Alexis and Ned walk hand in hand up to the door of Port Charles� hall of justice.
Alexis: �Are you ready for this, EJ?�
Ned: �I guess so. I trust Scott and Kim. I think they have a good case.�
They go inside. Kimberly and Scott are standing there.
Alexis: �Well, if it isn�t the happy couple.�
Kimberly: �Good morning to you too, other happy couple.�
Scott: �You guys, I am so sorry that we didn�t get to meet and discuss strategy before today. I mean, with our honeymoon, and we just got back yesterday from Paris, and you�ve been back for a week...�
Kimberly: �But, we did get the notes together and all, when you called and said the case is on the docket for today.�
Alexis: �We forgive you. I don�t think you planned to get married, eh?�
Scott: �Nope. At least not when I took on this case.� He and Kimberly exchange a private smile. �But it was one of the best decisions I�ve ever made.�
Kimberly: �By the way, thanks so much for taking care of Serena. I hope she behaved.�
Alexis: �Of course she did. And she took it rather well that you got married without her. She kept saying �when they come home, I�ll have my new Mommy!� I was so cute.�
Kimberly: �You know, she asked me if she could call me Mommy. She explained that since Dominique died before she was born, she�s never been able to call anyone Mommy.�
Ned: �What did you say?�
Kimberly: �I asked Scott, and he said it would be fine if she called me that. Serena and I had a nice talk before bed last night about how Dominique would always be her mom in her heart, but she could still have two mothers.�
Alexis: �That�s sweet.�
Kimberly: �So, how is my god-daughter this morning?�
Alexis: �Miss Hannah Grace is great. Kicking up a storm, but great.�
Ned: �So, Kim, are you moving into the firehouse?�
Kimberly and Scott look at each other and start laughing.
Scott: �When we get around to it, we�re going to move in her stuff.�
Kimberly: �Anyway, about the case, we have to prove that Brooke should be allowed to stay with you. I mean, she said she wants to herself. Lois has had her to herself for the last six years. It�s your turn.�
Just then, a voice comes from behind them.
Voice: �I think we should let the judge determine that.�
The foursome turns around to see Lois and Brian standing there.
Ned: �Hello, Lois.�
Scott: �Ah, it�s the little defendants.�
While Ned and Alexis, Kimberly and Scott are dressed in corporate apparel, (Alexis in a black suit and heels, Kimberly in a pale blue suit, Scott in a light gray suit and Ned in a dark gray suit) Lois and Brian are far from it. Brian is wearing a bright blue shirt with a boldly printed tie. Lois is wearing a black stretch miniskirt, a leopard print blouse and lace up boots.
Alexis tries to not laugh.
Lois: (seeing her smirk) �What�s so funny, Alexis?�
Alexis: �Nothing. Nothing at all.�
Lois: �You�re such a liar.�
Alexis: (innocently) �Me? A liar? How could you say that?�
Lois glares at her for a moment before storming into the courtroom.
As soon as they leave, Gregory enters the building.
Gregory: �Good morning, Alexis, Kim.�
Alexis watches in surprise as Kimberly blushes.
When Gregory walks past them into the courtroom, Kimberly refuses to make eye contact with Alexis.
Alexis: �Kim?�
Kimberly: �Huh?�
Alexis: �Is there something wrong?�
Kimberly: �No, not at all? Why would there be?�
Just then, Stefan enters, with Mackenzie.
Ned: �What the hell are you doing here?�
Stefan: �If you must know, I�ve been called upon to testify for the defense.�
Ned: �You�re kidding, right?�
Alexis doesn�t say anything. She�s too busy noticing that Stefan and Mackenzie are holding hands.
Gregory comes walking out at that moment.
Gregory: �Ah, Stefan. Good to see that you�ve arrived.�
Stefan: (glaring at Alexis and Ned) �Is there any particular place you want us to go?�
Gregory: �Right this way. We need to discuss a few things.�
With a grim face, he walks past Alexis and Kimberly, who both look surprised, but for different reasons.
A half hour later in the courtroom.
Scott has just gotten up from his seat and is now walking back and forth in front of Judge John Brenner, a solemn look on his face.
Scott: �This case is about a six year old girl, and two parents who love her very much. If you count her step-parents, that�s four parents who love her. And her half sister, and all of her cousins, on both sides of the family. Brooke Ashton has spent the last six years living with her mother, Lois Cerullo Ashton Salinger. Now that she�s getting old enough to make her own decisions, she has voiced the opinion that she wishes to live with her father, Ned Ashton and his wife, Alexis Davis-Ashton.�
He pauses and looks encouragingly at Ned and Alexis.
Scott: �Lois Salinger left Port Charles a month before giving birth to Brooke, six years ago for perfectly selfish reasons. She was afraid that the influence of Ned�s family, the Quartermaines, would turn Brooke into a snobby rich kid. So she ran.�
Gregory: �Objection! He�s being preachy!�
Judge Brenner: �Mr. Baldwin, try to stay with the facts please.�
Scott: �Sorry Your Honor. As I was saying, since Brooke has been in Bensonhurst since she was born, she never got the option of saying where she wants to live. She has lived for
six years without her father, and she now wants to have the opportunity to spend time with him, just as any other child does. Mr. Ashton is asking for a joint custody agreement for Brooke, where she spends a semester with her mother and a semester with him. The defense now rests.�
He goes and sits down in his seat, a self-satisfied smile starting to creep up on his face.
Kimberly squeezes his hand under the table.
Judge Brenner: �Mr. Fortino?�
Gregory stands up and goes to the front of the court.
Gregory: �Mr. Baldwin was right about some of these facts. Mrs. Salinger did leave Port Charles abruptly, before Brooke was born. However, it was not because she was afraid of her husband�s family. Lois was concerned with the welfare of her child, and having Brooke grow up in an environment where her father spent all his time trying to take over other companies, and working for ELQ, and having him never at home was not a good place for a child to grow up in.�
Ned�s face falls completely, and Alexis touches his arm, her heart aching for him.
She looks over at Lois, who smiles triumphantly at her.
Alexis feels the sudden urge to scratch Lois� eyes out.
Gregory: �The Quartermaine family is internationally notorious for being a bunch of sharks.�
Scott: �Objection! Hearsay!�
Judge Brenner: �Sustained.�
Gregory: �It is simple really. Ms. Salinger returned to Bensonhurst because she was aware that her marriage to Mr. Ashton was not going to work out. She didn�t want to drag a child through a bitter divorce, so she decided to return to her hometown, whereupon she gave birth to Brooke, and then began to proceed with the divorce.�
He proceeds to take a long pause for emphasis.
Gregory: �Ms. Salinger does not wish in any way to keep Brooke from seeing her father, but she feels that with Mr. Ashton�s family being the Quartermaines, and he being married to a member of the Cassadine family, it would be in the best interest of Brooke for her to stay in Bensonhurst on a permanent basis, and for Mr. Ashton to have limited visitation. The prosecution now rests.�
With a stone cold look in the direction of Ned and Alexis, Gregory goes and sits down.
That afternoon.
Ned and Alexis pull up in their driveway, Alexis driving her new Mercedes convertible.
Kimberly and Scott pull up behind them in Scott�s Pathfinder.
They go into the house, where Avery, Brooke and Serena are watching Rugrats.
Ned: �What? No Spice Girls?�
Avery: (pouting) �Nikolas is making us watch something else. He�s on the phone upstairs.�
Scott: �Smart Nikolas.� To Serena. �What? No hug?�
Serena gets off of the couch and runs to them.
Serena: �Daddy! Mommy!� she runs to Scott and Kimberly and hugs them.
Scott: �We�d better get out of here and go home so we can start moving Kim�s stuff in, okay squirt?�
Serena: �Okay. Bye Avery. Bye Brooke.� She picks up her backpack and follows Scott out the door.
Kimberly: (on her way out) �We�ll call you later about tomorrow.�
When they are gone, Brooke looks at Ned and Alexis.
Brooke: �Well, do I get to stay with you?�
Ned: �Sweetie, we don�t know yet. We have to go to court again tomorrow.�
Brooke: �I want to stay here!�
Alexis: �We want you to stay here too. But the judge makes the decision. But no matter what, Brooke, we will always love you.�
Brooke starts crying and runs into Alexis� arms.
Avery comes over and tugs on Ned�s leg.
Avery: �Daddy, why is Brooke crying?�
Ned: �Well...uh...she doesn�t want to go with her mom if the judge says she has to.�
Avery: (starting to cry too) �I don�t want her to leave! I want a sister! Hannah�s gonna be too little for me to play with!�
Alexis and Ned look helplessly at each other.
Late that night.
Ned rolls over in bed and sees that Alexis is not there. She�s standing at the window.
Ned: (going to her) �Alexis? What is it?�
Alexis: (softly) �I was just thinking about Brooke. It�s so unfair for a child to be taken away from her parents. And I know that Lois is her mother, but she wants to be with you, and I think, that as a lawyer, and as a mother, that she should be able to.�
Ned: �Are you sure that you�re talking about Brooke?�
Alexis: (her back to Ned, her eyes starting to tear up) �I am talking about Brooke.� He voice wavers. �And I�m talking about me too, I guess. Brooke is one lucky child to have her parents there for her, to fight to have her because they love her so much. Not all children are that lucky.� She pauses. �My parents died when I was four. I remember waving at them from the doorway of our house as they left to go yachting. They were supposed to be back at five. We were going to play tea party. The hours just kept ticking by, and finally the phone rang.� At this point, she breaks down completely. �My governess came and told me that there had been a boating accident, and my parents were killed in it. I remember that I started screaming and I couldn�t stop.�
Ned pulls her into his arms and she sobs against his chest.
Alexis: (muffled against his bare chest, between sobs) �Why does is have to be like this, Ned? Why couldn�t I just have been happy? In one day, my entire world came crashing down, and it was never repaired until I met you. I used to wake up in the middle of the night, thinking that my mother was standing at the end of the bed watching me sleep. I kept hearing her voice...� her words are cut off by her weeping.
Holding Alexis tightly in his arms, Ned walks over to their bed, and lays down in it, holding her against his chest. He strokes her hair softly.
Ned: �It�s going to be all right, baby.�
After a while, Alexis stops crying, and slowly falls asleep in his arms.
Ned kisses her forehead once she is asleep and gently tucks her back into bed.
Ned: (aloud) �Please God, let us keep Brooke, so Alexis can be saved from seeing her childhood again.�
The next afternoon in court.
They have been in court all morning, and just came back from lunch.
Judge Brenner is set to render a verdict in the custody case.
Ned and Alexis sit in their seats, looking tense.
Lois is glaring at them across the aisle.
Kimberly and Scott look at each other nervously.
Gregory is staring at Kimberly, desire in his eyes.
Brenner: �I have reviewed the evidence both sides have presented, and I have come to the conclusion that the minor, Brooke Ashton, should remain in her mother�s care. Full custody is granted to Lois Cerullo Salinger. Mr. Ashton, you will have visitation rights for one weekend each month, as well as holidays and school vacations.� He bangs the gavel. �Court is adjourned.�
Lois happily throws her arms around Gregory.
Lois: �Thank you so much! We couldn�t have done this without you.�
Across the room, Kimberly and Scott turn to look at Ned and Alexis.
Alexis looks somewhere between wanting to cry and wanting to kill Lois.
Ned looks as if he has been punched in the stomach.
Alexis puts her arms around Ned and holds him for a moment.
Scott: �We can appeal this in six weeks, you know.�
Ned: �It doesn�t matter. Maybe I was just fooling myself. Brooke belongs with Lois.�
Alexis: (firmly) �Don�t say that. Ned, you are an excellent father. You know that.�
Just then, Lois comes over to where they are standing.
Lois: �We�ll be over to pick Brooke up in an hour.�
Alexis: �An hour? Can�t you wait until tonight?�
Lois: �No. She�s my child, and I want to get her home to Bensonhurst.�
Ned angrily walks out of the room. Scott follows him.
Alexis: �She�s Ned�s child too. Keep that in mind, you sanctimonious bitch.�
Lois: �What did you just say? I wouldn�t be talking, slut.�
Alexis: �I�m not the one who slept with Ned on the night I met him.�
Lois: �That�s probably because he couldn�t stand the idea of being in bed with you.�
Alexis: �Yeah, that�s it. That explains why I�m pregnant with his child.�
Lois: �Whatever you say, Cassadine.�
Alexis: �What was that? I couldn�t tell, with your accent being so strong.�
Lois: (glaring at her) �I�ll be over in an hour. Got it?�
Alexis looks at her for a long time before replying.
Alexis: �You�re right. I am a Cassadine. And you have no idea who you�re messing with. Mark my words: you will not have full custody of Brooke for long.�
Lois sneers at her and walks out.
A half hour later, at the Ashtons� house.
Alexis: (sadly, standing in Brooke�s doorway) �Do you have your Spice Girls CD?�
Brooke: �Yeah. It�s in my backpack. Where�s my new bike?�
Alexis: �Daddy is bringing it out front.�
Brooke: �I don�t want to go. I wish you were my only Mommy. Then I could stay here with you and Daddy and Avery, and Hannah too.�
Alexis: �I wish that too. But cheer up, you�ll be here for mid-winter break next month.�
Just then, the doorbell rings.
Alexis: �That�s your mom.�
They go downstairs, Brooke dragging her favorite doll, Zoey, after her.
Lois, dressed in a black stretch mini dress and black sunglasses, is waiting at the door.
Lois: �Brooke, baby, are you ready to go?�
Ned appears, carrying Brooke�s new bike.
Avery is walking behind him, carrying her helmet.
They all walk outside and into the driveway. Lois puts Brooke�s stuff in the car.
Lois: �Say goodbye to your father, Brooke.�
Brooke throws herself into Ned�s arms, and hugs him as if he�s a life preserver. He picks her up and holds her for a moment.
Brooke: �I don�t want to leave!�
Ned: �I�m sorry, Brooke, but you have to.� He sets her down on the ground.
Brooke goes over to Avery and gives her a hug.
Brooke: �I�ll miss you, sis.�
Avery: �You too, Spice Girl.�
Before Brooke can say goodbye to Alexis, Lois takes her hand and starts pulling her towards the car. Brooke breaks away and runs to Alexis, clinging to her.
Lois: �Brooke Lynn Ashton! Get in the car right now!�
Brooke: (sobbing) �No! I want my Mommy! I want to stay with her!�
Lois: �I am your mother. Alexis is just Daddy�s wife.�
Brooke: �NO! SHE�S MY MOMMY! I DON�T WANT TO GO WITH YOU!� She�s crying hysterically. �Alexis spends time with me! Her voice is normal! She isn�t always kissing Daddy like you do to Brian! She doesn�t send me to Grandma�s house all the time! I don�t like eating spaghetti anymore! I want to stay here with Avery and Hannah!�
Alexis: (softly) �Brooke, you have to go with her.� She crouches down and kisses her. �Remember that I love you, and you can come see Hannah as soon as she�s born.�
Lois: �Brooke, now.�
Much to Alexis� dismay, Lois picks Brooke up and carries her to the car.
Brooke: �NOOOOO! I DON�T WANT TO GO!�
Lois starts the car and zooms out of the driveway, leaving Ned and Alexis staring after her, shocked and saddened.
Avery starts crying as the car drives out of sight.
Avery: �I don�t want Brooke to go! She and me and Serena are the Spice Girls! I want my sister! I don�t want to be alone!�
Ned: �Avery, you�re going to have a sister in three months.�
Avery: �I don�t want Hannah! She�s too small! I want Brooke!� She turns and runs into the house.
One month later. Valentines� Day.
Ned and Alexis� house.
Alexis drives her convertible into the driveway, so mad that she almost runs into the garage. She fights back a yawn, having been up with Avery, who had a cold, the night before. On top of that, Hannah, who is two months from being born, has been kicking constantly, and she has a new ELQ case to work on.
Alexis parks the car and goes into the house.
Alexis: �Ned? Are you home?� she stops dead in her tracks when she sees the living room.
There are huge bouquets of flowers everywhere- tulips, daisies, forget-me-nots and flowers that are only found in foreign countries. They�re of every color- yellow, white, lilac, red, pink, blue, orange, even green.
White candles are burning all over the room, and there is one on each step going upstairs.
Alexis sets her briefcase down on the couch and follows the path of candles up the stairs to their closed bedroom door. She knocks once, and then goes inside.
Ned, wearing nothing but black silk pajama pants is standing there, holding a bouquet of multi-colored roses.
The white bedspread on their bed is covered in pink and red rose pedals and white candles are burning on the dressers and nightstands.
A bottle of sparkling cider and two champagne glasses are chilling next to the bed.
Ned: �Happy Valentines Day.�
Alexis clamps her hand over her mouth, completely shocked.
Alexis: �Oh my God, I�m so sorry, Ned. I forgot about it being Valentines Day.�
Ned: �It�s okay. I have something for you.� He walks over to her and hands her the roses, one at a time. �The yellow one is for us being best friends. The red one is for our love. The pink one represents Avery. The ice blue one is you. The lilac one is me. And the white one, which is the purest color, is Hannah Grace.�
Alexis� eyes well up with tears.
Alexis: �Oh, Ned, I don�t know what to say. I love it.�
Ned: �Wait, there�s more.� He takes her by the hand and leads her over to the bed, where they sit down. Ned pulls out a box. �I wanted to buy you something special this year. Not something materialistic, like a car, or an island.�
Alexis laughs as Ned hands her the box.
Ned: �Alexis Brinna, this is a sign of my love for you and for our children.�
Alexis opens the box to find a ring inside. A gold band, it has a diamond in the middle, and a little amethyst on either side.
Ned: �The diamond is Hannah�s birthstone, and the amethysts are Avery�s. I just want you to know that I love you, and I love our two little girls.� He takes it out and slips it onto her right hand. �I hope you like it.�
Alexis: �Oh Ned, I love it.� She leans over and slowly kisses him. �I�ll wear it forever.�
Ned puts his arms around Alexis and slowly lowers her down so she�s lying on the bed, where he unbuttons her suit jacket, and removes her clothes, as she removes his. They then begin to make slow, passionate love, as the light of the candles flickers on the walls.
Meanwhile, at the firehouse.
Scott: (coming into the living room) �Kim, where are you?�
Kimberly: (coming slowly down the stairs) �Right here. What do you think?�
Scott sucks in his breath at the sight of Kimberly, in red satin nightgown, so short it�s practically a swimsuit, her blond hair all around her face.
Kimberly: �I take it that you like it?�
Scott: �I am at a loss for words.�
Kimberly: (going over to the table and pouring two glasses of champagne) �Mr. Baldwin, I think that this calls for a toast.�
An hour later. The front porch of the firehouse.
Kimberly, still in her red negligee, is standing outside, looking up at the stars. She�s more than a little tipsy.
Scott: (joining her) �I feel so free. How many glasses of champagne did we drink?�
Kimberly: �One. Three. Six. Two bottles. Whatever!� she giggles. �Hey Scott, go put on some music.�
Scott grins at her and goes back into the house, where he turns the radio on. When he returns, �Pretty Fly for a White Guy� by Offspring is just starting.
Kimberly immediately starts singing.
Kimberly: �Give it to me baby, give it to me baby, give it to me baby...�
Scott: �And all the girlies say I�m pretty fly for a white guy... You know it�s kind of hard to get along today. Our subject isn�t cool, but he fakes it anyway, he may not have a clue, he may not have style, but everything he lacks, well he makes up in denial...�
They continue to sing and dance around on the porch, oblivious to the fact that the music is about ten decibels too high for midnight.
Kimberly spins around and her gown flies up, exposing her flat stomach and abdominal muscles.
Scott looks at her, full of desire, and before she can say anything, he grabs her and lowers her onto the porch.
Kimberly: (between kisses) �Scott... the porch... are you crazy... oh God that feels good!�
She reaches up and pulls her gown over her head and tosses it into the bushes. Reaching for him, she unbuttons his shirt and pants, and they quickly get lost in their passion.
Twenty minutes later. Kimberly and Scott don�t notice the car coming down the street.
It pulls into their driveway and they freeze.
Scott: �Oh my God. That car is in our driveway.�
Kimberly: (whispering) �What if it�s Felicia bringing Serena home? What if she got sick?�
Before they can make a decision, the car backs out of the driveway and heads back up the street, the drivers never knowing about the Baldwins out on their front porch.
Kimberly, fueled by the champagne and their love-making, starts laughing uncontrollably.
Scott starts laughing too and they quickly get lost in each other again.