Kimberly: (sitting up in bed) �What was that?� she nudges Scott. �Scott, wake up. I hear something funny.�
Scott: �Huh?�
Kimberly: �There�s a rustling sound behind the wall... what if it�s a rat?�
Scott: �Kimberly, I am tired. Olivia is going to get us up in a couple hours, so why don�t we seize this opportunity and go to sleep?�
Kimberly: �I�m not kidding! I hear something!�
Scott: �Fine. I�ll call the exterminator in the morning.�
Kimberly: �Thank you.� She smiles. �I love you.�
Scott: �I love you too.� They go back to sleep.
The ELQ jet, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean.
Ned rolls off of Alexis, who is lying on the floor, their clothes thrown everywhere.
Alexis: �So that�s why they call it the friendly skies.�
Ned: (laughing) �Promise me that when we get home, we won�t get all uptight again, and we�ll spend more time together. This week has been great for us.�
Alexis: (leaning over and kissing him) �I know. I loved it.� She smiles teasingly. �And when we get home, you�ll get your present.�
Ned: �I can�t wait!�
Alexis: (softly) �I hope you like it.�
Ned: �If you picked it out, I�ll love it.�
Just then, Alexis� cell phone rings.
Alexis: (sitting up) �Hello?�
Kimberly: �Lex, it�s me. I need a favor.�
Alexis: �Kim, are you aware that I am 35,000 feet in the air right now...?�
Kimberly: �I�m sorry, I hope you don�t mind... I hope you had a great vacation... did you?�
Alexis: (smiling at Ned) �It was perfect.�
Kimberly: �Good. See, we seem to have rats in our house, and I was wondering if, well, can we stay with you for a couple days?�
Alexis: �You want to stay with us?� she looks at Ned. �For how long?�
Kimberly: �Scott said that with the baby, they would have to take special precautions with the extermination, and it will take a week and a half to do the whole thing.�
Ned: �Go ahead and tell her yes.�
Alexis: �Yeah, I suppose.�
Kimberly: �Thank you so much!�
Alexis hangs up the phone and turns to Ned.
Ned: �When are we being invaded by the Baldwins?�
Alexis: �In a couple days. I think that is what Kim said.�
Ned: �Well, in that case, we�re going to have to get in as much bonding as we can in the next few hours.� He pushes her back down on the floor. �Sound good?�
Alexis: �Shut up and kiss me.�
Ned lowers his mouth onto Alexis� and they begin to make love again.
Port Charles. That night.
Ned swings Alexis� Mercedes into the driveway of their house.
Ned: (teasingly) �I can�t believe that you let me drive your precious car.�
Alexis: �I�m still in the clouds from the plane ride home. Driving wouldn�t have been a very good idea.�
Ned: �That champagne on the plane was a nice touch.�
Alexis: �Yeah, the entire bottle.� She grins. �So, we did it five times, right?�
Ned: �I thought it was six.�
Alexis: �I think it was too.� She laughs. �It�s amazing what you can get accomplished on a flight from Jakarta to New York.�
Ned: �I think that we can officially be inducted into the mile-high club now.�
Alexis: (amused) �After six times? I think that we could be the presidents after that!� She leans over and kisses him. �Maybe we should have the pilot fly us around sometime for a few hours.�
Ned: �Gee, Alexis, most people get motion sickness at 35,000 feet. You get turned on. Who knew?�
Alexis: (poking him in the side) �We better get inside.�
They get out of the car, and getting their suitcases out of the trunk, go up the steps and open the door.
Sitting on the couches are Kimberly, Scott and Mackenzie. They�re watching a movie.
Alexis: (beyond shock) �What are you three doing here?�
Kimberly: (annoyed) �You told us that we could stay here, remember?�
Ned: �Mackenzie?�
Mackenzie: �Julia told me that we could stay here because Stefan is being such a jerk.�
Ned: �We?�
Mackenzie: �Me and Christabel.� She shrugs. �Julia said it was okay.�
Alexis: �And where the hell is Julia?�
Julia and Jax come into the room, Julia tucking her shirt into her pants. They both look flustered.
Julia: �Oh, you�re home!� she looks around. �Oh.�
Alexis: �How many people are in this house right now, not counting anyone who just returned from Bali, expecting an EMPTY house?�
Julia: �Well, there�s me, Jax, Kim, Scott, Mackenzie, Serena, Olivia, Avery, Hannah and Christabel. That makes... ten people, I believe.�
Ned: �That�s ten people too many.�
Alexis: �Never mind. I�ll deal with this in the morning. In the meantime, I am going to bed.�
Ned: (not noticing the piano) �Me too.� They head up the stairs and to their bedroom, where they put their suitcases.
Walking down the hall of the second floor, Alexis shakes her head as they pass a bedroom with Kim and Scott�s stuff thrown all over it, Olivia�s portable crib set up, Julia and Jax�s room, a room where Christabel and Serena are sleeping, and go into the nursery.
Hannah is sound asleep in her crib, her pacifier in her mouth.
Alexis: (whispering) �Is that not the most adorable thing?�
Ned: �She looks like an angel.� He grins. �An angel who is going to turn into a little devil in about two hours when she wakes up to be fed.�
They leave the room and go to Avery�s.
Avery is asleep in her bed, Victoria in her arms. Alexis and Ned watch her from the doorway for a few minutes, and then go back to their bedroom.
Ned: (collapsing onto the bed) �I am so tired.�
Alexis: �Huh?�
Ned: �Why are you suddenly off in la la land?�
Alexis: (gesturing to the door) �It�s what�s on the other side of that door. They were not supposed to be here when we got home. Not even our children.�
Ned: �Where�s my present, Mrs. Ashton? You promised me!�
Alexis yawns and looks pained for a minute, wondering how she can go about showing Ned his piano without anyone being there.
Ned: (looking closely at her) �On second thought, don�t worry about it, Lex. You can give it to me later. Now come over here.�
Alexis walks over to the bed and lays down in his arms.
Alexis: �It is good to be home, regardless of the chaos downstairs.�
Ned: (kissing her forehead) �I agree. Now go to sleep.�
Four hours later.
Alexis rolls over in bed to find that Ned is not there.
Alexis: �Ned?� she gets out of bed, and pulling her robe on, goes down the stairs. She stops dead in her tracks halfway down.
Ned is standing in front of the piano Alexis bought him. He turns around and looks at her.
Alexis: (in a low voice) �Happy anniversary.�
Ned: (a catch in his throat) �I love it.�
Alexis: (going over to him) �I hoped you would. I know that you haven�t been into your music since you were married to Lois, but I was hoping...�
Ned: �Hoping what?�
Alexis: �That you would write me a song. And your daughters too.�
Ned: �I�ll write you a million songs.� He grins. �And if it wasn�t four in the morning, I would sit down and play you something right now.�
Alexis: �Do you really like it?�
Ned: �Alexis, do I ever lie to you?� he puts his arms around her. �I love it.�
Alexis reaches up and kisses him on the lips, and then her lips begin to travel down to his neck, and then his chest, and so on, so forth.
Ned lowers her to the ground and slips her pajamas off. They make love silently and soulfully, never wanting to let go of each other.
The next morning.
Ned wakes up to the sound of footsteps on the stairs leading to the kitchen. He opens his eyes, and focuses on Alexis, who is lying next to him. Panicked, he shakes her.
Ned: (hissing) �Alexis, wake up.�
Alexis: �Later.�
Ned: �No, now. Unless, you want everyone to see where we are right now.�
Alexis sits up, and realizes that they are lying naked under the piano. Her eyes bug out.
Kimberly: (from the kitchen) �I wonder where Ned and Alexis are. Their bedroom door was open but they weren�t in bed.�
Scott: �Maybe they went for walk. I�ll see if they�re in the living room.�
Ned quickly grabs Alexis� hand and picks up their pajamas, pulling her into the coat closet.
Alexis: (under her breath) �And just how long are we going to stay here?�
Ned: (handing her pajamas and robe to her) �Put these on.�
Alexis: (laughing) �I can not believe this!�
Ned: (kissing her) �I can. By the way, good morning, Mrs. Ashton.�
Alexis: (kissing him back) �I can�t believe it... under a piano...� she laughs.
Ned: �I didn�t hear any complaints from you before.� He puts his boxers back on, and throws his robe over them.
Alexis: �I�m not complaining. Not at all.� She smiles as she puts her creme silk gown on with the matching robe.
They emerge from the closet, and holding hands, go into the kitchen.
Kimberly and Scott are sitting at the table, drinking coffee.
Scott: �Where were you two?�
Alexis and Ned look guiltily at each other, fighting back a laugh.
Alexis: �We were reading the paper in the living room.�
Jax: (joining them) �Oh, good, you have the paper. I need to see the financial section. Where is it?�
Alexis: �Well, uh...�
Ned: (smoothly) �We put it back out on the doorstep.�
Jax: �And that would be because...?�
Alexis: �We thought that you might want to get it yourself.� She laughs. �Sorry.�
Kimberly, Scott and Jax look at Alexis oddly, as she stares down at the table.
Just then, Avery and Serena come running into the room.
Avery: �Mommy! Daddy! You�re home!� she runs into Ned�s arms, and then hugs Alexis.
Alexis: �We missed you, Avery Madelynn. Were you good for Jax and Julia?�
Avery: �Yep. Uncle Jax watched Spice World with me four times.�
Ned: �And, Jax, did you like it?�
Jax: �Totally.� He grins sarcastically. �It�s my new favorite movie.�
Avery: �Daddy, did you bring me something?�
Ned: �Hmm. I don�t know. Did we bring her something, Lex?�
Alexis: �I�m not sure.�
Avery looks shocked.
Ned: �Of course we did! We brought something for everyone!�
Avery: �Serena too?�
Alexis: �Yep. And Hannah, and Christabel and everyone!�
Kimberly: �Serena, Avery, where is Christabel?�
Serena: �Getting dressed. She said something about a proper appearance.�
Alexis laughs. The kids look confused.
Ned: �Hey, Avery, how do you feel about boats?�
Avery: �Why, did you buy one?�
Ned: �I bought Mommy one as a present. It�s a sailboat.�
Jax, Kimberly and Scott look impressed.
Avery: �Can we send Hannah to Tibet on it? The Spice Girls went to Tibet!�
Alexis: �Um, no. She belongs to us permanently. And wouldn�t Hannah be lonely in Tibet?�
Serena: �You could send Olivia with her. Mom and Dad won�t mind.�
Alexis looks up at Jax, who is standing next to the sink.
Jax: (mouthing) �Sibling rivalry.�
Later that morning. The Port Charles Marina.
Ned: �It�s right this way. Slip number twenty eight.�
They walk down the dock, Ned carrying Avery and Alexis pushing Hannah�s stroller.
Stopping in front of slip twenty eight, Alexis can�t help gasping. Anchored to the dock is a white sailboat so big, yacht with sails is a more appropriate description. In ice blue script on the back, it says �The Brinna... Port Charles, New York.�
Ned: �What do you think?�
Alexis: �I love it!�
Ned: �Shall we go aboard?�
Alexis: �By all means.� She smiles, still in shock.
Ned sets Avery down next to Alexis and jumps onto the boat. He picks Avery up and puts her on it, and then helps Alexis lift Hannah�s stroller. Alexis steps forward to get on, but Ned stops her by picking her up and lifting her onto the massive boat.
Ned: �It�s all yours.�
Alexis: �This is amazing!� she begins to walk around the huge boat, and goes down into the galley and bedroom. There are two floors on the boat, and hanging on the wall of the galley is a framed picture of Alexis and Ned at their wedding.
Alexis goes over to Ned and gives him a long kiss.
Avery: �Does the boat just stay here?�
Ned: �Nope, Tigger, we can go sailing anywhere we want to go.� He looks at Alexis. �What do you say we take it for a spin around the harbor?�
Alexis: �I am so there!� she looks at the kids. �What about these two?�
Ned: �Avery, come here. You have to wear a life jacket.�
Avery: �I don�t want to.�
Ned: �You have to. You can�t swim well enough.�
Avery: �NO! I won�t wear it!�
Alexis: �Uh, Avery, the Spice Girls wear life jackets in the movie, you know.�
Avery: (interested) �They do? Even Posh?�
Ned: �Yep. Now are you willing to wear it?�
Avery: �Okay.�
Ten minutes later, Hannah is napping in her stroller, which is securely locked down to the floor in the bedroom, and Avery is sitting in a seat on the first level.
Up on the top, Ned and Alexis are sitting as Ned drives the boat and demonstrates to Alexis what he is doing.
Alexis: (the wind blowing through her hair) �This feels incredible.�
Ned: �I�m glad that you like it.� He smiles. �What do you think of throwing a little party for our friends aboard the boat next week?�
Alexis: �I�ll get the invitations if you buy stamps.�
Ned: �I�ll take that as a yes.� He looks down at Avery and lowers his voice. �We�ll have to come out here ourselves and...�
Alexis: �...christen my sailboat?� She laughs. �Count on it.�
One week later.
Aboard the Brinna. Night is beginning to fall as Ned, Alexis, Mackenzie, Stefan, Julia, Jax, Kimberly, Scott, Monica, Alan, Bobbie, Jerry, Nikolas and Emily hang out.
All of the kids are being baby-sat at the Firehouse.
Ned has taken the boat out to the middle of the bay, and the stars are starting to come out.
Alexis: �So, how do you like my boat?�
Julia: �It rocks! I can�t believe how sweet that is of Ned to buy it for you!�
Ned: (coming up behind Alexis and putting his arms around her waist) �I heard that. Julia, don�t be jealous if Jax hasn�t bought you one.�
Jax: �Whatever you say, Ned.�
Ned: (in Alexis� ear) �Alexis, I must say that you look sensational in that dress.�
Alexis grins. She is wearing a short satin black dress with spaghetti straps. Her hair is up in a French twist, and the dress shows miles of her long legs.
She looks around at the couples conversing, but doesn�t see Mackenzie or Stefan.
In the galley. Mackenzie is pouring herself another glass of champagne when Stefan comes up behind her.
Stefan: �Mackenzie, may I speak with you?�
Mackenzie: �I suppose.� They head back into the bedroom. �What is it, Stefan?�
Stefan: �I am sorry for treating you so badly.� He smiles sadly. �Mackenzie, I miss you. Please come home.�
Mackenzie: �You expect me to just forgive you after you say you�re sorry?�
Stefan: �I was hoping...�
Mackenzie: �Because I do.� She goes to him and puts her arms around him. �I�m sorry, too, for being such a bitch about the whole thing. I love you, Stefan.�
Stefan pulls her close and they begin kissing.
Just then, there is a commotion on deck that makes them break apart.
Monica: �ALAN! What are you doing?�
Stefan and Mackenzie run up the stairs to the main level, where everyone is standing, looking at the front of the boat.
Alan (who is on pills again) is standing at the bow of the boat, his arms thrown wide.
Alan: �I�m the king of the world! I�m the...�
There is a loud splash as Alan falls head first off the boat and into the water.
Everyone rushes to the front of the boat to see what happened.
Alan: (coming to the surface) �Hey!�
Monica: �Are you okay?�
Alan: (looking straight at the boat) �WHERE�S THE BOAT?�
Monica rolls her eyes in disgust.
Monica: �Ned, do you have to throw him the life preserver?�
Ned laughs as he tosses the life preserver overboard and Alan grabs it.
Alan: �WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?�
Ned begins to pull Alan up, but he can�t do it by himself.
Ned: �Scott, help me.�
Scott comes over to aid Ned, but they can�t pull Alan all the way up. They stop pulling halfway up to take a break.
Alan is dangling in the air, holding onto the life preserver, grinning at everyone.
Scott: �Jax, Nikolas, Stefan, your assistance please?�
They come sauntering over as Alan begins yelling.
Alan: �Hey! I�m drowning!� he doesn�t realize that he isn�t even in the water.
It takes Ned, Jax, Scott, Stefan, Nikolas and Monica to pull Alan back onto the boat.
Alan: �That was fun. Can we do it again?�
Everyone groans and walks away.
Alan: (aloud) �What? What did I do? Hey, I know where we are! I bought Monica�s luggage down here at the docks! Does anyone want some luggage?�
Monica: �Alan, do us all a favor and jump overboard again.�
Alan: �Nope. I am proud of the fact that I have NEVER fallen off of a boat.�
Mackenzie: (disbelieving) �You just did.�
Alan: (glaring at her) �Who is this little blonde gnat? I keep seeing her!�
Mackenzie: �I�m your niece, remember?�
Alan: �You are? I thought Ned was my only niece.�
Alexis starts laughing into her hands.
Ned pokes her in the side and rolls his eyes.
Alan: �Anyone up for a swim? I�m too hot in these clothes.�
Everyone just stares at him as he drips cold water all over the place.