Alexis: �What are you doing?�
Nikolas: �We�re going to do the dishes.�
Ned: �You don�t have to do that. You�re guests.�
Emily: (snorting) �Please. We practically live here.�
Nikolas: �You guys cooked all of this. We insist.�
Alexis: �Fine. Thank you.�
They go into the kitchen and Nikolas comes out a minute later, holding something.
Nikolas: �Alexis, your hair clip was on the floor.�
This little piece of information sets Kimberly and Scott off so bad, they practically fall out of their chairs laughing.
Alexis: (weakly) �Thanks.� She takes it from him and sticks it in her pocket.
Nikolas: (completely oblivious) �It was underneath a pan lid in the middle of the floor.�
Alexis: �Thank you, Nikolas. Oh, isn�t Emily calling you?�
Nikolas looks at her oddly, and then goes into the kitchen to help Emily clean up.
Kimberly: �This has been one of the most entertaining Christmases I�ve ever had.�
Scott: �Oh yeah? You had something even remotely close to this dinner?�
Kimberly looks at Alexis, who shakes her head.
Kimberly: (completely ignoring Alexis) �When Lex and I were in college, we spent one Christmas stranded in an airport in the Czech Republic eating some tofu-esque thing.�
Ned: �I don�t think I want to know, but why were you in the Czech Republic?�
Kimberly: �We were on our way to Vienna.�
Serena: �Where�s Vienna?�
Ned: �It�s in Austria. Should I ask why?�
Alexis: �We decided to be tourists. It was Kim�s idea.�
Kimberly: �It was not! You bought the stupid guide book!�
Alexis: �Anyway, there was a huge snow storm, and the plane was diverted to the stupid, stupid, stupid Czech Republic.�
Ned: �Oh please. You two can�t seriously say that you didn�t engage in one of your little charades and gave the good old Czechs an eyeful.�
Kimberly: �Now that you mention it, we did...�
Alexis: �Kim, If you want to see New Years Eve, stop talking.�
Scott: �Kim, I�ll protect you, so by all means, go on.�
Kimberly: �Sorry, Lex, but I have to listen to my future husband, you know? Anyway, the airport didn�t have that many people in it...�
Ned: (dryly) �Gee, there weren�t a million people visiting the Czech Republic for their Christmas vacation? That comes as a major surprise to me.�
Nikolas and Emily start laughing as they come in and join everyone.
Kimberly: (going on) �We decided to do a little table, make that, luggage conveyor belt dancing. We turned on my portable stereo to Elton John�s Crocodile Rock and started totally getting down, when the unthinkable happened...�
Scott: �What? Did Elton John show up and tell you to stop dancing to his song?�
Alexis: (half mad, half amused at the memory) �The stupid conveyor belt started moving.�
Everyone starts laughing.
Alexis: �No, no, it�s not funny. At least it wasn�t at the time. Since there was no one servicing the belt to pull us off, we ended up outside the airport in a snow storm.�
Emily: �How did you get back inside?�
Kimberly: �We were in the process of walking all the way around to the door, until we saw one of those luggage trolleys that they use to load the plane just sitting there.�
Alexis: �So of course, Kim thought she could drive it.�
Kimberly: (defensively) �I did drive it.�
Alexis: �Yeah, straight into a snowbank.�
Kimberly: �So? It was only another twenty minutes back to the main door.�
Alexis: (rolling her eyes) �When we got back inside, Kim�s stereo had been stolen.�
Kimberly: �We never did find it.� She sighs. �And that�s the tale of our most bizarre Christmas.�
Everyone is laughing so hard they�re crying by this time.
Just then, the doorbell rings.
Ned gets up to answer it, and comes back with a UPS box addressed to Alexis Davis.
Alexis opens it and her mouth drops open in shock.
Ned: �What is it?�
Alexis: �It�s my gold bracelet from years ago. I thought I lost this.�
Nikolas: �How do you know it�s yours?�
Alexis: �It has my name engraved on the heart.�
Ned: �Who do you think sent it?�
Alexis: (dismissively) �Stefan�s probably trying to get a reaction out of me.�
Kimberly looks at her, shocked, but doesn�t say anything. She knows that the bracelet is from Gregory.
Late that night.
Ned is laying across the bed when Alexis comes into their room.
Alexis: �It�s really sleeting.�
Ned: �God, you look good.�
Alexis: �You like?� She spins around, modeling the creme satin pajamas he bought her.
Ned: �You look like you�re wearing vanilla ice cream. And by the way, vanilla happens to be my favorite flavor... to eat.�
Alexis lays down on the bed next to him and softly kisses his lips.
Alexis: �Do you know how much I love you, Mr. Ashton?�
Ned: �Tell me.�
Alexis: �How about if I show you instead?�
She crawls on top of him and they begin kissing passionately.
Meanwhile, as this is going on...
Nikolas is laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering if Emily liked the sapphire earrings he gave her.
Just then, the door opens and Emily tiptoes into the room.
Emily: �Nikolas, are you awake?�
Nikolas: (sitting up) �Em, I was just thinking about you.�
Emily: �Me too.� She shivers. �It really is cold out. I bet it�s going to snow again.�
Nikolas: �Do you want to get under the covers with me?�
Emily: (hesitantly) �Yeah, I guess so.� She goes over to the bed and slips in beside him.
Nikolas: (shifting to look at her) �Do you know that I love you?�
Emily: (softly) �I love you too.�
Nikolas softly kisses her, but it begins to escalate...
Down the hall, Ned and Alexis break apart as thunder booms and a flash of lightening goes by outside the window.
Ned: �It really is a storm.�
Just then, the lights go off.
Ned: �I�m going to get a flashlight and go downstairs to unplug the computer so there isn�t a power surge.�
He reaches into the nightstand and pulls out a flashlight. When he tries turning it on, it becomes evident that the batteries are dead.
Ned: (sighing) �There�s extras in Nikolas� closet. I�ll be back in a sec.�
Alexis: �Hurry back. Storms can be very... sexy.�
Ned puts his robe on and tiptoes from the room. He goes to Nikolas� room and knocks lightly on the door.
There is no answer, so he figures Nikolas is asleep.
Ned pushes the door open to see Emily and Nikolas in bed together, kissing passionately.
Ned: �What the hell is going on here?�
Nikolas and Emily break apart, and Ned can see in the semi-darkness that they are both still fully clothed.
Nikolas: (nervously) �Ned, what are you doing here?�
Ned: �Emily, are you aware that your room is next door?�
Emily: �Uh, yeah. I was just on my way there now.� She gets out of bed and practically runs from the room.
Ned stares at Nikolas.
Nikolas: �Ned, we weren�t doing anything.�
Ned: �I never said you were. I was just looking for a flashlight.� He goes to the closet and gets one of the spare flashlights out.
He turns it on and can see Nikolas� bright red face.
Nikolas: �Ned, please don�t be mad at Emily.�
Ned: �I�m not mad at anyone. You two are adults, and therefore, can make your own decisions. Just keep in mind that Avery and Brooke are around and it won�t look very good in the morning if they find their cousins in bed together.� He looks at Nikolas for a long time. �Good night, Nikolas.�
He leaves and goes back to his room.
Alexis: �That was quick.�
Ned: �I haven�t gone downstairs yet. I went into Nikolas� room and caught him and Emily making out.�
Alexis: (laughing) �Sounds like us.�
Ned looks at her helplessly.
Ned: �I didn�t think we�d have to deal with this for at least sixteen more years.�
Alexis: �It�s because you�ve always been like a father to Emily. Don�t worry, I�m sure they aren�t doing anything.�
Ned: �Nikolas told me they aren�t and I believe him, but...�
Alexis: �Let�s save the rest of this conversation for downstairs. I want some pie.�
She hops out of bed and after putting her robe on, drags him downstairs.
Ned: �You and your midnight cravings.�
New Years Eve. Paris, France.
In a suite in the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Alexis: �Paris is so romantic in the winter. All the lights, and the snow.�
Ned: (coming up to her and kissing the back of her neck) �You�re such a romantic.�
Alexis: �Me? You�re the one who suggested abandoning everything to come to Paris for the weekend.� She sighs. �I just hope that Avery, Brooke and Serena are okay.�
Ned: �I�m sure they�re fine. Nikolas and Emily are very responsible, and Bobbie and Monica are helping out.�
There�s a knock at the door and Ned goes to answer it.
Scott, Kimberly, Jax and Julia are waiting outside, dressed in formal wear.
Ned and Alexis had decided to include their friends in their spontaneous New Years Eve celebration, so they invited the two couples, and they flew over on the ELQ jet.
Scott: �Are you ready to go to dinner?�
Alexis: �Yeah...�
Ned: (cutting her off) �Actually, we�re going to meet you there. We want to call the kids first and see how they�re doing.�
Kimberly: �Okay. We�ll see you at Les Belle Fleurs, and the reservation is under Jacks.�
Ned: �Okay. We�ll be there soon.�
Kimberly, Scott, Julia and Jax leave and Alexis turns to Ned.
Alexis: �What was that all about? We called the kids two hours ago.�
Ned: �They don�t need to know that. I just wanted to, uh, start our private celebration now, to give you something to desire for later.�
Alexis: �Than what are you waiting for? We only have a half hour or so.�
Ned pulls her to him, looking into her eyes.
Ned: �You look magnificent tonight, Mrs. Ashton. Everytime I look at you, I fall in love with you all over again.�
Alexis is wearing a black dress with a long slit up the right leg, and spaghetti straps. The dress is made so perfectly, it hides that she�s four months pregnant.
Ned is wearing a black tuxedo, and he looks absolutely gorgeous in it.
Alexis winds her arms around his Neck as he picks her up and carries her to the couch.
Ned gently lays her down on it, lifting up the skirt of her dress, as she unbuttons his pants.
Alexis pulls Ned down onto her, and they gracefully make love, forgetting all about the fact that they�re supposed to be meeting their friends for dinner.
Almost an hour later.
Ned and Alexis race hand in hand into Les Belle Fleurs, a half hour late.
Maitre�D: �Bonjour, monsieur, madame. Comment-allez vous?�
Ned: �Tres bien, merci. Le reservation est sous le nom, Jacks.�
Maitre�D: �Ah, d�accord. Suivre-moi.�
He leads them to the table where everyone is, and seats them before leaving.
Jax: �Where were you? We were afraid you�d gotten lost.�
Alexis: (blushing a little) �Actually, we did. We had a little trouble with the driver. He took us to sixteenth street instead of sixth.�
Julia: (laughing) �I�ve made mistakes like that before.�
Kimberly: �How are the kids?�
Ned: (smoothly) �Great. Serena says hi, and they�re having a Spice Girls marathon with some concert videos that Nikolas found at Blockbuster.�
Scott: �I can�t believe we�re going to a Spice Girls concert.�
Alexis: �They really aren�t that bad. Well, they weren�t the first eight hundred times. But you can ask me for my opinion again in a couple months.�
Jax: (pouring Ned a glass of champagne) �Ned, I ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon for us, and sparkling seltzer for Alexis.�
Kimberly: �Just try to keep from spitting it on me this time.� She grins.
After dinner, (which Jax picked up the tab for) everyone decides that it would be nice to walk down by the Eiffel Tower.
They walk in three pairs, each couple holding hands.
Kimberly: (to Scott) �This is so beautiful.� She looks back at Alexis and Ned, who are talking quietly. �Looking at those two, I wish we were already married.�
Scott: �Me too. I can�t wait until you�re officially Mrs. Kimberly Baldwin.�
Kimberly: �That�s Kimberly Corday-Baldwin.� She looks at him. �Is that okay with you?�
Scott: �Sure. Why wouldn�t it be? I know all about the lawyer keeping your last name thing. Alexis does it too.�
Kimberly: �This atmosphere just makes me want to find the next church and get married.�
Scott: (half seriously) �Why don�t we?�
Kimberly: �Are you kidding?�
Scott: �Now that I think about it, no I�m not. I can�t think of a better way to ring in 1999 than by marrying you.�
Kimberly: (hesitantly) �But what about Serena? She wants to be the flower girl.�
Scott: �We could always have a second wedding later. Come on, Kim. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I mean, if you want to.�
Kimberly: �You know what? I do want to. Scott Baldwin, let�s get married tonight.�
Scott looks shocked before wrapping his arms around her and softly kissing her lips.
There is a whistle from behind them.
Ned: �What�s with the public display of affection, huh?�
Scott and Kimberly break apart, laughing, as Ned, Alexis, Jax and Julia come up to them.
Kimberly: �We�ve been talking, and we�ve decided to get married tonight.�
Alexis: �Tonight?�
Julia: �As in now?�
Ned: �What about your families?�
Scott: �Well, Kim doesn�t have one, and all I have is Serena. You guys, the kids, and Nikolas and Emily are basically our family.�
Kimberly: �Come on, you guys. You have to admit that it�s romantic. Paris, New Years Eve...�
Alexis: �I guess you�re right. Are you sure about this?�
Ned: �It sounds like one of you and Alexis� adventures.�
Kimberly: �Well, this is not the Czech Republic.
She and Alexis start laughing.
Scott: �So, Jax, do know of any churches around here? Or chapels or something?�
Jax: �I believe that there is one back towards the hotel. It�s a little chapel that is mainly used for weddings and small affairs.�
Ned: �Okay, then, let�s go.�
Kimberly: (grabbing Scott�s hands) �This is so exciting!�
Julia: �Wait! You need flowers!�
Jax: �There�s a flower shop a few blocks from here.�
They race back to the limo and head for the flower shop.
Kimberly: (inside the limo) �Lex, you�re my best friend. Will you be my maid of honor?�
Alexis: �Of course I will.�
Kimberly: �And Julia, we got to be friends when I was in London, and I�m glad we�re getting requited. Will you be my bridesmaid?�
Julia: �I would be honored to.�
Scott: �Ned, do you want to be my best man?�
Ned: �Sure.�
Julia: �So eloquent.�
Scott: �Jax? Groomsman?�
Jax: �Okay, I�m there.�
An hour later, at the church: L�Eglise De Mary.
Scott, Ned and Jax stand at the alter, waiting for the girls.
Jax: �We�re lucky that we�re all dressed up.�
Just then, the organ music begins.
Julia is the first one down the isle, wearing an ice blue sleeveless evening gown, her blonde
hair piled on top of her head. She�s carrying a bouquet of pink and white roses with baby�s breath and ferns.
Alexis follows her, in her magnificent black dress, carrying an identical bouquet, her chestnut hair down around her shoulders.
When Julia and Alexis have taken their places at the alter, the music swells and Kimberly slowly comes down the isle.
She looks like a princess, dressed in the creme satin dress she had been wearing, her blonde hair around her shoulders, a creme flower clipped to the side. She�s carrying a large bouquet of off white roses and forget-me-nots. (Her favorite flowers)
Scott looks at Kimberly as if she had hung the moon.
Kimberly smiles shakily as she steps up next to Scott, emotion in her blue eyes.
Minister: �Bonjour et bonne soir.�
Kimberly and Scott look at each other, wondering if he even spoke English.
Minister: (smiling) �Don�t worry, I speak English. Ladies and gentlemen, we are here this evening to celebrate the union of, Kimberly Angela Corday, and Scott Michael Baldwin.�
Ned and Alexis look at each other and smile.
Ned: (mouthing) �I love you.�
Alexis: (mouthing) �I love you too.�
Ten minutes later.
Minister: �Is there anyone here who can give just cause why this couple shouldn�t be married?� he pauses before going on.
Scott and Kimberly smile at each other, their eyes showing their love for one another.
Minister: �Do you, Kimberly Angela take this man to be your husband, to love, honor and keep, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful as long as you both shall live?�
Kimberly: �I do.� There are tears running down her cheeks.
Minister: �Do you have a ring?�
Scott: �Actually, no...�
Jax: �Yes, we do.� He hands Scott a gold band.
Scott, surprised, doesn�t say anything as he slips the ring on Kimberly�s finger.
Julia hands Kimberly another gold band and smiles secretively.
Minister: �Do you, Scott Michael, take this woman to be your wife, to love, honor and keep, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful as long as you both shall live?�
Scott: (in a choked voice) �I do.�
Kimberly: (as she slips Scott�s ring onto his finger) �I want to say something now. Scott, I know I will never replace Dominique, but I will do my best to be a good wife and mother to Serena, and I will love you both for the rest of my life.�
Scott: �I want to say something too.� He takes Kimberly�s hand. �Kim, I�d never expect you to replace Dominique. I fell in love with you because you�re you, not because you remind me of my late wife. I love you, Kimberly Angela Corday, and I will go to my grave loving you. I love everything about you. I love the way you�re passionate about your work, I love the girlish way you act when you�re with Alexis, I love the way you love Serena, and I love the way you love me.�
Minister: �By the power vested in me, and the city of Paris, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.�
Scott leans over and softly kisses Kimberly�s lips, just as the clock strikes midnight.
Jax: �Happy New Year!� He goes over to Julia and kisses her.
Ned walks over to Alexis and pulls her into a tight embrace.
Ned: �Happy New Year, Alexis. I love you.�
Alexis: �I love you too.�
Scott takes Kimberly�s hand and they walk up the isle, followed by Ned and Alexis, and Jax and Julia.
Once outside the church, Alexis throws her arms around Kimberly.
Alexis: �I can�t believe you two are married!�
Ned: �Congratulations.� He gives both Scott and Kimberly a hug.
Everyone hugs one another, and suddenly a huge fireworks display begins.
Julia: �Wow, look at that. It�s beautiful.�
Everyone looks up at the sky.
Fireworks are going off in every color of the rainbow, and it is a magnificent sight with the snow as a backdrop.
Ned: �Happy New Year, everyone. May 1999 be everything we hope for and more.�
Later that night (actually that morning) at the hotel.
Ned closes their hotel room door behind them and locks the door.
Alexis: �That was such a beautiful wedding. I didn�t think it would be romantic at all, because it was so spontaneous, but it just seemed to work.�
Ned: �That was sweet of Julia and Jax to go to the jewelry store next to the flower shop and get rings for them.�
Alexis: �I can�t believe that I beat Kim to getting married. I mean, I never thought I would get married.�
Ned: �Why not? Did Stefan tell you that you were unmarriable? Because I�d be glad to call him and tell him he�s wrong, as usual.�
Alexis: (laughing) �I�m sure you�d love to do that, but no. I just couldn�t imagine that there was a man out there who would love and accept me for who I am.�
Ned: �I always have and I always will.�
Alexis: (softly, going over to him) �I know that. And I feel the same way. I owe you much more than just being your wife.�
Ned: �Do you honestly know how much I love you?�
Alexis: �I think I finally do. And I the way I feel about you is the same.�
Ned: (placing his hand on her stomach) �And I love the baby that we�ve made.�
Alexis: �I can�t wait for her to be born.�
Ned: �I�ve been meaning to tell you that I still think that she�s a boy.�
Alexis: (patting his chest) �Whatever you say, Ned. Whatever you say.�
Meanwhile, in Kimberly and Scott�s suite.
Kimberly stands at the window, looking out at the lit-up city.
Scott comes walking up behind her and puts his arms around her waist.
Scott: �Hello there Mrs. Baldwin.�
Kimberly: �Mmm. I like the sound of that.�
Scott: �You mean I can call you that?�
Kimberly: �I suppose, but I am still going to go by Ms. Corday-Baldwin.�
Scott: �I can live with that, Angel.�
Kimberly: �What did you call me?�
Scott: �I called you Angel, because that is what I see when I look at you against this star filled sky, your blonde hair blowing in the wind, those blue eyes like sapphires.�
Kimberly: �I like that. Actually, I love that. God, you are so sexy.�
Scott: �Than why don�t you show me just how sexy I am? This being our wedding night and all.�
Kimberly: �You�re right. This is the first night of forever.�
Without a word, Scott picks Kimberly up and carries her into the bedroom, where he lays her on the bed and they make love for the first time as husband and wife.