Ned, Alexis, Kimberly and Scott are having lunch at Cafe Mattice.
Ned: �That was nice of Julia and Jax to watch Hannah and Olivia. It�s nice being outside for lunch.�
Kimberly: �I think they�ve been talking about having a kid.�
Alexis: �You�re kidding, right? Julia? A kid?�
Scott: �I�m beginning to see why they�re so eager to baby-sit a two week old baby, and a three month old baby.�
Just then, Gregory, looking impeccable as usual in a black suit, comes in.
Gregory: (coming over to their table) �Hello, Alexis. Kimberly.� He smiles sardonically. �I hear that you are both new mothers. Congratulations.�
Ned: �Gregory, I wasn�t aware that you were already in town. You�re working for the hospital, aren�t you?�
Gregory: �Yes I am.� He looks at his watch. �Do you mind if I join you?�
Kimberly: �Sure. Sit down.�
Gregory: (pulling up a chair) �So, what did you name your children?�
Alexis: �Our daughter is named Hannah Grace.�
Kimberly: �Our daughter is named Olivia Paige.�
Gregory: �Very nice names.� He smiles. �I remember when you thought you were pregnant, Alexis.�
Alexis: (shocked) �How did you know about that? We had broken up by then.�
Gregory: �Well, I, uh, heard it somewhere.�
Alexis: �Somewhere? The only person who knew was...� she looks at Kimberly, who is beginning to look uncomfortable. �Kimberly?�
Kimberly: �Well, uh...�
Alexis: �I wasn�t aware that you two were speaking after he and I broke up. You agreed with me every time I called Gregory the slime of the earth, no offense to you, Greg.�
Gregory: (amused) �None taken.�
Kimberly: �I did agree. But, Greg and I, well, we were still friends.�
Alexis: �How good of friends?�
Kimberly: �I�m going to go call Julia now and see how Olivia is.� She stands up to walk away and Alexis follows her.
Alexis: �Kimberly, how good of friends?�
Kimberly: �I refuse to answer these questions.�
Alexis: �How good?� she�s practically standing on top of Kimberly�s feet by now. �Did you sleep with my boyfriend?�
Kimberly: �No.� She looks away. �Alexis, I would never do that to you.�
Alexis: �Oh really? You wouldn�t? Than why did you come home one night from what you called a late night work session smelling like his cologne?�
Kimberly: �Okay, I slept with Gregory. Are you happy now?�
Alexis: (furious) �Kimberly, how could you have done this? You slept with my boyfriend right after we broke up?�
Kimberly: �Actually, we, well, we were sleeping together long before that.�
Alexis: �YOU WERE SLEEPING WITH HIM WHEN I WAS???�
Everyone looks over at Alexis and Kimberly, but neither of them care.
Kimberly: �Yes. I was. So? We were both adults. It�s not like you were going to marry him. You said you would never get married.�
Alexis: �So that justifies you sleeping with him at the same time I was?� she sneers at her. �After everything I did for you? You�re a whore.�
Kimberly: �I�m a whore? You�re a prude!�
Alexis, not knowing what she�s doing, gives Kimberly a good push, sending her into the restaurant�s fountain, which is in the middle of the patio.
There is a large splash as Kimberly falls head first into the ice cold water.
There is a second splash as she grabs the hem of Alexis� skirt and pulls her in with her.
Alexis: �You little... How dare you call me a prude!�
Kimberly: �You are! Is Ned aware that you�ve only slept with one other man?�
Alexis: �Is Scott aware that you slept with half of the Harvard law school?�
Kimberly pushes Alexis backwards and she goes underwater.
Alexis comes up to the surface and grabs a chunk of Kimberly�s blonde hair.
Kimberly: �You bitch! How dare you bring up my past!�
Alexis: �How dare you sleep with Gregory and never tell me about it!�
Kimberly: �Well, it never came up. Besides, I�m sure he didn�t want me telling you about how much he loved having me in bed and how it rivaled anything you did with him!�
Alexis: �I ought to beat the crap out of you for this!�
Kimberly: �What�s stopping you? Oh wait, this is Alexis I�m talking to. Little Alexis who can�t fight for herself.�
Alexis jumps on top of Kimberly and they claw and kick each other fiercely.
Just then, a pair of strong arms lifts Alexis off of Kimberly.
Ned: �Alexis! Knock it off now!�
Alexis: �Did you hear what she said to me?�
Ned: �Yes I did. And so did half of Port Charles.�
Kimberly: (to Scott) �Let�s go. Now. I don�t want to see her for one second longer.�
Scott: �You�ve got to be kidding. You�re saying this about your best friend?�
Kimberly: �Former best friend.�
Alexis: �You got that right.�
Kimberly, soaking wet, storms out of the restaurant.
Scott: �I�ll call you later, Ned. After Kim cools off.�
Alexis: �Tell her I said for her to drop dead.�
Ned: �That�s mature.�
Gregory is still sitting in his seat, watching the scene amusedly.
Ned: �What the hell are you looking at?�
Gregory: �Nothing.�
Ned: �Alexis, we�re leaving.�
Alexis: (glaring at Gregory) �Later, jerk.�
In the parking lot, Ned turns to Alexis and starts laughing.
Ned: �What the hell was that? Has Mackenzie been rubbing off on you?�
Alexis: �I can�t believe this. Gregory and Kimberly were sleeping together...�
Ned: �I don�t see why you care so much! That was sixteen years ago!�
Alexis: �I don�t care. Honest. I just can�t believe that Kim lied to me.�
Ned: �She just needs time to cool off. You do too. Now let�s go home before you smack some unsuspecting elderly person for smiling at you.�
Alexis: �It was kind of fun. I�ve always wanted to beat someone up in public.�
Ned: �I think that today takes care of the next twenty years or so.�
That night. Ned and Alexis� bedroom
Alexis is pacing back and forth in front of the bed as Ned reads a file from ELQ.
* * * F L A S H B A C K * * *
Manhattan. Sixteen years ago.
Gregory and Alexis are in bed together, having just made love.
Gregory: �Do you know how much I love you, Alex?�
Alexis: �Tell me.�
Gregory: �Alex, I love you more than anything. My heart belongs to you.�
Alexis smiles at him like he�s the conquering hero
* * * E N D O F F L A S H B A C K * * *
Ned: �Alexis, you�re going to wear a hole in the floor.�
Alexis: �Huh?� she stops. �I�m just so mad about Kimberly!�
Ned: �Why are you so mad? It was SIXTEEN years ago!�
Alexis: �That is so far from the point. She slept with my boyfriend when I was. How would you like it if one of your prep school friends did that?�
Ned: �Guys don�t do those things. There�s an unwritten credo out there- thou shall not date a friend�s girlfriend, ex-girlfriend without permission, or sister.�
Alexis: (rolling her eyes) �That is such a chauvinistic thing to say. You males.�
Ned: �You aren�t turned on by any of that?�
Alexis: �Not really.� She goes over to the bed and looks down at him. �But I could be.�
Ned: �Oh, you could?�
Alexis climbs on top of Ned so she�s straddling him. She takes his file and throws it. The papers fly all over the room as she leans down to kiss him.
Ned returns the kiss, beginning to unbutton her pajamas as she strokes his bare chest.
After both of their pajamas are shed, Ned rolls Alexis over so she�s underneath him, and begins to make love to her.
Alexis moans loudly as Ned kisses her neck.
Just then, the phone rings.
Ned: �Don�t answer it.�
Alexis: (panting) �I have to. It could be Nikolas or Emily.�
She reaches over and picks up the phone as Ned continues to make love to her.
Alexis: �Uh, hello�� she swats at Ned for him to stop. He ignores her. �Julia, what is it� Uh, I think that you�re supposed to use peanut butter� how did you get gum stuck in your hair� oh, it fell out of Jax�s mouth�interesting��
Ned begins to suck on Alexis� earlobes and she fights to keep from moaning.
Alexis: �Julia� I have to go now��
Ned takes the phone from her and slams it down.
Ned: �Now where were we?�
Alexis: �Ned! Julia needed my help!�
Ned: �You should have told her you were busy letting your husband make love to you.�
Alexis: �Yeah, like I�d really say that.�
Ned: �No more talking, Mrs. Ashton.� He covers her mouth with his and she eagerly kisses him back.
One week later.
Alexis and Kimberly are still not speaking to each other and the guys have had enough.
The firehouse. Scott and Kimberly�s bedroom.
Kimberly: �Ice skating? I don�t think so! It�s the middle of spring!�
Scott: �Oh, come on, Kim. Serena wants to go.�
Serena: (in the doorway) �I didn�t say that! You asked me!�
Scott: �I never said that, Serena.
Serena: �You�re right. You didn�t.� she looks at Kimberly. �Come on, Mommy! It will be fun! Daddy told me that you know how to skate good!�
Kimberly: �But I should stay home with Olivia.�
Scott: �Already taken care of. Betty is going to take care of her.�
Kimberly: �Fine. I guess I�ll go. Who else is coming? Alexis had better not be.�
Scott and Serena look at each other.
Scott: �Jax and Julia. And maybe Bobbie and Jerry if she can get off work.�
Kimberly: �Fine. Maybe it will be fun.� She sighs. �Or maybe not.�
Meanwhile, at the Ashtons� house.
Alexis: �No. I am not going ice skating.�
Ned: (a patronizing smile on his face) �What? Are you chicken?�
Alexis: �For your information, Mr. Big Shot CEO, I don�t know how to ice skate.�
Ned: �What? Alexis Davis-Ashton, genius lawyer, mother of the year, doesn�t know how to ice skate?� he grins. �I�ll teach you.�
Alexis: �No. You can take Avery. I�m going to stay here with Hannah.�
Ned: �You are not. You�re coming with us.�
Alexis: �What about Hannah? You can�t take a baby ice-skating.�
Ned: �I�m going to take her to Betty�s house.�
Alexis: �Sounds like you have this all planned. Who all is coming? Kim had better not be. I don�t want to see her.�
Ned: �Kim isn�t coming. Lex, I would never disrespect your wishes.�
Alexis: �Than who is coming?�
Ned: �Jax and Julia.�
Alexis: �Fine. But if I break any bones, I can sue you.�
Ned: �I�ll look forward to it.� He smiles. �You�re extremely sexy in lawyer mode.�
Alexis: �You know, we could stay home and make love all afternoon.�
Ned: �Nope. We can make love later if you survive the skating.�
Alexis: �Gee, thanks Ned. Instill so much hope in me.�
A half hour later. Sprinker Ice Skating Rink.
Kimberly and Scott are skating hand in hand around the rink when Ned, Alexis and Avery come in.
Alexis: (not seeing Kimberly) �Okay, let�s get this torture over.� She grins. �And I�m holding you to your promise about later.�
Ned: (smiling) �Count on it.�
They rent their ice skates and then head out onto the ice. Ned is holding onto Alexis with his right hand and Avery with his left.
Avery: (catching on quickly) �This is just like rollerblades! It�s easy!�
Alexis: (almost falling) �This is humiliating. My four year old does this better than me.�
Ned: �It just takes a little time.� Alexis starts slipping. �Or a lot of time.�
Avery: �Look! There�s Aunt Kim!�
Alexis: (sharply) �Where?� she accidentally lets go of Ned�s hand and spins in a complete 360 without falling.
Kimberly: �What is SHE doing here?�
Scott: (pulling her over to where Alexis is) �Look, Ned and I were getting sick of you two talking about each other constantly and not speaking to each other. You�ve been best friends for sixteen years. Can�t you let this go?�
Alexis: �No. She was having a fling with my boyfriend.�
Kimberly: �So? You didn�t invite me to your wedding.�
Alexis: �You were in England.�
Kimberly: �That�s not the point.�
Alexis: �Ned, I told you that I didn�t want to see her.�
Scott: �Could you two keep the peace for the kids?� he looks around. �Where are they?�
Serena: �Over here!�
The adults turn to see Serena holding Avery�s hand and going in a slow but steady circle around the rink.
Ned: �Good job, you guys!�
Serena: �Mommy, just talk to Aunt Alexis!�
Avery: �Yeah, Mommy! Talk to Aunt Kim and be friends again!�
Scott: �Oh brother. They sound like mini versions of you two. I hope their friendship doesn�t turn out like yours- beating each other up in a fountain.�
Alexis: �Than Serena had better not sleep with Avery�s college boyfriend.�
Kimberly: �And Avery had better invite Serena to her wedding.�
Ned: �God, you two sound like two year olds! Can�t we just settle this?�
Kimberly: �No.� She takes off skating and Scott follows her.
Just then, Jax, Julia, Bobbie and Jerry join them on the ice.
Alexis: �Jerry! Bobbie! I didn�t know you were coming!�
Bobbie: �Ned invited us.�
Jerry looks zoned out as he looks at Jax and Julia together and skates away.
Ned: �What�s eating him?�
Bobbie: �I have no idea.�
Julia: �So, Ned, how did your little plan work?�
Ned: �Ask Kim. She took off across the ice so fast you�d swear she was an Olympic speed skater.�
Jax: �That good, huh? We�ll go talk to Kim.�
They skate off hand in hand, Julia�s skating skirt floating behind her.
Bobbie: �So, how are you two doing on the skating front?�
Alexis: �Well, I�ve only slipped eighty times so far.�
Bobbie: (laughing) �Well, if it makes you feel any better, there is a nurse here.� She looks over at Jerry. �I�m going to catch up with Jerry.� She skates off towards the other wall.
Ned: �Shall we?� he takes Alexis� hand and they gracefully begin to skate around.
Alexis: �That was low of you to invite Kim.� She smiles. �I�m impressed.�
Ned: �I just wish you two would make up.�
Alexis: �There�s a lot of bad blood between us right now.� She catches her foot in the ice and falls on her butt. �Ned!�
Ned: (helping her up) �Need me to dust the ice off?�
Alexis: �Go fall into a hole.�
Ned: �I find it amusing that you can�t do something for once.�
Alexis: �Remind me to find something you can�t do.�
Ned: �Baby, I can do everything.�
They smile at each other, but are then distracted by a scene across the ice.
Scott and Kimberly are gracefully skating across the ice, and simultaneously doing double axles and jumps.
Alexis: �They�re good. Really good.�
Ned: �I can do that.�
Alexis is about to protest but Ned takes off at a very fast speed and does an impressive axle into the air.
That night. The Ashtons� house.
Alexis: (coming into their bedroom with Hannah) �Ned, are you feeling better?�
Ned removes the ice pack from his face and looks at her. He has another ice pack on his arm. He�s laying flat on his back. Looking up, he glares at her.
Alexis: �Well, the swelling in your face has gone down.�
Ned: �I can�t believe that I fell. I used to be able to do axles like Scott Hamilton.�
Alexis: �Somehow I doubt that.� She holds Hannah out. �Would seeing the world�s sweetest little girl make you feel better?�
Ned: �Sure.� He takes Hannah from her. �Well, Miss Hannah Grace, aren�t you supposed to be in bed right now?�
Alexis: �She needs to be fed.� She sits down on the end of the bed and taking Hannah, begins to breastfeed her. �So, are you in pain?�
Ned: �No. I�m just dandy.�
Alexis: �Ned Ashton, why can�t you just admit that you�re in pain?�
Ned: �Fine. I�m in pain.� He grins. �But only when I move. I thought that if you didn�t think I was in pain, we could still make love.�
Alexis: �Not on your life, buddy.�
Ned: �You are so mean to me!�
Alexis: (burping Hannah) �And that�s why you love me.�
Ned: �Not exactly. I love you for your body.�
Alexis: (looking down at Hannah and then at him) �I suppose that if you don�t use your arm or your head��
Ned: �Doable. Hurry up and put Hannah back to bed.�
Alexis stands up and practically runs from the room.
She returns quickly and begins to strip off her clothes as she comes through the door.
Ned: �Now that�s what I like to see. A sexy woman taking her clothes off for me.�
Alexis goes over to him and lying down on top of him, begins to kiss his neck and down his body.
Ned: �God, you�re gorgeous� and smart� and sexy� and��
Alexis stops his talking as she clamps a hand over his mouth and continues to pleasure him all night long.
The next morning.
Alexis wakes up to the sound of the doorbell. Ned is still dead to the world.
Alexis: (mumbling) �Don�t worry, honey, I�ll get it.� She gets out of bed and after putting her robe on, heads down the stairs.
Standing on the doorstep is Stefan. His eyes are bloodshot and he looks miserable.
Alexis: �Stefan, what are you doing here?�
Stefan: �May I come in? I need to speak with you.�
Alexis: �Sure. I guess.� She opens the door a little wider and Stefan comes in. They sit down on the couch. �What�s going on?�
Stefan: �It�s Christabel. She, uh� she caught Mackenzie and I in bed and� well, she refuses to come out of her room� she pushed the lock on the door� she won�t talk to me or to anyone� she keeps saying that she wants her Mommy� and I was wondering� well, you�re her aunt� do you think you could talk to her?�
Alexis: (surprised) �You want me to talk to Christabel?�
Stefan: �If you wouldn�t mind. Perhaps you can coax her out of her room. She doesn�t understand what�s going on, she is only three and a half, you know.�
Just then, Ned comes down the stairs.
Ned: �What the hell are you doing here? Alexis, you let him in?�
Alexis: �Ned, stop right there. Stefan needed my help with Christabel.�
Ned: �And�?�
Alexis: �And I need to go to Wyndemere for a couple hours.�
Ned: �What about Hannah? I have a meeting.�
Alexis: �Fine. I�ll take her with me.� She turns to Stefan. �I�ll get dressed.� She goes upstairs, leaving Ned looking at Stefan.
Ned: �Cassadine, I swear, if you do anything to my wife, I�ll kill you.�
Stefan: �Rest assured. I just need her to talk to my daughter.�
Alexis comes downstairs a few minutes later, dressed in black and white pinstripe pants and a white fitted blouse. She is carrying Hannah in her carrier.
Ned: �Call me when you get home.�
Alexis: �Okay.� She goes over to him and kisses him. �Bye.�
Alexis and Stefan walk out the door and Alexis gets into her convertible and follows him to Wyndemere.
Alexis: (to Hannah) �Well, Hannah, we�re going to go see your cousin Christabel and your uncle Stefan on a really dark island.�
Hannah gurgles her approval.
Ten minutes later. Wyndemere.
Stefan: �Christabel�s room is right this way.� He looks down at Hannah, who is staring up at him in fascination. �Alexis, she�s just beautiful.�
Alexis: (a taken back) �Thank you.� They stop outside Christabel�s bedroom door.
Stefan: �I�ll be downstairs if you need me.�
Alexis nods and knocks gently on Christabel�s door.
Christabel: �Go away.� She pauses. �Who is it?�
Alexis: �It�s your Aunt Alexis.�
Christabel doesn�t say anything. She goes over to the door and unlocking it, opens it and peeks outside.
Alexis: �Hi there.�
Christabel: �Why are you here?�
Alexis: �Can I come in?�
Christabel: �You�re �posed to say may I, not can I.�
Alexis fights back a smile as Christabel opens the door all the way. She looks surprised to see that Alexis is holding a baby carrier with Hannah, who is asleep, in it.
Christabel: �Who�s that?�
Alexis: �This is your cousin, Hannah. She�s only three months old.�
Christabel: �She�s small! Can I hold her?�
Alexis: �Sure. Let�s sit down first.�
They go inside and Alexis gets her first look at her niece�s bedroom. The huge room is lavishly decorated with a canopy bed, a huge shelf of porcelain dolls and pink border. On the bed is a doll unlike the rest; it is an ordinary rag doll with blonde braids and blue eyes. Alexis picks it up.
Alexis: �Who�s this?�
Christabel: �She�s Adrienne. My mommy gave her to me.� She looks sad. �I sleep with her every night.�
Alexis: �My daughter has a doll like that too. Avery�s doll is named Victoria.�
Christabel: �Avery is lucky. She sees you. My mommy is in heaven.�
Alexis: �I know. I�m sorry.� She looks closely at the little girl, a miniature version of Katherine, but with Stefan�s crooked smile. �Christabel, why did you lock yourself in your room?�
Christabel: �Daddy was in bed with that girl.�
Alexis: �You mean Mackenzie? Well, she�s your Daddy�s girlfriend.�
Christabel: (slightly panicked) �What about my mommy?�
Alexis: �Well, your mommy is in heaven now, and even though no one will ever take her place, your daddy can have a girlfriend.�
Christabel: �I want to have my mommy and my daddy!�
Alexis: �You know, Hannah and Avery�s daddy, my husband, has another daughter named Brooke, and she only gets to see him once in a while. Brooke knows what it�s like to have only one parent.�
Christabel: �Is Hannah�s daddy nice?�
Alexis: �He sure is. He�s the nicest daddy in the whole world. You should meet him.�
Christabel: �May I?�
Alexis: �May I what?�
Christabel: �May I meet him?�
Alexis: �Sure.� She smiles. �How about if you spend the night at our house tonight?�
Christabel: �Away from Daddy? And Mrs. Lansbury too?�
Alexis: �You can play with Avery and Hannah.�
Christabel: �Okay�� she picks up her doll. �May Adrienne come too?�
Alexis: �Sure.� She looks at her watch. �Why don�t I go talk to your daddy, and if he says yes, I�ll pick you up tonight.�
She picks Hannah up and after giving Christabel a kiss on the top of the head, goes downstairs to where Stefan is sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper.
Stefan: (putting the paper down) �How is she?�
Alexis: �Stefan, I�m not going to beat around the bush here.� She sits down next to him and puts Hannah�s carrier at her feet. �That is one miserable child.�
Stefan: �Alexis!�
Alexis: �Stefan, it�s true.� She grimaces. �Does Christabel ever play with other kids?�
Stefan: �She has me and Mrs. Lansbury.�
Alexis: �That isn�t enough. She needs to play with other children. Stefan, you know how miserable Nikolas was without any playmates. He didn�t have any friends until he was fifteen years old! That�s no way for a child to live.�
Stefan: �I do not want Christabel to grow up to be an average child.�
Alexis: �Stefan, Christabel wants to spend the night at our house. Can she?�
Stefan: �Why would she want to do that?�
Alexis: �She was quite intrigued by the idea of playing with Avery and Hannah.�
Stefan: (slowly) �I suppose that she can spend the night. As long as you don�t do anything with her that will have long standing reprocusions for either of us.�
Alexis: �Don�t worry about it.�