Aboard the ELQ jet, headed back to Port Charles.
Ned and Alexis are sitting on one of the couches, snuggled against each other.
Kimberly: (sardonically) �You two look cozy.�
Ned responds by kissing the top of Alexis� head. She smiles.
Alexis: �And?�
Stefan: (sarcastically) �So, is Avery to begin her school career at a public school?� he rolls his eyes. �Really, Alexis, I can�t believe that you aren�t willing to help her get an acceptable education.�
Ned: (condescendingly) �People skills are fifty percent of an education. Locking Avery in an ivory tower isn�t going to do anything except teach her how to be an introvert.�
Stefan: �But...�
Alexis: �Port Charles Elementary School is one of the finest public schools on the East Coast. Why don�t you consider sending Christabel there next year?�
Stefan: �You have got to be kidding me. Common children go there.�
Scott: �Serena goes there.�
Bobbie: �So does Lucas.�
Stefan: (blushing) �That�s not what I meant. I meant that when you put children like ours in school with common children from walks of life that we are not used to, things can happen to our children.�
Scott: (trying to not laugh) �Stefan, kids aren�t concerned with who has more money, or whose parents own private islands and their own company. Their biggest worry is who threw dirt at who during recess.�
Stefan: �Dirt...�
Mackenzie: (kissing his cheek) �You know, that brown stuff on the ground that turns into mud when in rains?� she grins. �I used to get into mud fights with the other girls at boarding school.�
Julia: (grinning) �For that, I�m glad that you weren�t living with me and Brenda. We would have beat you to a pulp if you had touched us with mud.�
Kimberly: �What, Julia, were you too busy reading your magazines on how to be a proper lady?�
Julia: �Nope. I was reading Nancy Drew books with Brenda.�
Stefan: �Who?�
Bobbie: �You have got to be kidding me. You have never read a Nancy Drew book? She�s the teen detective. What about the Hardy Boys?�
Stefan looks at her blankly.
Alexis: �Anyway, Stefan, are you at least considering sending Christabel to pre-school for a couple days a week? And I do not mean tutors.�
Stefan: �No.�
Mackenzie: �I think he means he�s thinking about it.� She gives him a seductive smile. �Aren�t you, Stefan?�
Stefan: �No comment.�
Just then, the pilot comes over the loudspeaker.
Pilot: �Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts for landing.�
An hour later.
The Ashtons� house.
Ned and Alexis walk through the door, followed by Stefan and Mackenzie.
Christabel�s nanny, Diana, is sitting on the couch watching Spice World with Avery and Christabel.
Avery: (looking up) �Mommy! Daddy! You�re home!� she runs to them and hugs them.
Christabel: �Father! Mackenzie!� she stands up, and smoothing her skirt, goes over to Stefan and hugs him around the legs.
Ned: �Did you two have fun while we were gone?�
Christabel: �The Spice Girls are cool!�
Stefan: (under his breath) �Oh no.�
Christabel: �Father, did you know that Avery is going to school in two weeks?�
Stefan: �Yeah. And?�
Christabel: �I want to go to school too.�
Alexis starts laughing into her hands.
Ned: �Diana, where�s Hannah?�
Diana: �Sound asleep. She was so good while you were gone. Not very fussy at all.�
Stefan: �Come on, Christabel, we�d better get going.�
Christabel: �So, can I go to school?�
Stefan: �It�s may I, and I don�t know.�
Christabel: �It would be bomb.�
Stefan: (aghast) �What did you say?�
Christabel: �Bomb. They say it on TV.�
Stefan gives Ned and Alexis a dirty look. Mackenzie laughs.
They get Christabel�s stuff together, and then leave with Diana to head to Wyndemere.
Alexis: �Home sweet home.�
Later that night.
Ned and Alexis are lying in bed playing with Hannah, who is wide awake.
Ned: (to Hannah) �So, did you miss us, gorgeous?�
Hannah gurgles in agreement, and smiles up at him.
Avery: (from the doorway) �May I get into bed with you?�
Ned: �Of course. Come over here.�
Avery climbs up on the bed and snuggles under the covers between her parents.
Avery: �Did you have fun in Vegas?�
Ned: �Yep.� He grins at Alexis. �Lots of fun.�
Alexis: (laughing) �We bought you some stuff and we�ll give it to you in the morning, okay?�
Avery: �Okay.� She pauses. �What did you get me?�
Ned: �Can�t tell.�
Avery: �Please? Please? Tell me!�
Alexis: �You�re just as bad as your daddy.�
Avery: �What do you mean?�
Alexis: �You know the piano I gave Daddy? Well, he wanted to know what I bought him and I wouldn�t tell him.�
Avery: �That isn�t very nice. You should always tell us what you bought us.�
Ned: �I agree.� He and Avery grin at Alexis.
Avery: �But Daddy, you never play the piano.�
Ned: �Well, I haven�t had the time. But I am going to.�
Avery: �How �bout now?�
Alexis: �Yeah, how about now?�
Hannah gurgles her agreement as she sticks her fingers into her mouth.
Alexis: (in a little girl voice) �Come on, Ned, play something for your family.�
Ned: �No way. It�s ten o�clock at night. Avery, you need to get back into bed.�
Avery: �Please? Please, Daddy? Please, please, please?�
Ned: (throwing his hands up in the air) �Fine!� he gets out of bed and puts his robe on, and picking Avery up, carries her downstairs with Alexis and Hannah behind them.
Ned: (sitting down at the piano with Avery next to him) �Any requests, Miss Ashton?�
Avery: �Play something �mantic for Mommy.�
Ned: �Something romantic?� he ponder this. �Okay, here goes.�
He places his hands on the piano keys and begins playing the opening chords to �Right Here Waiting For You� by Monica (or Richard Marx)
Ned: (singing) �Oceans apart, day after day, as I slowly go insane. I hear your voice on
the line, but it doesn�t stop the pain, If I see you next to never, how can we stay
forever? Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you.
Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you.�
Alexis looks at him, her heart filled with unadulterated love.
Ned: �I took for granted, all the times, that I thought would last so long. I hear the
laughter, I taste the tears, but I can�t get near you now. Oh can you see it, baby,
you�ve got me going crazy... Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right
here waiting for you. Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks, I will be right
here waiting for you.�
Avery: �You rule, Daddy!�
Ned: (smiling down at her) �I wonder how we can survive this romance. But in the end, if
I�m with you, I�ll take the chance...�
He plays an instrumental montage that echoes throughout the room. Alexis and Avery look at him in utter amazement.
Ned: �Baby, baby, yeah, whatever it takes, whatever I do, I�m gonna be right here, right
here waiting for you. Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks, I will be right
here waiting for you. Oh, I love you. Whatever it takes, whatever you do, wherever
you go, I�m never leaving you... Ooh, I�m gonna be right here waiting for you.�
He plays the final chords and then looks up. There are tears in Alexis� eyes.
Ned: (in a low voice) �You liked it?�
Alexis: �I loved it. You�re amazing.�
Avery: �Maybe the Spice Girls need a new piano player! You could do it!�
Ned: �Thank you, both of you.� He smiles. �It felt good to play again.�
Alexis: �And I hope that you do it again soon.�
Ned: �Count on it.�
Wyndemere.
Mackenzie is sitting on the bed brushing her hair, when Stefan comes in.
Stefan: (removing his robe) �Christabel told me four times when I was putting her to bed that she wants to attend school.�
Mackenzie: �Why are you so against it?�
Stefan: �I do not want my daughter attending a mediocre public school. Surely you can understand that, Mackenzie. You went to boarding schools.�
Mackenzie: �And I was miserable.� She pauses. �Stefan, I know that I�m not Christabel�s mother, but I do think of her as my daughter in a way. And I think that she would be happier at the Port Charles Childrens Center for preschool than she would be with a tutor, or at boarding school.�
Stefan: �I just don�t want her to be an average child.�
Mackenzie: �Stefan, I�m not going to tell you how to raise your daughter. However, I want you to think about this, I mean really think about it. Do you really want to raise Christabel to be as isolated as Nikolas was for all those years?�
Stefan doesn�t say anything. He just looks at her.
One week later. The first day of school for Avery.
Alexis: (going into Avery�s room) �Avery, are you awake?�
Avery: (under the covers) �I don�t want to go to school.�
Alexis: �Why not? You were excited last night. What happened?�
Avery: (about to cry) �I�m not going to know anyone! Serena is in a different grade!�
Alexis: (sitting down at the end of the bed) �You�ll see her at recess. Besides, Avery Ashton, you are one awesome kid. You�ll make a ton of friends just like Serena.�
Avery: �Did you have a ton of friends?�
Alexis: �Not exactly. Remember how I told you that Uncle Stefan and I had tutors and we went to school in our house? But you�re a lucky girl because you get to go to a real school, and be in a classroom with other kids...�
Avery: �But what if they don�t like me?�
Alexis: �Well, you already have friends at your school. Serena, Lucas and Georgie go there. Don�t you want to go play with them?�
Avery: (slowly) �I guess so.� She climbs out of bed and sits on Alexis� lap.
Alexis: �Good.� She kisses the top of her head. �You�ll have fun. I promise.�
Avery: �What should I wear?�
Alexis: �Anything you want. This is your special day.�
Avery: �I thought that was my birthday.�
Alexis just shakes her head.
Ten minutes later, Alexis comes downstairs with Avery.
Ned: �Don�t you look darling, Miss Ashton.�
Avery spins around to show off her navy blue dress with little white flowers, white sandals and braided pigtails with scrunchies that match the dress.
Avery: �Daddy, are you going to come with Mommy when she takes me to school?�
Ned: �Of course I will. Hannah too.�
Avery: �Okay.� She pauses. �But Hannah can�t drool on me in my cool dress.�
Alexis and Ned laugh as Avery looks at them seriously.
Avery: �Are you sure that they�re going to like me?�
Ned: �Of course. And if it turns out that I�m wrong, you can beat your mom up.�
Alexis: �Excuse me?�
Ned just grins at her.
Wyndemere.
Stefan is sitting on his bed in his robe when Mackenzie comes in, dressed in a black suit.
Mackenzie: �Stefan, I am only going to tell you this once. Registration for PCCC pre-school starts at eight thirty. This is your last chance.�
Stefan: �I still say no. I do not want Christabel subjected to... to...�
Mackenzie: �To what? The outside world?� she kneels down next to him. �Stefan, I know that Christabel is your baby. Nikolas is already an adult, and she�s your last child. But you can�t put her in a glass cage and leave her there. She�s going to grow up whether you want her to or not.�
Stefan: �It�s just so hard sometimes. If only I had known what Katherine would have wanted for her...�
Mackenzie: �You�re her father, Stefan, and you are raising Christabel, just like you raised Nikolas. It is your decision how Christabel will live her life.�
Stefan: (in a low voice) �You�re right.� He stands up. �Christabel, come in here.�
Christabel: (running into the room) �Yes, Father?�
Stefan: �Go get dressed. I�m taking you to school.�
Christabel: (her eyes lighting up) �The school Avery used to go to?�
Stefan: (sighing) �Yes. Do you still want to go?�
Christabel: �Yes! Yes!� she runs over and hugs Stefan around the legs. �You�re the best daddy in the world. I mean, best father.�
Stefan: �No, you were right the first time.� He smiles wistfully as Christabel runs back to her room to get dressed.
Twenty minutes later, Stefan is sitting on the couch waiting for Christabel and Mackenzie, who is helping her get dressed.
Christabel: (coming down the stairs) �How do I look?� she is wearing a khaki skirt, a white baby t-shirt with Gap on it in forest green letters, and forest green low tops. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a pony-tail.
Mackenzie shoots Stefan a look that clearly says, �be nice.�
Stefan: �You look wonderful. Are you ready to go?�
Christabel: �Yep.� She walks over and takes Stefan�s hand. �Thank you, Father.�
Stefan: �You�re welcome.�
Port Charles Elementary School. Room 11.
The Ashtons walk into the room, Avery clutching Alexis� hand in a vice grip. Children and parents are milling around the room talking to each other and to the teacher.
Woman: (coming over) �Well hello there.� She holds her hand out to Alexis. �I�m Mrs. Savitch, the kindergarten teacher. And who is this?�
Avery: �My name is Avery Ashton and I am five.�
Mrs. Savitch: (holding her hand out to Avery) �It�s a pleasure to meet you, Avery. We�re going to have a lot of fun this year.�
Avery: �Do you know who the Spice Girls are?�
Mrs. Savitch: �I sure do. I have a seven year daughter named Taylor who loves them.�
Avery: (grinning) �Mommy, you guys can leave.�
Alexis: �Is that so?�
Mrs. Savitch: �I have to go talk to my assistant for a moment, so please excuse me. It�s been a pleasure meeting you Mr. And Mrs. Ashton, and I assure you that Avery will be in great hands here.�
Ned: �I can see that.�
Voice: (as the teacher walks away) �Well, well. It�s the Cassadine princess bringing her daughter to school.�
Alexis and Ned turn around to see Luke Spencer. With him is Laura and their five year old daughter, Lulu.
Ned: �Luke. Laura. What are you doing here?�
Laura: �It�s Lesley Lu�s first day of kindergarten. I assume that it�s your daughter�s too?�
Alexis: (to Avery) �Avery, you remember Mrs. Spencer. She�s Nikolas� mommy. And this is her daughter Lulu.�
Avery and Lulu eye each other warily.
Avery: �Do you know who the Spice Girls are?�
Lulu: �Singers, right?�
Avery: �You have a lot to learn.� She smiles. �Do you want to see my notebook? It has them on it.�
Lulu: �Sure. Mine has a kitty on it.�
They walk off together and sit down at one of the tables as their parents watch.
Laura: �It�s a relief knowing that Lulu will have someone she knows in class.�
Luke: �Aw, sweet. The littlest Cassadine of all. Actually, isn�t she the oldest Cassadine and Quartermaine mix?� he laughs.
Ned: �I am constantly in wonder of how Laura puts up with you.�
Laura: (laughing) �Me too.�
They watch as Avery and Lesley Lu show their school supplies off to each other.
Laura: (looking at Hannah, who is asleep in her stroller) �And who is this little angel?�
Alexis: �This is Hannah Grace, our other daughter.�
Laura: �She�s so adorable! How old?�
Alexis: �Five months.�
Laura: �She�s too cute. Have you talked to Nikolas lately?�
Alexis: �He told me that he was going to come down in a few weeks to visit.�
Laura: �That�s great. Our last phone call got cut short.�
Luke: �Aw too bad.� He looks at his watch. �We have to get going.�
They all walk over to the table to say goodbye to the girls.
Avery: (as Alexis gives her a hug) �You were right! I already have a friend.�
Alexis: �Now you don�t have to beat me up.�
Avery: (laughing) �Were you scared?�
Alexis: �Totally.� She smiles. �I�ll be back to pick you up at noon, okay?�
Avery: �Bye.�
Ned: �If you need us...�
Avery: �Bye Daddy. Bye Mommy. Bye Hannah. I�ll be fine.� She waves at them as they walk out of the room and leave the school.
Ned: (in the car) �Well, she sure got over that self-conscious thing fast.�
Alexis: �Luckily for us.� She pauses. �I wonder what it would have been like to attend a school like that.�
Ned: �You went to school.�
Alexis: �Yeah, Harvard. But up until then, it was just me and Stefan.�
Ned: �Speaking of your brother, I wonder if he agreed to send Christabel to school.�
Alexis: �Knowing him, he won�t decide until she�s thirty.� They laugh.
Meanwhile, the Cassadine�s limo pulls up in front of the PCCC and Stefan and Christabel climb out and head up the stairs.
Stefan: �Are you sure you want to do this?�
Christabel: �Yes. I am sure. I am sure, I am sure, I am sure.�
Stefan: (grinning) �Okay, okay. Just checking.�
Christabel: �Will you miss me when you�re at work?�
Stefan: �I sure will.� He bends down and gives her a kiss on the top of her head. �Now, you know my cell phone number, right?�
Christabel: �873-2241. I�ll be okay. Avery liked it.�
Stefan: �Maybe so, but your cousin is an entirely different person.�
He opens the door and they go inside. Children are running around a huge room, playing with blocks and blowing bubbles.
The room has a large carpeted pit in the center for story time. In an adjoining room is a slide, seesaw and four ride-in cars on a track. There are dolls, games, paints and crayons. It looks more like a place to play than a school.
Christabel: (in awe) �Wow.�
Stefan: (impressed in spite of himself) �It does look like an interesting place.� He looks around. �I wonder where the teacher is.� He spots a tall woman wearing a nametag that says Mrs. Ross on it. They go over to her.
Stefan: �Hello, you must be the teacher here.�
Mrs. Ross: �Well, one of them. There are four of us.�
Stefan: �I�m Stefan Cassadine, and this is my daughter, Christabel.�
Mrs. Ross: �It�s a pleasure to meet you. How old are you, Christabel?�
Christabel: �I�m four.�
Just then, a little girl with brown hair in a braid comes running up to them.
Girl: (to Christabel) �Hi! My name is Kate!�
Christabel: �My name is Christabel. Do you go here?�
Kate: �Yep. Do you want to come play tag with us?�
Christabel: �Us who?�
Kate: �Me, Ryan and Sarah. We�re having a lot of fun.�
Christabel: �Okay.� She tugs on Stefan�s pant legs. �Bye, Father.�
Stefan looks up in surprise as Christabel runs off with Kate.
Kate: (as they walk away) �Why do you call your daddy Father?�
Christabel: �I don�t know. That�s what my brother calls him. He�s a grown-up.�
Kate: �You should try calling him daddy.�
Stefan: (to Mrs. Ross) �...and here is my cell phone number in case you need to reach me. I keep it with me at all times. And here is my beeper number...�
Mrs. Ross: �Mr. Cassadine, relax. Christabel is going to be just fine.�
Stefan: �Does my anxiety show?� he smiles ruefully. �She�s my youngest.�
Mrs. Ross: �It�s always hard when the littlest one leaves the nest. But she�ll be just fine.�
Stefan: �Please call me if...�
Mrs. Ross: �I will.� She smiles. �Have a good morning, Mr. Cassadine.�
Stefan turns to leave, and waves to Christabel as he heads out the door.
Christabel: (yelling) �Bye Daddy!� she runs off after her new friends.
Stefan smiles and leaves.
ELQ. Alexis is working at her desk when there is a knock at the door.
Alexis: �Come in.�
Stefan comes into the room.
Alexis: �Stefan, what are you doing here?�
Stefan: �I was headed for work. I... I just dropped Christabel off at pre-school.�
Alexis: �You did? You finally gave in?�
Stefan: �You should have seen her running around with the other little kids. She looked so happy that I can�t change my mind now.�
Alexis: �You�re never going to guess who Avery made friends with in her kindergarten class. Lesley Lu Spencer.�
Stefan: �Luke�s daughter?�
Alexis: �One and the same. She�s an adorable child. They hit it off right away.�
They sit in silence for a moment.
Stefan: �Can you believe this? We went from childhood cousins to adult siblings sending their daughters off to school.�
Alexis: �I know.� She looks wistful. �Back in the day, it was just you and me against the world. And I wouldn�t have wanted it any other way.�
Stefan: �I would have given my life to protect you, Alexis.�
Alexis: �You always did, Stefan. You always did.�
Stefan: (upset) �No, I did not. That horrible day, when I found you...�
Alexis: �Stefan, I don�t want to talk about it.�
Stefan: �You�ve never mentioned it.�
Alexis: �There�s a reason for that. I don�t want anyone to know.�
Stefan: �Anyone meaning Ned?�
Alexis: �Stefan, I never want to go back to those memories again. I have a good life now. Nothing can hurt me now.�
Across town, a private plane touches down at the Port Charles Airport. A figure steps out onto the tarmac and lifts its� head to the sky.
Voice: �Port Charles, we meet once again.�