Ned, Alexis, Mackenzie and Stefan are drinking coffee in the kitchen when there is a ring at the doorbell.
Alexis: �I�ll get it.� She gets up and heads into the living room to open the door.
Standing on the doorstep in a bright blue suit, is Tracy Quartermaine.
Alexis: �May I help you?�
Tracy: �You must be Ned�s wife.�
Alexis: �Yes. Do you know him?�
Tracy: �Know him? Honey, I gave birth to him.�
Alexis� eyes get huge and she starts backing up.
Tracy: �Is my son here?�
Alexis: �Uh, I�ll go get him.� She runs to the kitchen and sticks her head in the door. �Ned, there is someone here to see you.�
Ned stands up and follows her back to the living room. Seeing Tracy, his mouth drops open in shock.
Ned: �WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE???�
Tracy: �Hello, Ned. Nice of you to be so happy to see me.�
Ned: �Mother, what are you doing here? WHY?�
Tracy: �I decided that I wanted to pay my favorite son a visit.�
Ned: �Oh, cut the crap, Mother. Why are you really here?�
Alexis stands behind him, a slightly amused expression on her face.
Ned: (putting his arm around Alexis) �Mother, have you met my wife, Alexis?�
Tracy: �Yes. Just now. How long have you been married?�
Ned: �Four and a half years.�
Tracy: �Any kids?�
Ned: (disgusted) �Mother, it constantly amazes me to realize just how little you know about me, even though I am your son. It�s truly pathetic.�
Tracy: �What if I am trying to make amends?�
Alexis: �We have two daughters. They are five years, and six months old.�
Tracy: �How sweet.�
Mackenzie�s voice: (in the kitchen) �Ned, is the paper in there?�
Ned and Alexis both look horrified.
Tracy looks shocked beyond words as Mackenzie, in a long silk bathrobe, comes strutting into the living room.
She stops short when she catches sight of her mother.
Mackenzie: �Mother... what are you doing here?�
Tracy: �Mackenzie, what are YOU doing here?�
Mackenzie: �I live here. Well, not here in this house, but in this city.�
Tracy: (shocked) �You live here? What happened to Manhattan?�
Mackenzie: �I grew tired of the city.� She shrugs defensively. �I like it here. I have a job, a boyfriend, and I am with my family.�
Tracy: �So, Ned, you two are close?�
Ned: �Very. We�re like brother and sister.� He pauses. �Oh yeah, we are brother and sister. You just never told us that.�
Tracy: �I apologized for that, Ned.�
Just then, Stefan comes in.
Mackenzie: (smugly) �Mother, I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Stefan Cassadine. Stefan, this is my mother, Tracy Quartermaine.�
Stefan looks shocked, but not as shocked as Tracy.
Tracy: �This is your boyfriend? But he�s... he�s... a Cassadine.�
Alexis: (smugly) �By the way, Tracy, Stefan is my brother. I�m a Cassadine too.�
Tracy looks like she is going to faint.
At that moment, Avery, Serena, Christabel and Lulu come running down the stairs.
Avery: �Daddy, will you make us pancakes?�
Ned: �Sure.�
Avery: (pointing at Tracy) �Who is she?�
Ned and Alexis exchange a look.
Ned: �Avery, I would like you too meet your grandmother, Tracy. She is my mommy.�
Avery: (suspicious) �Is she mean like the woman who said she was Mommy�s mommy?�
Ned: �No. Tracy won�t kidnap you.�
Tracy looks horrified. Alexis smirks.
Christabel: (jumping into Mackenzie�s arms) �Mackenzie, will you and Aunt Alexis paint all of our nails?�
Mackenzie: �Sure.� She looks at Tracy. �Mother, this is Stefan�s daughter, Christabel.�
Christabel looks suspiciously at Tracy and then lays her head on Mackenzie�s shoulder.
Ned: �So, Mother, how long are you going to be staying here?�
Tracy: �About a week or two.�
Ned and Mackenzie exchange a look.
Ten minutes later.
Ned comes into their bedroom from taking a shower.
Tracy is downstairs talking to Mackenzie and Stefan.
Ned: �I can not believe this! Why is my mother here?� he kicks his dresser as Alexis looks up in surprise.
Alexis: �Ned, she didn�t seem that bad. I always pictured a two headed she-devil.�
Ned: �Just you wait. She will show her true colors once she gets a few vodkas into her.�
Alexis: (going to him and putting her arms around him) �I�m sorry, Sweetie.�
Ned can�t help smiling as his towel falls to the floor and Alexis moves closer to him.
Alexis pulls her nightgown over her head and throws it to the floor. Taking Ned�s hand, she leads him over to the bed and pulls him down on it. They begin to make love, their bodies swaying together as if in a seductive dance.
Alexis: (kissing Ned�s chest) �Have you forgotten about your mother yet?�
Ned: (in a low voice) �What mother?�
They both start laughing.
Two days later.
Ned, Alexis, Kimberly and Scott are sitting together in Kimberly�s office at J&J Jacks of Alaska.
Ned: �So, Kim, would you be willing to take my case?�
Kimberly: �Ned, I would love to help you two get Brooke, but I have no room for any cases right now. Jax and Jerry are keeping me so busy.�
Ned and Alexis look imploringly at Scott, who shakes his head.
Scott: �I told you that I couldn�t.�
Alexis: �But you two are our best friends! We need you! If you ever need a kidney....�
Kimberly: �Nice try.�
Ned: �Please, Kim? Please, please, please? We will pay you two times what Jax is paying you for the case he wants you to do.�
Scott: �Wait a sec! I know who you can get to represent you! Mackenzie!�
Alexis and Ned look at each other and slowly smile.
Twenty minutes later.
Ned and Alexis pull up in their driveway.
Mackenzie�s black Lexus is parked in the driveway.
They get out and race inside.
Ned: �Mackenzie, are you here?�
Alexis: �Mackenzie! We need to talk to you!�
Mackenzie: �I�m in here.�
Ned and Alexis walk into the kitchen, where Mackenzie and Stefan are sipping cappuccino.
Ned: �Mackenzie, my FAVORITE sister in the entire world...�
Mackenzie: �Ned, I�m your only sister.� She smiles. �But what do you want?�
Alexis: �We were wondering when you were planning to go back to work. Not to pressure you or anything...�
Mackenzie: �Does this have anything to do with the fact that Lois refuses to let Brooke come down here, and you want to get permanent custody of her?�
Ned: (laughing) �Maybe.� He grins. �I can not think of any one who would be better at arguing with people I don�t like.�
Mackenzie: �In that case, I am more than willing to represent you.�
Ned: �Really?�
Mackenzie: �Of course. Anything for my big brother.�
Stefan: �Mackenzie! You need to take time off!�
Mackenzie: �Oh please, Stefan. I can work from right here in the kitchen.�
Ned: �As long as you�re defending us, will you stay here?�
Stefan: �As much as I hate to say this, we should. I don�t want Mackenzie getting all worn out driving back and forth.�
Mackenzie: �Great! When do I start?�
Ned: �Now?�
Mackenzie: �I can�t. Our mother is coming to take me to lunch.�
Alexis: �You�re kidding.�
Mackenzie: �Nope. She insisted.�
Ned: �Have fun. You may want to take a baseball bat with you.�
That afternoon at the Outback.
Tracy: �So, Mackenzie, how do you like living here?�
Mackenzie: �I like it.� She takes a sip of her margurita. �I really like my job. Stefan keeps me very busy with lots of things.�
Tracy: (taking a sip of vodka) �So it seems. Inside and outside the office, eh?�
Mackenzie blushes a little.
Tracy: �Oh, don�t blush, my dear. I just noticed that you and he seem to be very close.�
Mackenzie: �I love him.�
Tracy: �And are you going to marry him?�
Mackenzie: �He hasn�t asked.�
Tracy: �Why don�t you ask him?�
Mackenzie: �Mother, this is Stefan Cassadine. His family does things a little differently.�
Tracy: �It strikes me as funny that my son and daughter are married to the two Cassadine children.� She smiles. �But you both seem happy. Especially Ned.�
Mackenzie: �He would walk on water for Alexis.�
Tracy: �I�ve never seen him this happy. Lois was just a bad dream.�
Mackenzie: �Speaking of Lois, Ned and Alexis hired me to represent them in their custody case. Ned wants to get permanent custody of Brooke.�
Tracy: �I bet you can win.�
Mackenzie: �I have to.� She smiles slightly. �I can�t let my brother down.�
Two weeks later.
The doorbell at the Ashtons� house rings and Ned and Alexis look nervously at each other.
Avery: �Brooke�s here! YAY!� she gets up and runs towards the front door.
Alexis chases after her and scoops her into her arms. They go to the door and open it together.
Standing on the doorstep in a bright orange mini-dress and matching nails is Lois. Next to her, in jeans and a white baby-tee is Brooke. She looks thrilled to see Alexis.
Brooke: �ALEXIS!� She throws her arms around Alexis� legs.
Lois: (in a bored voice as Ned walks in) �I hope you know that I am only letting Brooke stay here because Brian and I will be only two miles away at our hotel.�
Ned: �I suggest you get used to her staying here, Lois.� He smiles evilly as Brooke jumps into his arms. �Because MY DAUGHTER is going to be here for a long, long time.�
Lois: �Ned, don�t start with me.�
Alexis: �Lois, why don�t you get back to Brian at your fleabag motel?�
Lois glares at Alexis and then storms out.
As the door closes, Brooke jumps out of Ned�s arms and gives Avery a hug.
Brooke: �So where�s Hannah? I want to see my baby sister!�
Alexis: �She�s going to be up in about a half hour. You can help me get her dressed.�
Brooke: (to Alexis) �Mommy, do I get to stay here this time?�
Alexis: �Well, we all hope so.�
Just then, Christabel walks in with Mackenzie.
Mackenzie: �Well, well. Brooke, you�re here.� She smiles. �I�m glad.�
Brooke: �You�re my Aunt Mackenzie, right?�
Mackenzie: �Yep. And this is your, well, your cousin once removed.�
Brooke: �Huh?�
Christabel: �My daddy is �Lexis� brother.�
Brooke: �Oh.� She smiles. �Do you know who the...�
Christabel: (cutting her off) �Spice Girls? I know who they are.�
Brooke, Avery and Christabel start laughing and run upstairs to Avery�s room.
Ned, Alexis and Mackenzie exchange a look.
Mackenzie: �She�s a cute little girl.� She smiles. �She must have gotten it from your side.�
Alexis: �One would assume.�
Mackenzie: �I will do everything I can to win this for you.�
The next morning.
The Port Charles Courthouse.
Diana Perry: (Lois� lawyer) �Although Brooke Ashton wants to live with her father, she is better off living with her mother, Lois Cerullo Salinger, and her step father, Brian Salinger. They can provide a stable environment for this child.� She pauses, tossing her long red hair. �The prosecution petitions for Brooke Ashton to stay with her mother.�
Judge: �Ms. Cisnaros, would you like to make your own arguments now?�
Mackenzie: �You bet I would.� She gets up, smoothing out the short maroon skirt that goes with a matching jacket and cr�me camisole. Ned, Alexis and Stefan watch her intently.
This is the first time that any of them have seen Mackenzie in action.
Mackenzie: �Brooke Ashton is seven years old. She is in second grade. She knows how to read. She can do multiplication and division. She is a very, very smart child. Smart enough to know where she wants to live, and who she wants to live with.� She pauses for affect. �Brooke has been cut off from her father for a large part of her short life. She has seen him for less than a year�s total in seven years. Seven years, I said.�
Lois glares at Mackenzie. She glares back, a full fledged sneer.
Mackenzie: �Brooke�s father, Ned, and his wife, Alexis, have two daughters, both of whom are younger than Brooke. Avery and Brooke are very close, and have fun together. Sisters should be together.� She pauses to think. �I should know. I was raised to believe that I was an only child. I am now twenty-seven. I grew up without knowing my sisters or brother, Julia, Brenda and Ned.�
Ned looks amazed as Mackenzie looks sorrowfully at the judge.
Mackenzie: �Brooke Ashton should not have to grow up in a world without her father. Without her sisters. Her stepmother. Her cousins. She is old enough to decide where she wants to live, so I say, let her. The defense petitions for Ned and Alexis Ashton to gain fully custody of Brooke Ashton.�
The judge thinks about this as Mackenzie walks back to her seat, barely concealing her victorious grin
Judge: �Usually, a custody case lasts at least four days. However, the case went to court less than a year ago. I have reviewed the information from the previous case, and have already come to a decision.� He pauses. �There will be a twenty minute break.�
He heads into his chambers.
Ned, Alexis, Mackenzie and Stefan huddle together.
Ned: �Mackenzie, you were awesome.�
Alexis: �I swear, Mackenzie, if you didn�t work for Stefan, I would force you to come work for ELQ with me.�
Stefan: �You two could open your own practice.�
Alexis: �Very funny.�
Stefan: �No, I�m serious.�
Ned: �Mackenzie, do you think we have a chance in hell here?�
Mackenzie: �I think so. But some of the information in the case makes you two look bad.�
Ned grimaces. Alexis looks annoyed.
Meanwhile, in the judges� chambers.
Judge: �So, Ms. Quartermaine, you have my money?�
Tracy: �Not so fast. You will get your money after you grant Ned and Alexis full custody of Brooke.�
Judge: �And what if I don�t.�
Tracy: �Do not play with me, Mr. Woodward.�
Judge: �Fine. For the price of three million dollars, I will grant custody to Ned and Alexis.�
Tracy smiles, happy that she saved some of the funds her late husband left her.
Tracy: �And this will NEVER be revealed, or you will be floating face down in the river by morning.� She turns and leaves.
Ten minutes later.
Judge: (sitting down) �Court is in session.� He bangs his gavel. �Be seated.�
Everyone sits down. Alexis takes Ned�s hand and holds it tightly.
Judge: �I have carefully reviewed the arguments presented by both sides, and I have come to the conclusion that the full custody of Brooke Ashton will be awarded to Ned and Alexis Ashton.�
Ned and Alexis gasp. Lois bursts into tears.
Judge: �Mrs. Salinger, you are hereby ordered to relinquish custody of Brooke Ashton by tomorrow evening at six o�clock.� He bangs his gavel. �Court is adjourned.�
He walks away as Ned stands up and gives Mackenzie a huge hug.
Ned: �Thank you so much, sis.�
Mackenzie: �It was my pleasure.�
Ned: (putting his arms around Alexis) �Can you believe this? We did it!�
Alexis: �Brooke is going to be so happy!�
That afternoon.
Alexis and Ned walk into their house.
Brooke, Avery and Christabel are watching a movie with Jax and Julia.
Julia and Jax are upstairs with Hannah.
Brooke: �How was court?�
Ned: (picking her up) �Brooke, I have some news for you.�
Brooke: �I don�t want to go back.� Her entire body tenses up.
Ned: �Brooke Lynn Ashton, you are going to be living her permanently.�
Brooke: (her eyes huge) �I get to stay with you? And �Lexis? And Avery and Hannah?�
Alexis: �You sure do.�
Brooke races over to Alexis and gives her a huge hug.
Just then, there is a knock at the door.
Ned goes over to open it.
Lois is standing there, wearing sunglasses that hide her puffy eyes.
Ned: �Yes?�
Lois: �Ned, you may have won custody of her, but you can not take my daughter from me forever!�
Alexis: (going over to her) �Lois, you might want to get back to Bensonhurst and get Brooke�s things together.�
Lois: �You spiteful bitch.�
Alexis: �Now, Lois, not in front of the children.�
Lois: �You can�t do this to me!�
Alexis: �How do you think Ned has felt for the last SEVEN years, knowing that Brooke was with you, not knowing him at all? Now it�s your turn to wonder what Brooke is doing, how she is...�
Lois: �I will never forgive you for this, Ned.�
Ned: (kneeling down to Brooke�s level) �Brooke, your mommy is going to be with you until tomorrow evening when you come here. You have to go with her and pack.�
Brooke: �I don�t want to leave you!�
Alexis: �Brooke, you�re going to be back tomorrow.�
Brooke: �Alexis, will you come with me?�
Alexis and Ned exchange a look.
Alexis: �Sure. That way, Lois will be able to save the trouble of bringing you back here again tomorrow.�
Brooke: �Yay! Is that okay, Daddy?�
Ned: �Sure.� He and Alexis smile at each other.
Avery: �Mommy, don�t go!�
Ned: �Avery, why don�t you go with your mom too? I�ll stay with Hannah.�
Avery: �Cool!�
Brooke: �Why can�t we come back tonight?�
Alexis: �If it is okay with Lois, we will come tomorrow morning to pick Brooke�s stuff up.� She looks at Lois. �You can start getting her belongings together tonight.�
Lois: �Fine.� He heads for the door. �I will see you two tomorrow, Alexis.�
She gives Brooke a hug and then leaves.
Brooke: �I can�t wait until I am here forever!�
Ned puts his arms around Alexis� waist and she leans back into him.
Alexis: �Neither can we, Brooke. Neither can we.�