The front door of the Ashtons� house swings open and Alexis comes in with Hannah. Christabel, wearing a lilac flowered dress, is clinging to her legs.
Ned is sitting on the couch, reading to Avery.
Alexis: �Look what I brought home for the night.�
Ned: �That�s� Stefan� Christabel� what is she doing here?�
Alexis: �Uh, Avery, why don�t you show Christabel your room?�
Avery: �Okay.� She gets up and the two girls run upstairs.
Ned: �What is STEFAN�S daughter doing here?�
Alexis quickly tells Ned what happened that morning.
Alexis: �� and I felt bad for her. She doesn�t see any kids her age. She�s my niece, and I feel an obligation to her, just like I do to Nikolas.�
Ned: �But she�s Katherine�s daughter.�
Alexis: �I�m trying to overlook that. Ned, she�s a sweet little girl. She just needs to have a life outside of Wyndemere.�
Ned: �You�re a very noble woman.� He puts his arms around her and kisses her. �Your loyalty to family is awesome.� He grins. �So, we have the littlest Cassadine for the night, huh? Are any tattoo parlors open?�
Alexis laughs as Avery and Christabel come down the stairs.
Ned: �Well, we�re having pizza for dinner. Ned, why don�t you and Avery set the table?�
Ned and Avery go into the kitchen.
Ned: �What do you think of your cousin?�
Avery: �She doesn�t know who the Spice Girls are!� she grins. �But she�s nice. She�s kinda, well she doesn�t know about the stuff I know about.�
Ned: �That�s because she has a different kind of life.�
Just then, Alexis, Hannah and Christabel come into the kitchen and they sit down.
Ned puts a slice of pizza on a plate and hands it to Christabel, whose eyes grow large.
Christabel: �Pizza? For dinner? We don�t do that!� she smiles. �Neat!�
Ned and Alexis look at each other and smile.
Later that night.
Ned and Alexis are watching a cheesy movie on cable.
Ned leans over and softly kisses Alexis� lips. He begins to kiss her all over her face.
Alexis: �What happened to watching this oh so interesting film?�
Ned: �I can think of something else that would be much more interesting.�
Alexis: (coyly) �And that would be�?�
Ned: �This.� He slowly slides his hands under her shirt and begins caressing her skin.
Alexis: �Ned! There are three children sleeping upstairs!�
Ned: �Exactly. They�re asleep.� He looks at his watch. �We have at least an hour until Hannah wakes up to be fed, and Avery and Christabel are dead to the world.� He kisses her passionately. �Come on Lex.�
Alexis leans over and unbuttons his shirt, kissing down his chest. She moves on to his pants, and soon all of their clothes are thrown around the room.
They collapse onto the couch, Ned leaning over Alexis, their bodies intertwined.
Suddenly, Ned begins to laugh.
Alexis: �What�s so funny?�
Ned: �Can you imagine what Stefan would say if he knew we were making love while his daughter is asleep upstairs?�
Alexis starts laughing hysterically as Ned catches his mouth in hers and kisses her again.
The next morning.
Alexis runs to get the door when the doorbell rings. Stefan is standing there.
Alexis: �Christabel, your father is here!�
Christabel: (coming down the stairs with her backpack) �Hello Father.�
Stefan: �I hope that you had fun with your cousins and aunt.�
Christabel: �I did.� She goes over to Alexis, and to Alexis� shock, hugs her. �Thank you for having me, Aunt Alexis.� She grins. �It was cool.�
Stefan looks shocked and Alexis fights back a laugh.
Stefan: �Where did you learn that word, Christabel?�
Christabel: �From Avery! She has the Spice Girls. May I get that?�
Stefan: �Uh, I think it�s time to go.� He turns to Alexis, half amused, half mad. �Alexis, thank you for having her over.�
They leave and Alexis shakes her head, laughing.
The Firehouse.
Scott comes downstairs and finds Kimberly pacing the floor with Olivia in her arms. She�s wearing her bathrobe, and looks as if she hasn�t slept in a week.
Scott: �Hey!�
Kimberly: �Shh. She�s finally asleep.�
Scott: (whispering) �I can�t believe that Olivia has colic.� He smiles. �Have you slept at all? I would have come downstairs, but with Serena being sick and all��
Kimberly: �It�s fine. I slept from three until three twenty. Miss Olivia Paige here cried for most of the night.�
Scott: (kissing the top of her head) �I love you. You�re an excellent mother.�
Kimberly: �Thank you.� She yawns. �How�s Serena?�
Scott: �Well, her fever is gone, but she still has the flu. She�ll be back to normal tomorrow or the day after.�
Kimberly: �Are you going to work?�
Scott: �I was planning on working at home today. You better not be thinking about going to work. You need to get some sleep.�
Kimberly: �No! I have to go to work! Jax is expecting me to get that deposition done by the end of the week.�
Scott: �I�m sure he�ll understand.�
Kimberly: �Scott! I have to go to work! I�m not tired...� she suddenly breaks down in tears. �God, I�m having postpartum depression and I didn�t even give birth to Olivia!�
Scott takes Olivia, who is still fast asleep, and puts her in her bassinet on the other side of the room. He then puts his arms around Kimberly and holds her against him.
Scott: �Kimberly Angela Corday-Baldwin, you have to take a break!�
Kimberly: �I can�t. I hate not being on top of things.�
Scott: �Why don�t you just call her?�
Kimberly: �Who?�
Scott: �Alexis. You know you want to.�
Kimberly: (sniffling) �No, I don�t.�
Scott: �Oh please. Kim, you miss her and she misses you.�
Kimberly: �I won�t call her and that�s final.�
Meanwhile, at Jax�s penthouse.
Julia: �So, about Jerry�s birthday party� who are we going to invite?�
Jax: (getting out a piece of paper and a pen) �Him and Bobbie� you, me, Ned, Alexis, Nikolas, Emily, Monica, Alan, Felicia, Mac, Kimberly, Scott� hmm, do you think Alexis and Kim can be in the same room without killing each other?�
Julia: �I think so� I�m sure they can put their feelings aside for the sake of their friends.� She grins. �Or we can just push them down an elevator shaft. Oh, you forgot Mackenzie.�
Jax: �But this is kind of a couples thing and Stefan is Mackenzie�s boyfriend��
Julia: �Well, we�re having the kids- Avery, Hannah, Olivia, Serena, Maxie, Georgie and Lucas, so why don�t we just invite Mackenzie, Stefan and Christabel��
Jax: �Well� I guess that would be okay.� He laughs. �So long as Stefan behaves himself.�
Julia: �I�ll have a little chat with my sister. I�m sure she can make him behave.�
The next day. Wyndemere.
Stefan comes in the house and Mackenzie is waiting on the couch.
Stefan: �Mackenzie, I didn�t know you would be here!�
Mackenzie: �I wanted to talk to you about something.�
Stefan: �What?�
Mackenzie: �Well, Julia and Jax are throwing Jerry a birthday party next Saturday and they invited me.�
Stefan: �And� I�m assuming you want to attend?�
Mackenzie: �Julia is my sister� and Ned is my brother� it should be fun��
Stefan: �I�m not seeing what your point is in telling me this.� He goes to her and kisses her lips. �No offence.�
Mackenzie: (grinning) �Actually, Julia invited both of us.�
Stefan: �You want me to go to Jerry Jacks� birthday party with you?�
Mackenzie: �Yeah. Oh come on, Stefan, don�t say no. Julia wants the two of us and Christabel to come. Ned and Alexis, Scott and Kim, and everyone is bringing their kids so Christabel can play with them.�
Stefan: �I�m not sure that�s such a good idea. Alexis� daughter got Christabel saying �cool.� It sounds so tacky, and she won�t stop saying it.�
Mackenzie: �Stefan, she�s a little kid! It would be fun for her to play with Avery and Serena and everyone!� she puts her hands on his chest and leans close to him. �Stefan, please? It would mean a lot to me if you came.�
Stefan: �Who else is coming?�
Mackenzie: �Felicia and Mac Scorpio, Nikolas and Emily, Monica and Alan� I don�t know who else.�
Stefan: �Nikolas is going to be there?� he considers this. �I guess I�ll go with you.�
Mackenzie: �Good.� She smiles. �But Stefan, promise me that you won�t say anything to Alexis, Nikolas, Ned or anyone else.�
Stefan: (smiling sarcastically) �Who told you to say that to me?�
Mackenzie: (defensively) �No one. I just want to have a good time.� She kisses him again. �Thanks for agreeing, Stefan.�
Stefan: �Only for you, Ms. Cisnaros. Only for you.�
Saturday night. The Outback.
When Stefan, Mackenzie and Christabel arrive, Jerry�s birthday party has just begun.
Talking in a group is Ned, Alexis, Jax, Julia, Bobbie and Jerry. Ned is holding Hannah.
Julia sees Mackenzie approaching and goes over to hug her.
Julia: �I�m so glad you came!�
Mackenzie: �Don�t worry about Stefan. I made him swear to behave.�
Julia: (laughing) �Come join the group.�
They approach cautiously, Christabel hanging on to Stefan�s hand in a vice grip.
Alexis: �Hey there, Christabel.� She smiles. �Stefan.�
Christabel: �Aunt �Lexis!� she runs to her and throws her arms around Alexis� legs.
Alexis: �Hey Christabel, you know, Avery is here!�
Christabel: (her eyes lighting up) �Father, may I go play?�
Stefan: �I suppose so.� He can�t help but smile as Christabel runs off to join the kids, who are playing Simon Says in the corner, with Serena as the leader.
Mackenzie: (handing Jerry a bottle of champagne) �Happy birthday, Jerry.�
Jerry: �Thank you, Mackenzie. Stefan.�
Alexis looks across the room at Kimberly and Scott, who are talking to Mac and Felicia.
Ned: (in a soft voice) �Why don�t you just talk to her?�
Alexis: �I just can�t.�
Ned: �I�ll be back in a second. I want to say hi to Scott.�
Alexis: �I�ll take Hannah if you want.�
Julia: �Wait, can I hold her?�
Ned: �I never thought I�d see the day when Julia Barrett would be asking to hold my daughter.� He laughs as he hands Hannah to her.
Julia and Jax exchange a private smile as Ned walks off.
Scott: (seeing Ned approaching and going to him) �Hey Ned!� he smiles as he gestures at Alexis. �So, she�s not willing to talk to Kim? Still?�
Ned: �Nope. What about Kimberly?�
Scott: �She was saying something about a cold day in hell when I tuned her out.�
Ned laughs but then looks sad.
Ned: �I just wish that they would make up. It�s killing both of them to not be best friends anymore, but Alexis is just so hurt.�
Scott: �What if we made them talk to each other?�
Ned: �This sounds like a Czech Republic idea.�
Scott: �Anything less won�t work. We learned from the best.�
Ned: �Who?�
Scott: �Our wives. They can be pretty devious when they want to be. You in?�
Ned: �Just tell me how and when.�
Scott: �Try right now, in the bathroom.�
Ned: �What are we going to do? Lock them in?� he slowly grins. �Baldwin, you�re a genius. An absolute genius.�
Ten minutes later.
Kimberly: (handing Olivia to Scott) �I�m going to go use the bathroom.� She head out of the room and to the hall.
Scott nods at Ned, who immediately dumps the contents of his wine glass out on Alexis� shoes.
Ned: �Oh, Alexis! I�m sorry!�
Alexis: �It�s okay. I�ll just go to the bathroom and dry my shoes.� She heads off to the bathroom, Scott and Ned following her from a safe distance.
Alexis goes into the bathroom and takes her shoes off. She doesn�t see Kimberly, who is inside a stall.
Out in the hall, Scott silently pulls out the bathroom key that Mac had loaned him, and locks the door.
He and Ned give each other a high five and go back to the party.
As soon as they walk into the main room, all of the kids come running to them and race around them in a circle.
Scott: �Hey! What�s up with the midget brigade?�
Serena: �We�re playing tag!�
Avery: �Lucas is it cause he�s the only boy!�
They take off again, Christabel right up there with Avery and Serena, her long blonde hair messed up, a huge smile on her face.
Ned: �I can�t believe that Stefan is allowing this.�
Scott: �Your sister must have SOME persuasive skills.�
In the bathroom.
Alexis is holding her left shoe under the blow dryer when Kimberly comes out. They glare at each other as Kimberly begins to wash her hands.
Alexis: �Hello.�
Kimberly: �Hello.� She finishes washing her hands and then turns to leave. She tries opening the door, but it�s stuck. �What the hell?�
Alexis: �What?�
Kimberly: (angrily) �The door won�t open.� She begins to pound on it. �Hello? Is anyone out there? We�re locked in!�
Alexis suddenly begins to laugh.
Kimberly: �What the hell is so funny? I�m not seeing the humor here.�
Alexis: �Look at the floor.�
Kimberly looks down at the cocktail napkin that has been pushed under the door.
It reads: �You two ARE NOT allowed out until you make up. Love you, your husbands.�
Kimberly: �Ugh! Ned and Scott are acting like us!� she grimaces. �Well, like we used to. Back in the good old days.�
Alexis: (angrily) �You mean when you were screwing my boyfriend?�
Kimberly sits down on one of the chairs in the huge bathroom.
Kimberly: �Alexis, I never meant to hurt you.�
Alexis: �I don�t want to talk about it.�
Kimberly: �That�s too bad, because I refuse to sit in a bathroom all night. Now you don�t have to agree, you don�t even have to forgive me, I just want you to listen.
Alexis: (sitting on the other chair) �Fine.�
Kimberly: �Alexis, you have no idea how sorry I am for hurting you. I�m just going to try to explain this as best as I can. When you and I first met, I thought you were a stuck-up rich kid. I mean, I was a stuck-up rich kid too, but you were so much more mature than me- you knew exactly what you wanted to do with your life, you had focus. And then you had this great boyfriend, who just so happened to be the hottest guy at Harvard.�
Alexis smiles a little but doesn�t say anything.
Kimberly: �You know, Alexis, I�ve always been jealous of you. And the fact that you were so smart and beautiful, and always getting the highest grades in our class, if you hasn�t been my best friend, I would have beaten you to a pulp. I didn�t mean to steal Gregory from you, but he came to our dorm one night, and he was drunk... you were out... and he started kissing me... I didn�t let him stop... and I felt so guilty afterwards... but it made me want him more and more.�
Alexis: �But how could you have done that to me? You knew I loved him... and when I thought I was pregnant... you were still sleeping with him... how could you betray me like that...?�
Kimberly suddenly starts to cry.
Kimberly: �Alexis, please believe me. I am sorrier than you will ever know... if I could turn back time... I would never have done it... I�m so sorry.�
Alexis starts crying too.
Alexis: (in a low voice) �I forgive you.�
Kimberly: �What? What did you say?�
Alexis: �I forgive you, and I�m sorry for not listening to you before.�
Kimberly: �I�m sorry I was such a whore back then.�
Alexis: (laughing through her tears) �You weren�t a whore. You just had a lot of really good male friends.�
Kimberly smacks her on the arm playfully.
Alexis: �Let�s never let a stupid testosterone driven pathetic excuse for a lawyer come between us again.�
Kimberly: �Don�t worry, my significant other placement is already filled.� She smiles. �Besides, you�re the closest thing I have to a sister. I don�t want to lose you again.�
Alexis: �Me neither. You know, you are my sister in every sense of the word.�
They stand up and hug each other.
Kimberly goes over to the door and begins to bang on it.
Kimberly: �Scott Baldwin! You let us out right now!�
In the process of her door banging, Kimberly hits the door handle and the door, having been unlocked a good ten minutes ago, flies open and Ned and Scott fall into the bathroom.
Alexis: �Well, well, well. What do we have here?�
Scott: �We were just passing by.�
Kimberly: �Sure. Just how long were you two eavesdropping?�
Ned: (weakly) �We weren�t eavesdropping. How could you think that?� he smiles. �I take it you two are speaking to each other again?�
Alexis: �Yeah, but we�re not so sure about speaking to you two for locking us in.� she smiles. �Thank you.�
Ned puts his arms around Alexis and Scott takes Kimberly�s hand.
Scott: �Let�s get back out there before Jerry cuts his cake.�
They head out to the main room to see Stefan gaping at Christabel.
Alexis: �What�s going on?�
Christabel turns around to look at Alexis. Her face is covered with chocolate, there is a smudge in her hair, which has long since fallen out of the bow, and her dress sash is untied. She looks absolutely adorable.
Stefan: �Look at her!�
Alexis: �She looks like a normal child, Stefan. What�s the problem?�
Just then, Nikolas comes over with Emily.
Nikolas: �Alexis, I was wondering if Emily and I could stay at your place two weekends from now, since we have a little break then?�
Alexis: �You aren�t staying with us tonight?�
Emily: �Actually, we have to get back to school tonight.�
Stefan: �Hello, Emily. Hello, Nikolas.�
Nikolas: (trying to be cordial) �Hello, Father.� He smiles. �I see that Christabel is enjoying the chocolate ice cream.�
Stefan: �What kind of moron gave it to her?�
Mackenzie: (joining them) �I did.�
Stefan: (blushing) �Mackenzie, I meant, who gave it to her.�
Mackenzie: �Sure you did.� She gives him a quick kiss. �But I forgive you.�
Alexis: �Ned, who has Hannah and Olivia if you and Scott were with us?�
Ned: (grinning) �Julia kidnapped Hannah and Felicia has Olivia.�
Serena: (running up) �Mommy! Are you and Aunt Alexis friends again?�
Kimberly: �Yes, we are.�
Serena: �Me and Avery and Christabel wanted to know if you, Daddy, Ned and Alexis could take us to Discovery Zone next weekend.� She grins. �Mackenzie, you wanna come with us? Have you been there?�
Mackenzie: �No I haven�t, and I�d love to go.�
Scott: �I suppose we could take you guys there. Stefan, is it okay if we bring Christabel with us? Or do you want to come too?�
Stefan: �No, I don�t particularly want to go, and yes, you can take her, as long as you keep a close eye on her. She�s not used to places like that.�
Ned mouths �big surprise� at Alexis, who laughs.
Mackenzie: �I�ll take care of her.� She turns to Christabel. �Christabel, do you want to go with me and Avery and Aunt Alexis and everyone to play?�
Christabel: �YEAH!� she starts jumping up and down. �Cool!�
Stefan looks helplessly at Alexis, who just starts laughing.
Alexis: �This is called a kid, Stefan.�
Stefan rolls his eyes at her.
The following Saturday evening. Discovery Zone.
Alexis, Ned, Mackenzie, Kimberly, Scott, Bobbie, Jerry, Jax and Julia sit at a big table as Avery, Serena, Christabel and Lucas run around in the giant mazes.
Ned: �Oh goody, maybe that will wear her out so she�ll go right to sleep.�
Alexis: �Don�t count on it. Besides, Hannah will be getting us up all night anyway.�
Kimberly: �We really owe Monica and Lila for baby-sitting.�
Ned: �Nah, they love it. They love little kids.�
Alexis: (to everyone) �So, Lucy called today. She wants to know if we�re interested in performing in the Nurses� Ball.�
Kimberly: �Oh no, not again.�
Alexis: �I told her I had to talk to you guys before I gave an answer.�
Julia: �You mean all of us?�
Alexis: �No, I mean the girls performing together, and the boys together. Like at the Fire and Ice Ball.� She looks pointedly around the table. �That means you- Kimberly, Mackenzie, Julia and Bobbie.�
Mackenzie: �It sounds like fun.�
Julia, Bobbie and Kimberly look at her as if she�s grown horns.
Ned: (to Scott, Jax and Jerry) �Are you guys up for it?�
Jax: �I am. I hated the last one, but since this is for AIDS research, and Brenda was such a big believer in the cause...�
Jerry: �I will if Jax will.�
They look at Scott who shakes his head.
Scott: �It must be a Baldwin thing because I�m with Kim, I say no, hell no.�
Ned: �Oh come on. We can make it fun.�
Julia: �Fun how?�
Ned: �Let�s make it into a bet. Whoever�s act gets more donations has the losers cook dinner for them, and has to give them a private concert.�
Alexis: (laughing) �Sounds like fun.� She stiffens as Ned slides his hand up her thigh. �Come on, Kim.�
Kimberly: �Fine. If Scott will do it, I will.�
Serena: (running up) �We need more tokens!�
Scott: (giving them each a handful) �What, are you trying to make us broke?�
Kimberly: �Ignore your dad. We have a ton of tokens for all of you.�
Avery: �Goody!� They run off again.
Mackenzie: �Well I�m all for performing. We can really make it good.�
Jax: �Wait a minute, that isn�t fair. You have five people and we have four.�
Alexis: �You could ask Stefan.� She laughs. �Or not.�
Ned: (smiling evilly) �Wait, I�m having a thought and we can do it with four people.�
Julia: �Oh great. When Ned has a thought, it means trouble for the rest of us.�
Ned smiles innocently as he continues to stroke Alexis� inner thigh. She looks at him and smiles.
Alexis: (suddenly) �I�m going to go call Monica and remind her that Hannah won�t go to sleep without her pink pacifier. My cell phone is in the car.�
Ned: �I�ll come with you. I want to get another drink.� He looks over at the kids. �Will you make sure that Avery stays out of trouble?�
Scott: �No prob.�
Alexis and Ned get up from the table and walk off in a dignified manner. As soon as they get out of sight, Ned grabs Alexis� hand and pulls her down a small flight of stairs.
Alexis: �Ned? Where are we going?�
Ned: �If I don�t make love to you right now, I�m going to die. It�s been a week.� he leans
over and kisses her passionately. �I want you right now.�
Alexis: �And where exactly do you want to make love?�
Ned points down at the ball cage. It�s full of multi-colored plastic balls that kids jump in.
Alexis: �You have got to be kidding.�
Ned: �This is closed. No one is down here. All the kids are using the other one.�
He pulls her through the door and into the pit of plastic balls.
Alexis: (throwing a ball at his head) �Ned! You have got to be kidding!�
Ned: �Shh. Not so loud.� He grabs her and begins tearing her clothes off.
Alexis, recovering from her initial shock, begins unzipping his pants and taking his shirt off. They collapse, naked, into the sea of multi-colored balls and begin to make love.
Alexis moans as she feels Ned inside her, and then starts laughing.
Ned: �What?�
Alexis: �I was just thinking that this is easily the most twisted thing I�ve ever done.�
Just then, a group of kids come running down the stairs and they freeze.
Ned pulls Alexis completely under the balls so no one can see them. They don�t move an inch as the kids come into the room.
Kid #1: �This is closed! Let�s go upstairs.�
Kid #2: �Why is there a shoe in the ball pit?�
Ned fights to keep from laughing.
Kid #3: �Someone left it there, dummy.�
They run off and Ned pokes his head out a minute later.
Alexis: �I�m going to kill you for this.�
Ned: �No, you�re going to thank me later.�
They fight to be quiet as they continue to make love. Ned rolls over so Alexis is on the top, and she sits partially up, so she�s straddling him. Wrapping her legs around him, she leans down and slowly begins to kiss his chest.
Ned can�t help moaning.
Alexis: (whispering) �Do you know how good it feels when you�re inside me?�
Ned: �Oh god... Alexis...�
Alexis: �I never knew that a ball pit could be so kinky. I�m never going to forget this.� She leans down and kisses him passionately.
Ten minutes later, they�re back at the table, looking exactly as they had before they left the table.
Kimberly: �How are the kids?�
Alexis: �Uh... they�re fine. They�re both asleep.�
She and Ned grin at each other.