Stefan is laying in bed, looking down at Mackenzie, who is fast asleep. Just then, she opens her eyes and looks up at him.
Mackenzie: (sleepily) �What are you doing awake?�
Stefan: �I was just thinking about how much I love you.�
Mackenzie: �I love you too, Stefan.� She snuggles close to him and lays her head on his chest. �You�re the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.�
Stefan: �You don�t have to come tomorrow.�
Mackenzie: �I want to. I have this need to be there for you during this.�
Stefan sighs and runs his hands through her long blonde hair.
Mackenzie looks up at him as he looks down at her.
They know that this is the moment that they don�t want to pass.
Mackenzie: (her eyes full of desire) �Make love to me, Stefan.�
Stefan: (hesitant) �I don�t want to hurt you.�
Mackenzie: �You won�t.�
Stefan leans down and begins to softly kiss her.
Their kiss escalates and they begin to make slow, passionate love all through the night.
The next morning.
The Port Charles Courthouse.
Alexis, Ned, Stefan and Mackenzie walk in, the two couples holding hands.
Kimberly and Scott are standing by the door to the courtroom, waiting for them.
Scott: �Good morning, all.�
Ned and Kimberly exchange a nervous look.
Kimberly: (giving Mackenzie a hug) �I�m glad to see that you�re feeling better.�
Mackenzie: �Thanks. I�ll be 100% better when Stefan gets off for Stavros� murder.�
Scott: �I am glad to see that you are such an optimist about this.�
Mackenzie: �I am.� She looks at Stefan. �I really, really am.�
Twenty minutes later.
Stefan, Kimberly and Scott are seated at the defendant�s table inside the courtroom.
Sitting in the first row of seats behind them are Mackenzie, Ned and Alexis. All three of them are looking intently at the judge.
Judge: �Court is now in session in the case of Cassadine versus Cassadine. I will start with opening remarks from the prosecution.�
Steven Hall gets up, and with a smarmy look at Stefan, heads up to the front.
Steven: �This is a simple matter. Stavros Cassadine was a good man. He loved his family, especially his mother, Helena, and the boy he thought was his son, Nikolas. He is not the terrible man that his brother is painting him to be.�
Stefan looks like he is going to get up and hit the lawyer.
Steven: �Stavros Cassadine was living aboard his mother, Helena�s yacht, when he returned to Port Charles. He had been living in Brazil, doing an extensive course of rehabilitation after being shot and left to die nineteen years ago.�
He pauses for emphasis before going on.
Steven: �Stavros was out for a walk on the night of September thirteenth, when he stopped to talk with his half-sister, Alexis Ashton, and then a gun went off. A gun that was fired by Stefan Cassadine, his younger brother.�
Alexis shoots a nasty look at Helena, who smiles venomously at her.
Steven: �So Stefan Cassadine decided to take the lowest road possible. He let his brother in law, Ned Ashton, take the rap for the murder, because he happened to have been down at the docks waiting for Alexis. He finally admitted that he killed Stavros during Ned�s trial for the murder.� He pauses. �And since Stefan has admitted that he killed his brother in an act of cold-blooded hate, he should pay for this crime. Society needs to be safe, and with a murderer walking around, the streets are not safe. Stefan Cassadine decides to go to prison for the rest of his life.� He pauses. �The prosecution rests.�
The judge nods in interest and then looks over at Kimberly and Scott.
Judge: �Would the defense now like to give its arguments?�
Kimberly and Scott look at each other and then Scott nods at her.
Kimberly: (getting up and heading to the front) �Stavros Cassadine was a horrible man. He kidnapped and raped Laura Spencer. He beat and raped his half sister, Alexis. When he showed up alive in Port Charles, he burned Laura�s house down, bombed a party at Caf� Mattice where both Stefan and Alexis were, severely injuring Stefan�s girlfriend, Mackenzie, in the process, and worst of all, he kidnapped Alexis and held her hostage on a stolen boat.�
She pauses.
Kimberly: �Alexis managed to get away on September thirteenth, and as she was fleeing the docks, Stavros caught up with her and tried to kill her. She screamed for help and her brother, Stefan, who was down at the docks searching for her, heard her screams.�
She looks at the judge first, and then at Stefan.
Kimberly: �Did Stefan Cassadine kill his brother? Yes. But did he do it in cold blood? No. Stefan has been protecting Alexis her entire life, and he didn�t want Stavros to hurt her. He shot Stavros in defense of his sister when he saw him trying to kill her.� She smiles slightly. �Stefan Cassadine loves his family above all else. He can not stand for anything to be hurting them, so he did the only thing that he could to protect his little sister. He put a stop to the man who was trying to kill her.�
Ned smiles triumphantly at Helena, who glares at him. He takes Alexis� hand and holds it tightly. She smiles slightly at him.
Kimberly: �Your Honor, the right thing to do here is to let Stefan Cassadine go. He did not intentionally murder Stavros Cassadine. He did it for his sister, who would have died if not for him. He loves her so much that he would be willing to go to prison for her. This is a man with a heart. Stefan Cassadine did not murder his brother. He saved his sister from him.� She looks down. �The defense rests.�
She walks regally back to her seat and sits down. Scott takes her hand under the table. He looks impressed.
Judge: �There will be a twenty minute recess for me to decide if this case will be going to trial.� He bangs his gavel. �Court is adjourned.� He gets off of the stand and heads to his chambers.
Kimberly gives the judge a significant look as he walks by her to his chambers.
Scott: (giving Kimberly a hug) �Kim, you were awesome.�
Kimberly: �Thank you. I do try.�
Mackenzie: (in a low voice) �Kim, you totally took Steven Hall to the cleaners.� She smiles. �Score one for girl lawyers.�
Alexis: �Do you think that the judge is going to let Stefan off though?�
Ned and Kimberly look at each other.
Ned: �Somehow, I think that he will.�
Stefan: �How do you figure?�
Ned: �Well, because Kimberly was very persuasive. She put her heart into what she was saying, unlike the human shark over there.� He gestures at Steven, who is talking with Helena.
Stefan: �I sure hope that I get off.� He smiles. �And if I do, I owe you two a lot, Kim and Scott.�
Scott: �Hey, we�re just doing what we were hired to do.�
Fifteen minutes later.
As the judge comes back into the room, everyone takes their seats.
Judge: (sitting down on his bench) �Court is now in session.� He bangs his gavel and then looks out at the two sides of the room. �I have carefully reviewed the information presented by both sides in this case. I have come to the conclusion, that in the case of Cassadine versus Cassadine, the court is in favor of the defendant.�
The courtroom erupts in chaos as he bangs his gavel.
Judge: �Order! Order!� he looks at Stefan. �Mr. Cassadine, you are free to go.� He is practically choking on his words. �The court apologizes for any trouble we have caused you and your family.� He bangs his gavel. �Court is adjourned.�
He walks away as Mackenzie leaps out of her seat and throws her arms around Stefan.
After giving Stefan a hug, Ned, giving Kimberly a look, clears his throat.
Ned: �I�ll be back in a second.�
He walks off towards the judges� chambers, stopping outside the door to put on his sunglasses and coat.
Just then, the door swings open, the judge standing in the doorway.
Judge: �Save the disguise, Mr. Ashton. I knew that it was you all along.�
Ned: (shocked) �And you didn�t say anything to anyone?�
Judge: �No. I believe that you owe me a large amount of money though.�
Ned: (remembering that Kimberly has the briefcase) �Actually, the money is...�
Kimberly: (walking in) �Right here.�
Judge: (looking at her) �You? You were behind this, Ms. Corday-Baldwin?�
Kimberly: �I told you that I am not afraid of anything or anyone.�
Judge: �Apparently not.� He pauses. �So, where�s my money?�
Ned opens the briefcase and takes out the stacks of money. He hands them to the judge, who clasps the money to his chest, smiling evilly.
Kimberly: �I believe that we are done now?�
Judge: �You got it. And if you breathe a word of this...�
Ned: �We won�t.� he takes Kimberly by the arm and they leave.
Out in the hallway, Ned gives Kimberly a quick hug.
Ned: �Thanks. I don�t know what I would have done if you hadn�t showed up with the money.�
Kimberly: �Hey, what are friends for? We can�t mention this to anyone though.�
They head back to the main room, where their families are talking animatedly. Mackenzie is holding Stefan�s hand tightly.
Stefan: �Why don�t we all go out to brunch?�
Alexis: �Sounds great.�
A half hour later. The Port Charles Grill.
Stefan: (raising his glass of champagne) �To my wonderful lawyers, Kimberly and Scott, and to my sister and brother in law, Alexis and Ned.� He smiles at Mackenzie. �And to my wonderful girlfriend, Mackenzie, who has been a great deal of support for me. To all of us being healthy, happy and wise.�
Everyone raises their glasses and toasts each other.
Jax: �I wish we could have been there, Stefan, but it was a closed hearing.�
Stefan: �I know. I�m glad that you�re here now.�
Alexis: �Yeah. Julia, how are the wedding plans coming along?�
Julia: �Well, we were planning for November, but with everything that has been going on, we have decided to get married on February thirteenth.�
Mackenzie: �The day before Valentines� Day? Ooh, that�s so romantic!�
Stefan smiles at her and takes another sip of champagne.
Kimberly: �So, Lex, my daughter is descending upon you this evening, correct?�
Alexis: �Yeah.� She smiles. �It�s Avery�s first official sleepover. She�s having Serena, Christabel and Lesley Lu over.�
Stefan: (sarcastically) �Ooh, a Spice Girls marathon. How fun.�
Ned: �You guys are all welcome to come over. We can watch a movie or something.�
Kimberly: �Can us girls pick the movie?�
Scott: �No way.�
Jax: �No chick flicks.�
Julia: (laughing) �No shoot �em up movies either.�
Ned: �And Stefan, no, and I repeat no, foreign films.�
Stefan: �Why not?�
Alexis: �What about APerfect Murder? I heard that it was good.�
Kimberly: �That sounded really good.� She smiles. �There�s violence and sex in it for you guys.�
Ned: �Okay. Does anyone oppose that film?�
Everyone shakes their heads.
Ned: �Than we will start the first film at six thirty pm, eastern standard time, in the family room of our house.�
That night. The Ashtons� house.
Ned, Alexis, Stefan, Mackenzie, Julia, Jax, Kimberly and Scott are watching A Perfect Murder.
Upstairs, in Avery�s room, the four girls are sitting on the floor.
Avery: �The deal is that we have to get Uncle Stefan and Aunt Mackenzie together.�
Christabel: �I want a new mommy.�
Avery: �So we need a plan. A good one. Any ideas?�
Serena: �Well, my mom and dad like to eat dinner with candlelight.�
Avery: �Maybe. What about your parents, Lulu?�
Lulu: �My daddy has a club and he takes my mommy dancing.�
Christabel: �My daddy knows how to dance. So does Mackenzie.�
Serena: �Hey! Are they still watching their movie?�
Avery: �I think so. Why?�
Serena: �What if we turn their party into a dance party?�
Christabel: �But they are watching a movie.�
Lulu: �And what if they don�t want to dance?�
Serena: (heading for the door) �That�s too bad.�
She heads down the stairs, Avery, Christabel and Lulu trailing behind her.
The closing credits for A Perfect Murder are just beginning to roll across the screen.
Serena: �Is your movie over?�
Scott: �Yeah. Why?�
Avery: �What are you going to do now?�
Kimberly: �Talk? Drink coffee? Why?�
Christabel: �We have a better idea.�
Lulu: �Yeah! It�s a really good idea!�
Ned: �Oh really, what would that be?�
All four girls: �Dancing.�
Alexis: �Dancing? What do you mean?�
Serena: �Let�s have a dance party. Come on, Aunt Alexis. It will be fun.�
The adults look at each other and then nod.
Ned: �Okay. We�ll dance.�
Lulu: �You have to dance with your date.�
Avery: �Good idea.�
Ned: �In that case, Alexis, will you be my date?�
Alexis: �Of course.�
Serena: �Now you guys have to leave for a few minutes so we can get ready.�
The adults exchange an amused look and then head out of the room.
Serena: �Christabel, help me move this chair.�
Five minutes later, they call the adults back in.
The lighting in the family room has been dimmed and all of the furniture has been pushed back to give dancing space.
Avery is standing by the stereo.
Alexis: �Wow, you guys, this looks nice.�
Serena: �And now you have to dance.�
Avery pushes play on the stereo�s CD player. Two Become One (Spice Girls) blasts out.
The four girls sit down on the couch.
Ned takes Alexis� hand and leads her to the center of the room, where they begin to sway back and forth to the music.
Jax and Julia, Kimberly and Scott, and Mackenzie and Stefan join them.
Candlelight and soul forever, a dream of you and me together,
Say you believe it, say you believe it.
Rid your mind of doubt and danger, be for real don�t be a stranger.
We can achieve it, we can achieve it.
Scott pulls Kimberly closer and rests his hands on her lower back.
Come a little bit closer, baby, get it on, get it on,
Cause tonight is the night, when two becomes one.
Ned spins Alexis out of his arms and back into them.
I need some love like I never needed love before,
Wanna make love to ya, baby.
I had a little love, now I�m back for more,
Wanna make love to ya, baby.
Set your spirit free, it�s the only way to be.
Julia snuggles closer to Jax, as he nestles his face in her hair.
Steady games that you�ve been playing, empty words we�ve both been saying.
Let�s work it out, boy, let�s work it out, boy.
Any deal that we endeavor, boys and girls feel good together.
Take it or leave it, take it or leave it.
Christabel, Serena, Avery and Lulu watch Mackenzie and Stefan intently.
Are you as good as I remember baby, get it on, get it on,
Cause tonight is the night, when two becomes one.
Stefan and Mackenzie continue to dance closely together.
I need some love like I never needed love before,
Wanna make love to ya, baby.
I had a little love, now I�m back for more,
Wanna make love to ya, baby.
Set your spirit free, it�s the only way to be.
Ned softly kisses Alexis� lips.
Be a little bit wiser, baby, get it on, get it on,
Cause tonight is the night, when two becomes one.
Mackenzie winds her arms tightly around Stefan�s neck and kisses him. He kisses her back, both of them forgetting that anyone else is in the room.
I need some love like I never needed love before,
Wanna make love to ya, baby.
I had a little love, now I�m back for more,
Wanna make love to ya, baby.
Set your spirit free, it�s the only way to be.
It�s the only way to be.
Serena and Avery give each other a high five and so does Christabel and Lulu.
The song ends and the adults look at the four girls.
Just then, Hannah starts crying upstairs.
Ned: �I�ll go check on her.� He heads out of the room.
He heads up to Hannah�s nursery, where she has misplaced her pacifier.
Ned: (lifting her out of the crib) �Hannah Grace, what�s wrong?� He takes another pacifier off the dresser and gives it to her. �Aw, did you lose your binky?�
Hannah instantly stops crying as Ned begins walking back and forth with her.
Ned: �So, Hannah, how was your day today? Did you have fun throwing your mashed bananas around at lunch? It�s probably a good thing that Mommy was wearing an apron.�
Hannah gurgles and reaches up to touch Ned�s face.
Ned: �You know, you make your mommy and I so happy. You and your sister are the two greatest little girls in the world.� He kisses her forehead. �And even when you keep us up all night, and throw food at us, you�re still our little angel.�
He looks up to see Alexis standing in the doorway.
Alexis: �Have I ever told you that you are an excellent father?�
Ned: �A few times, but you can tell me again.�
Alexis walks over to him as Hannah babbles to herself.
Ned: �Do you want to see Mommy, Hannah?� he hands her to her.
Alexis: (holding Hannah close to her) �Hello there, beautiful.�
Hannah grabs a lock of Alexis� hair and pulls it. Alexis smiles.
Downstairs, another song starts as the other three couples continue to dance.
Ned: �Well, Mrs. Ashton and Miss Ashton, may I have this dance?�
Alexis: �You sure may.�
Ned pulls Alexis into his arms, Hannah snuggled between them.
I�ll be your dream, I�ll be your wish, I�ll be your fantasy.
I�ll be your hope, I�ll be your love, be everything that you need.
I�ll love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply, do.
I will be strong, I will be faithful cause I�m counting on a new beginning,
A reason for living, a deeper meaning, yeah.
I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever, until the sky falls down on me.
And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky,
I�ll make a wish, send it to heaven and make you want to cry.
The tears of joy for all the pleasure in the certainty, that we�re surrounded by the
Comfort of the highest powers, in lonely hours, the tears devour you.
I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever, until the sky falls down on me.
Oh can you see it baby? You don�t have to close your eyes.
Cause it�s standing right here before you. All that you need will surely come.
I�ll be your dream, I�ll be your wish, I�ll be your fantasy.
I�ll be your hope, I�ll be your love, be everything that you need.
I�ll love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply, do.
I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever, until the sky falls down on me.
As the music fades away, Ned and Alexis continue to sway back and forth, the light of the moon bathing them from the window.
Ned looks at Hannah, who is fast asleep on Alexis� shoulder.
Alexis gently lays Hannah back in her crib, and they stand over her for a moment.
Ned: (putting his arms around her waist) �I love you.�
Alexis: �I have never been as happy as I am right now.� She smiles. �You have made all of my wishes come true, Ned Ashton.�
Ned: �Which wishes?�
Alexis: �Children, a home, love, a best friend...� she trails off. �It�s all I�ve ever wanted.�
Ned: (kissing her neck) �It�s all what you deserve.�
Alexis turns around in his arms and Ned holds her against him, feeling their emotions fuse together.
Ned: (looking down at her) �How long until our friends are gone and the kids are in bed?� He smiles suggestively.
Alexis doesn�t say anything. She just starts laughing.