: �We can hardly stand the wait. Please Christmas, don�t be late. We can hardly stand the wait. Please Christmas, don�t be late.�
Emily: �Very good boys.�
Kimberly: �Let�s sing it again!�
Bobbie: �Yeah, let�s sing it again!�
Emily: �No, that�s enough. Let�s not overdo it!�
Kimberly: �What do you mean overdo it?�
Alexis: �WE WANNA SING IT AGAIN!!!�
Emily: �Now wait a minute boys.�
Kimberly: �Yeah, let�s sing it again.�
Alexis: Why can�t we sing it again?�
Emily: �Alvin! Theodore! Simon!�
Alexis, Kimberly and Bobbie all slam into Emily as the music ends.
They join hands and bow as the audience screams and applauds.
Ned, Jax, Julia, Avery, Brooke, Serena, Nikolas, Jerry and Scott are the first to rise, but then the entire audience joins in giving them a standing ovation.
When the girls are finished getting changed back into their evening gowns, they return to the table, where dessert is being served.
Ned: �Well, well. You four have hidden talents. I mean, I knew that Alexis could sing, but not like a Chipmunk.�
Alexis: (blushing) �I take it that you guys were amused?�
Jax: �Totally.�
Scott: �You were great, Kim. Or should I call you Simon?�
Kimberly: �You can go ahead and try, but don�t ask why when I smack you.�
Everyone laughs as they sit down.
Avery: �You were so good, Mommy! You guys are just as cool as the Spice Girls!�
Alexis looks at Avery, whose face is covered with the chocolate mousse she�s eating and smiles.
Brooke: �When are you performing, Daddy?�
Ned: �In a little bit.�
Jerry: �I can�t believe that I have to participate in this little charade.�
Bobbie: (shocked) �You? You�re in their act? Since when?�
Jerry: �Since Ned threatened to bankrupt my company if I didn�t participate.�
Ned: (feeding Alexis a spoonful of mousse) �I have a feeling that you�re going to like our act, even though you four are tough to follow.�
Alexis: (wiping her mouth after he gets chocolate mousse on the side of her lip) �I can hardly wait to see what three CEO�s, a lawyer and a law school student can do when they put their talents together.�
Just then, Stefan walks by. He sneers at Alexis.
Stopping in front of their table, he takes a disapproving look down the table.
Stefan: �Alexis, that was an uh, interesting little stint you just did.�
Christabel, dressed in a lavish black party dress, comes running up.
Christabel: �Father, can I have more chocolate?�
Stefan: (picking her up) �It�s may I, and yes you may.�
Avery: �Who�s she?�
Alexis: �Well, uh, she�s your cousin.�
Christabel: (pointing at Avery) �What�s her name?�
Stefan: �Her name is Avery.�
Christabel: �That�s a stupid name.�
Avery: �You�re a dork!�
Ned: �Avery!�
Stefan: (glaring at Alexis) �It�s obvious that you�re raising your daughter oh so well. She�ll fit in wonderfully with the common class when she�s older.�
Ned: (standing up) �Leave or I will make you leave.�
Stefan glares at him and then walks off.
Christabel sticks her tongue out over his shoulder.
Alexis: �Avery, don�t even think about it.�
Avery: (giving her parents an innocent look) �I wasn�t going to stick my tongue out. I don�t like her though.�
Ned: �You don�t have to. You have Serena and Brooke, and your sister that is on the way.�
Emily: �Do you have any ideas for names?�
Alexis: �Actually, we already decided on Hannah Grace Ashton.�
Kimberly: �Oh, I like that.�
Everyone nods their head in agreement.
Alexis: �Avery, what do you think of that name for your sister?�
Avery: (thinking about it) �I like it cuz I can say, �this is my sister, Hannah.� when she�s born.�
Just then, Lucy comes over to the table.
Lucy: �Ned, Nikolas, Jax, Jerry and Scott, you need to get backstage.�
They stand up and walk off.
Kimberly: (after them) �Break a leg!�
Brooke: �Why do you want them to break their legs?�
Serena: �Yeah, that isn�t nice.�
Kimberly and Alexis spend the next few minutes explaining that �break a leg� is a phrase used when people are performing on stage, and that they wish no harm upon them.
Backstage, Ned and his friends change into their costumes, shaking their heads at their
appearances.
Jerry: �I look like a moron.�
Nikolas: �Who says that there�s no such thing as an Australian Santa Claus.�
Jerry glares at him as everyone laughs.
Ned: �I can not wait for this to be over.�
Jax: �I hate this. I should try to takeover ELQ just to get you back for making me do this, Ned. You can�t say that I�m not a good friend to wear women�s pajamas with you.�
Scott: �How do they stay comfortable in these things?�
Ned: �I have no idea. Alexis is going to die when she sees that I�m wearing her pajamas.�
Nikolas: �At least my girlfriend doesn�t have as skimpy of pajamas as the rest of you. I am perfectly comfortable.�
Ned: �Watch it, law boy, before we lock you in a closet.�
Lucy: �Places, everyone!�
They head out to the stage as Lucy goes out in front of the curtain.
Lucy: �And now, we have a performance by Port Charles� most desirable men- Ned Ashton, Jasper Jacks, Scott Baldwin, Nikolas Cassadine and Jerry Jacks.�
The curtain rises to show a chair in the middle of the stage. There is a star filled backdrop, a tree behind the chair, and a bunch of three foot high plastic candy canes.
Sitting in the chair is Jerry, dressed in a Santa suit.
The instrumental opening starts as Ned, Nikolas, Jax and Scott come out.
Everyone in the audience takes one look at them and starts laughing.
Ned is wearing Alexis� ice blue silk boxers and camisole.
Scott is dressed in Kimberly�s pale pink baby doll top with matching boxers.
Jax is wearing Julia�s creme silk pajama pants and tank top.
Nikolas is wearing flannel boxers and a matching top that is white with pale pink moons, yellow stars and blue clouds.
They all have bows in their hair that match the pajamas, and makeup on their faces.
To complete the ensemble, they are all wearing pink slippers, and all four look as if they would rather be executed than have to do this.
All: (mumbling) �Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me. I've been an awful good girl, Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.�
They sing directly to Jerry, who looks half amused, half ready to kill Ned, in his Santa suit.
Kimberly, Julia, Alexis, Emily and Bobbie are unable to contain themselves as the men all look down at the stage.
Avery: �What happened to Daddy? He looks like a girl.�
Brooke: �Is he going to change his name to Neddie?�
Alexis and Kimberly laugh harder.
Ned: �Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible too, light blue.�
Jax: �I'll wait up for you dear�
Scott: �Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.�
The four do a little dance across the stage, blushing like ten year olds.
Nikolas: �Think of all the fun I've missed�
Jax: �Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed�
Ned: �Next year I could be oh so good�
Scott: �If you'd check off my Christmas list�
All: �Boo doo bee doo�
The girls are in hysterics as they watch the guys do a little kickline.
Brooke: (yelling) �Go Daddy!�
Serena: (yelling) �You go, Dad!�
Avery: (yelling) �Yeah, Nikolas!�
Lucas: (yelling) �Nice pajamas, Uncle Jax!�
Ned, Nikolas, Scott and Jax slowly grin as they begin to ham it up little by little.
All: �Santa honey, I wanna yacht and really that's not a lot. I've been an angel all year,
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.�
Nikolas: �Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need, the deed. To a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight.�
Jax: �Santa baby, I'm filling my stocking with a duplex, and checks. Sign your 'X' on the line, Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.�
Ned: �Come and trim my Christmas tree, With some decorations bought at Tiffany's. I really do believe in you, let's see if you believe in me.�
All: �Boo doo bee doo�
Scott: Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring. I don't mean a phone, Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.�
All: �Hurry down the chimney tonight. Hurry down the chimney tonight.�
As the curtain goes down, the audience is still screaming and applauding.
Just then, the whole room goes black.
There are excited murmurs through the room as everyone wonders what happened.
Avery: �Mommy?�
Brooke: (jumping into Alexis� lap) �I don�t like this. Where�s the light?�
Avery: �Where�s Daddy?� She whimpers as Emily picks her up.
Serena quickly climbs into Kimberly�s lap.
The lights suddenly go on again to find Mackenzie and Helena standing in the center of the room. Mackenzie is wearing a dress made entirely of black lace. Helena is wearing a black suit jacket and a long black skirt with a long slit up the leg.
Helena: �Greetings all.�
The room erupts into chaos as they approach Alexis� table.
Mackenzie: �So, I hear you survived the bombing. Too bad.�
Brooke: �Who�s she?�
Mackenzie: (in a snide voice) �I�m Mackenzie. Ned�s sister.�
Brooke: �You�re Daddy�s sister? My aunt?�
Mackenzie: (bored) �I guess so.�
Brooke: �You wear too much makeup.�
Mackenzie looks angry for a moment and then looks at Kimberly.
Kimberly: �If you say one word to me or this child, I�ll kick you into next week.�
Avery: (getting off of Emily�s lap) �You�re �Kenzie? The one who took my Mommy?� (She had heard Ned and Alexis talking about it, but never said anything) �You�re bad!� Before anyone can say anything, she kicks Mackenzie in the shin and races from the room.
She runs down the hall and runs into Ned and the other guys.
Ned: �Avery! Where are you going?�
Avery: ��Kenzie is in there! She�s being mean to Mommy and Kim!�
Ned grabs her and races off to the main room, where Helena is standing over Alexis.
Ned: �What are you doing here?�
Mackenzie: �Your snotty little daughter kicked me.�
Jax, Jerry, Nikolas and Scott run up and grab Mackenzie and Helena.
Mackenzie: (to Nikolas, who is holding onto her left arm while Jax gets the right) �Who are you? You�re pretty hot.�
Nikolas: �Shut up. That�s my aunt who you kidnapped.�
Mackenzie: (looking past them, at Julia) �Oh my God! You�re Julia!�
Julia: �Who are you and how do you know me?�
Mackenzie pulls away from the guys and goes over to where Julia is sitting.
Mackenzie: �You don�t know who I am?�
Julia: �Obviously not, but from what I�ve heard, you kidnapped your brother�s wife. By the way, Ned happens to be a very good friend of mine.�
Alexis looks surprised.
Mackenzie: (in a very small voice) �I�m your sister.�
Julia: �Yeah, and I�m Santa Claus.�
Serena: �No, Jerry is!�
Everyone laughs as Mackenzie looks intently at Julia.
Mackenzie: �I am the daughter of Tracy Quartermaine and Harlan Barrett.�
Julia: �You can�t be. Brenda and I are his only children.�
Mackenzie: �Don�t you mean, Brenda was? I heard she died.�
Julia: �She did. How could you be my sister?�
Ned: (in a monotone) �It�s simple. My mother had an affair with your father when we were children. They never told anyone about it, our about our half sister.�
Julia�s face has gone completely ashen.
Jax gets up and puts his arm around her.
Jax: �If you are who you say you are, Mackenzie, why didn�t you tell us before?�
Mackenzie: �Because. I couldn�t bring myself to tell you, Jax. I didn�t want to upset you.�
Alexis: �Like hell you didn�t. You just want to hurt us. You�re probably making this up.�
Julia: (not listening to them) �What is your full name?�
Mackenzie: �Mackenzie Pamela Cisnaros.�
Julia�s eyes fill with tears as she faces Ned.
Julia: �She�s telling the truth. Cisnaros was the maiden name of my great-great paternal
grandmother. Her name was Pamela Cisnaros.�
Ned: (looking like he got slapped) �You�re kidding. She�s our sister?�
Mackenzie: �I told you so.�
Nobody has noticed that Helena is no longer in the room.
Ned: �I don�t care if you are my sister, Mackenzie. Kidnapping and trying to kill my wife is not something that you are going to be forgiven for.�
Mackenzie: �Helena made me.�
Ned: �I don�t want to hear it.�
Mackenzie looks at him for a long time, and then runs from the room.
Two hours later. Ned is sitting on the front step of their house looking up at the stars.
Alexis: (coming out to join him) �You�ve got to be freezing. Come inside.�
Ned: �I don�t want to. You need to go in though. I don�t want you or Hannah getting frostbite on account of me.�
Alexis: (pulling her coat around her) �I�m not going anywhere.� She sits down next to him. �Are you okay?�
Ned: �I don�t know. I needed some time to think.�
Alexis: �Well, Avery and Brooke are at Scott�s, so why don�t we go inside and talk?�
Ned allows himself to be led inside and they sit down on the couch.
Alexis: (in a low voice) �I know that you have a lot to handle right now.�
Ned: �I�m just confused. Mackenzie showing up tonight really made things clear for me. She�s my sister! I can�t believe that my sister would do what she did to us.�
Alexis: �I have the feeling that Julia is also pretty confused right now.�
Ned: �She has Jax.�
Alexis: �I didn�t know that they were close. I also didn�t know that you and she used to be such good friends.�
Ned: �I�m not going to lie to you. She and I were lovers a long time ago.� He sighs. �I don�t want to talk about this anymore.�
Alexis: �That doesn�t bother me about you and Julia.� She smiles. �You know, you were pretty amazing tonight. You look great in my pajamas.�
Ned: (smiling in spite of his mood) �You liked it?�
Alexis: �I loved it. Who would have thought that a simple tape mix-up would lead to the two best acts of the whole ball?�
Ned: �Until Brooke and Avery started yelling during our song, we wanted to fall into a big black hole. Nikolas had to talk us into singing it to begin with.�
Alexis: �We weren�t too hot on the Chipmunks either, but it grew on us.�
Ned: �You looked so sexy up there, Lex. By the way, what was on your little Christmas list?�
Alexis: �That was just little scribbles.�
Ned: �Okay, but go with me here. If you could make a Christmas list now with three things on it, what would they be?�
Alexis: (automatically) �Helena dead, world peace and never ending great sex.�
Ned: (laughing) �Well, I don�t know about the first two, but I can help with the last one.�
He lifts her off of the couch and lies her on the carpet before joining her.
Alexis: �I�d say that my list is off to a great start.�
An hour later.
Ned and Alexis are lying side by side on the living room floor, a blanket from the couch covering them.
Ned: (drained of energy) �That was magnificent.�
Alexis: (sitting up and looking at him) �I feel like doing something spontaneous.�
Ned: �That wasn�t spontaneous enough for you?�
Alexis: �Oh come on. I promise that you�ll have fun.�
She gets up, and wrapping the blanket around her, stands up and pulls him with her.
Fifteen minutes later.
Alexis: �Ned, come on!�
Ned: (slowly coming down the stairs) �Sorry. I don�t move that fast at three in the morning.�
She grabs his hand and pulls him out the door, where they climb into Ned�s Jaguar convertible.
Ned: �You�re driving? You never drive my car.�
Alexis: (shrugging) �I�m only doing it because I have something in mind that you�ll say no to if you�re driving.�
Ned: �Oh God.�
Alexis starts the car and roars out of the driveway.
As soon as they are out of the city, headed east, Alexis pushes the button to lower the car�s top.
Ned: �You�re kidding, right? It�s like forty degrees out here.�
Alexis: �I said spontaneous, didn�t I?� She turns the car stereo on and Angel of Mine starts playing off of her CD. She steps on the gas pedal, causing the speed to go up to 65 miles per hour. �Besides, look at how beautiful the stars are.�
Ned: (gaping at her) �What�s gotten into you?�
Alexis: (teasingly) �Ah, come on, Ned, has parenthood made you forget about acting like a kid yourself?�
Ned: �No, and I�d say that tonight proved that. Not all grown men sing in their wife�s pajamas in front of the entire town.�
Alexis: �You�re right, I guess. I just felt like breaking free tonight.�
Ned: �I can understand that. Now, where are we going?�
Alexis: �You don�t know?�
Ned: �I have no clue.�
Alexis: (laughing) �I don�t know if I should tell you. You always hold everything over my head!�
Ned: �Keep in mind who�s car you�re doing seventy miles an hour in.�
Alexis: �Do you mind if your car gets sand on it?�
Ned: �What?�
Alexis: �I�ll take it to the car wash tomorrow.�
Ned: �You�re going to the BEACH in DECEMBER?�
Alexis: �Yeah, so?�
Ned: �I�m not going to say anything. I�m just going to sit here and laugh when your lips start turning blue.�
Alexis: �I don�t care.� She turns the car down a road that leads to the beach.
When they get to the top of the road, Ned looks suspiciously at Alexis.
Ned: �You really want to do this? I�ve never seen you act this way.�
Alexis: �Yes. I want to drive on the beach in the middle of winter, and freeze to death, do you have a problem with it?�
Ned: �Nah. It actually sounds like fun, but I didn�t want to admit it. I guess I�m still upset about the whole me, Julia and Mackenzie being siblings.�
Alexis: (putting the car into overdrive and starting to go over the sand) �You have every right to be upset.�
Ned: (smiling dispite himself) �Yeah, I guess so. Now let�s see some speed!�
Alexis grins and slams on the accelerator.
They race down the beach, the wind blowing through Alexis� long hair.
Ned: �You cold yet?�
Alexis: �Nope. I feel GREAT!�
Ned looks closely at her. She looks more relaxed than she has in a long time.
Ned: �I love you.�
Alexis: �I love you too. And I love this car.�
Ned: (laughing) �Don�t get too used to driving it.�
Alexis quickly turns her head and kisses Ned�s cheek.
Alexis: �I love you, angel of mine.�