Alexis is laying in bed, watching Ned sleep, a peaceful smile on his face.
Alexis: (whispering) �I love you.�
She continues to watch him until the clock changes to 4:38 a.m.
Alexis leans down at that moment and kisses Ned passionately.
Ned: (sleepily) �Is it morning?�
Alexis: �Happy birthday, baby.�
Ned: (opening his eyes) �What time is it?�
Alexis : (kissing him again) �Four thirty eight, a.m. You�re officially thirty seven now.�
Ned: (sarcastically) �Oh good. A year closer to forty.�
Alexis: (stroking his bare chest) �Aw, Ned, you�re only a year older than me.
* AUTHOR�S NOTE * Remember, I �froze time� so Alexis is 36 and Ned is 37, even though it has been four years since they got married, which was when she was 35. *
Ned: (in a low voice) �So, you aren�t turned off by old men?�
Alexis: (climbing on top of him, in a sexy whisper) �I like older men.� She wraps her legs around his waist so she that is straddling him. �Very much so.�
Ned: (as Alexis begins making love to him) �God, Alexis.� He moans. �If you had told me that at four thirty in the morning, I would be being seduced by my wife...� he moans again.
Alexis smiles as she continues to pleasure him, his hands wandering all over her body.
Port Charles. Seven thirty a.m.
Stefan is awoken to the sound of Mackenzie vomiting in the bathroom.
Stefan: (concerned) �Mackenzie, are you okay in there?�
Mackenzie: (throwing up again) �I don�t think so.�
Stefan gets out of bed and goes into the bathroom.
Mackenzie is sitting on the floor of the bathroom, her head in the toilet. Her cr�me pajamas are rumpled and her long blonde hair is a mess.
Stefan: (gently rubbing her back) �Mackenzie, are you okay?�
Mackenzie: �I don�t know what�s wrong with me...� she begins retching again.
When Mackenzie is done throwing up, she gets up and goes to brush her teeth. As she finishes, she sways a little.
Stefan: (grabbing her before she falls) �I think you need sleep. Lots of it.� He gently picks her up and carries her back to bed.
Mackenzie: (as Stefan tucks her back into bed) �I didn�t know you were such a good nurse.�
Stefan: �I�ll be right back.� He goes into the bathroom and comes back with aspirin, vitamins and a cool washcloth. �Here.�
He feeds her the aspirin, vitamins and then applies the cold washcloth to her head.
Mackenzie: (under the washcloth) �You have to get ready for work.�
Stefan: (taking her hand) �I�d rather stay here and keep an eye on you today.�
Mackenzie: (her mouth dropping open) �You always go to work... and Christabel doesn�t have school today...�
Stefan: �It will be okay.� He smiles. �I�ll be right back.�
He heads down the hall to Nikolas� room and knocks on the door.
Nikolas: �Come in.�
Stefan: (stepping inside) �Good morning, my son.� He looks at Nikolas, who is fully dressed. �You�re up early this morning.�
Nikolas: �Yeah, I was planning on running Sheba down the beach.�
Stefan: �Nikolas, I hate to ask, but Mackenzie�s sick and I said I would stay with her, but Christabel doesn�t have school today...�
Nikolas: �Yes. I would be more than happy to take care of my sister today. Is it alright if Emily and I take her shopping with us?�
Stefan: �Sure.� He smiles. �Thank you for being willing to take care of Christabel.�
Nikolas: �It�s no problem.�
Later that morning. Wyndemere�s beach.
Nikolas rides down the beach on Sheba. Christabel sits in front of him.
Christabel: �This is so cool, Nikolas! When can I get a horse?�
Nikolas: (laughing) �I think you�ll have to ask Father.�
Christabel: �I want a horse and I want to name it Sporty Spice!�
Nikolas: �That�s a cool name. You really are into the Spice Girls, aren�t you?�
Christabel: �Avery and Serena got me to like them.� She�s silent for a moment. �Nikolas, why won�t Daddy marry Mackenzie? They love each other!�
Nikolas: �Well, Sweetie, it�s a little more complicated than that. He has to ask her.�
Christabel: �We should tell him to!�
Nikolas: �I already did.� He pauses. �Why are you so into this?�
Christabel: (solemnly) �I want a new mommy. Avery and Hannah have a mommy, Serena and Olivia have a mommy, Lucas has a mommy, Kate has a mommy, Lulu has a mommy....�
Nikolas: �I get the picture.�
Christabel: �Good.� She turns around and gives him a huge smile. �Nikolas, will you help me get Daddy to marry Mackenzie?�
Nikolas: (thinking about it) �Okay.�
Christabel: �Yay! You�re a cool brother, Nikolas!�
Nikolas: �Well, you�re a pretty cool sister, CJ.�
Christabel: �Who�s CJ?�
Nikolas: �You are. Christabel Jade. Can I call you that? It can be a big brother name for you.�
Christabel: �Okay! That�s cool!�
Nikolas smiles down at his little sister and they continue down the beach.
Cabo San Lucas. Ned is on his cell phone when Alexis emerges from the bathroom.
She is wearing a gorgeous ice blue glittery bikini. It shows off her long legs and flat torso. Her chestnut hair is tousled around her face and she�s wearing ice blue Audrey Hepburn sunglasses.
Ned doesn�t even notice. He�s sitting on the bed in his swimsuit and is totally engrossed in his phone call with his secretary, Kristina Ambrose.
Ned: �So, yes, I need you to read me that file...�
Alexis: �Ned?�
Ned: (holding up one finger in a �just a second� motion) �That merger is going to be sent when? Okay, I...� he stops talking as Alexis grabs the phone from him.
Ned: �Alexis!�
Alexis: �Hello, who is this? Ah, hello, Kristina... It�s Alexis. Yes, I know that Ned called you, but it�s his birthday and he is not allowed to work... yeah, I�ll tell him... okay, he�ll call you tomorrow. Bye.� She turns off the phone and tossing it on the bed, grins. �Let�s go to the beach.�
Ned: �Alexis! That was an important call. I...� he trails off as he gets a good look at her. �Wow. You look... wow.... Sex Goddess is the only word I can come up with.�
Alexis: (laughing) �I bought it for your birthday.�
Ned: �I�m not sure if I want you out in public in that swimsuit.�
Alexis: (surprised) �Why not?�
Ned: �Because I don�t want any men looking at you. You�re taken. Got it?�
Alexis: (laughing harder) �I think so, but I�ll take my chances.� She takes his hand and they head out the door. �Besides, we�re doing something special.�
As they step into the elevator, Alexis winds her arms around Ned�s neck and presses her body against his. She laughs as he becomes aroused.
Ned: (as she pulls away) �Lexi! Why do you push your body against mine, and I get all in the mood, and then you don�t do anything about it?�
Alexis: (smirking) �I believe it�s called being coy.�
Ned grabs her and begins tickling her. Alexis shrieks with laughter.
Alexis: �Ned!� she laughs harder. �Stop!�
Ned: (tickling her stomach) �Why? I know it�s your Achilles heel, Lex.� He continues to tickle her. �Besides, you�re the one who wanted to be coy.�
The elevator stops at the lobby and Alexis gives Ned a triumphant smile as she flounces from the elevator. Ned smiles and takes her hand.
Ned: �So, where are we going?�
Alexis: (laughing) �You know, it should be your goal for age thirty seven to never ask me questions like �where are we going,� and �what are we doing� ever again.�
Ned: �I don�t think so.�
Alexis: �You�ll see in a few minutes.� She smiles. �You�re going to love it.�
Two hours later.
Alexis and Ned emerge from a rental shop on the boardwalk, their bodies soaked with water.
Ned: (taking her hand) �How did you ever come up with the idea of scuba diving?� he smiles. �It was amazing.�
Alexis: �I�ve always wanted to see the coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.� She grins. �I really liked the ice blue fish and the sand-dollars. It gave me an idea.�
Ned: �Oh really, and what would that be?�
Alexis: �Wait a sec, do you still have work to do? On your cell phone, I mean.�
Ned: �Okay, first you forbid me from doing any work whatsoever, and now you�re trying to get rid of me?�
Alexis: �Basically.� She gives him a pleading smile. �Please? There�s something I need to take care of.�
Ned: �Okay, I guess.� He smiles. �I kind of like it when you�re secretive.�
Alexis: (giving him a quick kiss) �Okay. I�ll see you at the hotel in about forty-five minutes, okay?�
Ned: �Okay. Have fun and be careful.�
As Alexis walks away, she waves over her shoulder. Ned watches in utter amusement.
Forty five minutes later. The hotel.
Ned is sitting on their bed watching TV when Alexis walks through the door.
She is wearing a smug smile on her face.
Ned: (turning off the TV) �So, wife of mine, what have you been up to?�
Alexis: (artfully dodging the question) �Wow look at the time. We have dinner reservations, so I have to go take a shower.�
Ned: (playfully) �Can I join you?�
Alexis: (her eyes getting big) �NO!�
Ned: �Geez, Lex, I was just kidding.�
Alexis: �Oh.� She starts backing towards the bathroom door. �I�ll be ready soon.�
Port Charles. The ABCA offices.
Kimberly is working hard at her desk when there is a knock at the door.
Kimberly: �Come in.�
A tall woman with long strawberry blonde hair and green eyes sticks her head in the door.
Voice: �Hey stranger.�
Kimberly: (getting up) �Oh my God! What are you doing here?� she races into the woman�s arms. �Claire Estrada, what on earth are you doing in Port Charles?�
Claire: (played by Michelle Stafford, ex-Phyllis, Y&R) �I got sick of Los Angeles. So sue me.� She looks around. �You look like you�re doing pretty well, KC.�
Kimberly: (giving her another hug) �Wow, I haven�t heard that name for so long.� She grins. �Actually, it�s KCB now.�
Claire: (shocked) �No way. You, the anti-commitment queen, got married?�
Kimberly: �I�ve changed a lot since St. Andrews� Boarding School. God, it�s been, what, sixteen years? I haven�t seen you since I was eighteen.�
Claire: (as they sit down on the couch) �So, you�re married now? To who?�
Kimberly: �I�m married to a wonderful man named Scott Baldwin.� She hands Claire a framed family picture that was sitting on the table. �This is him.�
Claire: (her mouth dropping open) �Wow. He�s gorgeous.� Just then, something occurs to her. �Wait a minute. How long have you two been married?�
Kimberly: �Almost a year.�
Claire: �Than how do you explain this eight or nine year old child?�
Kimberly: (smiling) �That�s my step-daughter, Serena. Actually, I adopted her, so I am technically her mother. The baby is Scott�s and my daughter, Olivia. We adopted her.�
Claire: �Adopted her? Why?�
Kimberly: �I can�t have children.� She smiles brightly. �But I consider Olivia every bit my child. We�ve had her since she was a day old.�
Claire: �Cute kids.� She frowns. �So, what are you doing, living in suburban New York?�
Kimberly: �My best friend, Alexis Ashton, lives here.�
Claire: �I thought I was your best friend.� She smiles. �We had some fun times.�
Kimberly: �You were the only thing that made that hellish boarding school fun.� She smiles. �So, are you going to stay here? What are you doing as a career?�
Claire: �I�ve been hired as an associate buyer for Wyndhams. You know, the big department store? They�re a division of Lord and Taylor�s in LA, and they sent me here to work.� She shrugs. �I accepted the job once I realized that you live here.�
Kimberly: �This is so great! I can�t wait for Scott to meet you. Can you come over for dinner tomorrow night?�
Claire: �Sure.�
Kimberly: �And I bet that you and Alexis will get along so well! She�s in Mexico right now, but she�ll be back next week.�
Claire: �Is she anything like me?�
Kimberly: �Nope. Exactly the opposite, in fact.�
Claire gives Kimberly a half smile.
Cabo San Lucas. Nine thirty p.m.
Vallenari�s, the most expensive restaurant on the beach.
Alexis and Ned are eating a dessert of chocolate mousse and drinking champagne.
Ned: �This is sinful.�
Alexis: �Decadent.�
Ned: (putting a spoonful of his into Alexis� mouth) �Tantalizing.�
Alexis: (feeding him a spoonful of hers) �Enticing.� She smiles. �Are you having a good birthday?�
Ned: �The best ever.� He puts his spoon down and takes her hands. �Thank you for making today perfect, Brinna. By the way, you look amazing tonight.�
Alexis: �Ned, you�ve already said that four times.�
Ned: �I can�t help it if I am married to the most beautiful woman who ever lived.� He smiles as she blushes. �I speak nothing but the truth.�
Alexis is wearing an extremely short black silk slip dress with spaghetti straps and a sheer lace overlayer.
Alexis: (looking at her watch) �How about a walk on the beach?�
Ned: �Sure.�
They pay the bill and leave.
Alexis: (as they walk out onto the sand) �It�s so magnificent looking here.�
Ned: �What made you think of coming here?�
Alexis: �It�s warm. I was getting very sick of the rain in Port Charles.�
Ned puts his hand on Alexis� lower back. She winces a little. Ned sees it.
Ned: �You okay, Princess?�
Alexis: �Yeah. I just have.... a sunburn.� She stops and facing him, grabs the tip of his tie. �By the way, you�re going to get your present in a little while.�
Ned: (smiling amusedly) �Alexis, I never said anything about my present.�
Alexis: (laughing) �Oh please. I know what�s going through your head right now, and always.�
Ned: �Oh yeah? What am I thinking right now?�
Alexis: �You�re thinking two things.� She smiles. �You�re wondering what I bought you, and you�re thinking about how much you want to rip this dress off of me.�
Ned: �You�re good.� He leans down and kisses her. �But more the second thing than the first.� He smiles. �Where ever did you get these dresses, Mrs. Ashton?�
Alexis: �I ordered them in the mail from New York City. The lilac one was from the Nicole Miller boutique and the one I am wearing now is Versace from Saks Fifth Avenue.� She smiles. �I wanted something new.�
Ned: (as they start walking again) �I approve.� He smiles. �Are you ever going to wear this dress again? Like maybe everyday until you�re eighty? You look like a seductress in that.�
Alexis: �That�s a good thing since I am fully intent on seducing you this evening.�
Ned: �Ooh. That leaves something for me to desire.� He smiles. �How long?�
Alexis: �How long until what?�
Ned: �How long until you seduce me?�
Alexis: �I suppose that we can head back to the hotel now.�
Ned: (teasingly) �You mean that I can�t throw you in the ocean tonight?�
Alexis: �As opposed to last night and the night before? No, you can�t. This dress was expensive enough to pay the national debt for a year.�
Ned: (laughing) �Okay, I guess I�ll behave tonight.�
Alexis: (sarcastically) �How noble of you.� She gives him a quick kiss.
They walk back to their hotel, talking quietly.
In their suite, Ned pours champagne and Alexis disappears into the bedroom.
Alexis: (returning with two boxes) �Ned, I have two birthday presents for you.� She hands him the smaller box as they sit down on the couch. �Here�s one of them.�
Ned eagerly opens the box and pulls out a beautiful 18 karat gold Ebel watch.
Ned: (shocked) �How did you know that this was the exact watch I wanted? I was looking at it in a catalog�
Alexis: �I didn�t. I picked it out because I liked it.�
Ned: �Lexi, these watches cost at least fifteen grand. You didn�t have to spend that much.�
Alexis: (amused) �This from the man who bought me a Mercedes convertible for Christmas and a yacht for our anniversary.� She smiles. �I hope you like it.�
Ned: �Like it? Brinna, I love it!� he leans over and kisses her. �Thank you.�
Alexis: (giving him the other box) �This is from Hannah, Brooke and Avery.�
Ned opens the box and pulls out a Calvin Klein silk blue and black diamond jacquard robe.
Alexis: �I hope you like it. Avery insisted that it be blue, but Brooke wanted a black one. They compromised on this one. Hannah�s contribution was drooling all over me while I was paying for it.�
Ned: (laughing) �I love it. I bet that the girls had fun shopping.�
Alexis: �You could say that. They looked over every robe in the men�s department. They wanted to buy you a new one because they don�t like your ratty old cr�me one. Brooke said you look like a snowman in it.�
Ned: (smiling) �Is that so?�
Alexis: (giving him a kiss) �You ready for your other present yet?�
Just then, Ned�s cell phone rings. Ned reaches for it, but Alexis grabs it.
Alexis: �Ned�s phone.�
Julia: �Hey! It�s Julia and Jax. We�re calling to wish Ned happy birthday.�
Alexis: �Just a sec. I�ll put you on speaker.� She hits the speaker button.
Julia: (on speaker phone) �Ned?�
Ned: �Hey, Julia!�
Jax: �We wanted to wish you a happy birthday!�
Ned: �Thanks.� He smiles at Alexis. �Lex has made it really special so far.�
Julia: �Is it nice there?�
Alexis: �Paradise.� She pauses as she hears a noise on the other end.
Avery: (coming down the stairs) �Aunt Julia, can I have some water?�
Ned: �Avery Madelynn, aren�t you supposed to be in bed?�
Avery: (confused) �Daddy? Uncle Jax, is Daddy home?�
Jax: (picking her up) �No, he and Mommy are on the speaker phone. Say happy birthday to your daddy.�
Avery: �Happy birthday, Daddy! Do you like your robe?�
Ned: �I love it, Tigger. I�m going to wear it tonight.�
Alexis snorts under her breath. Ned grins at her.
Avery: �Do you miss us?�
Alexis: �We miss you a lot. Are you three being good?�
Avery: �Hannah cries a lot cause she�s getting another tooth. Hey Mommy, Aunt Julia curled my hair this morning and Monday morning.�
Alexis: �That�s pretty nice of Aunt Julia. I hope you thanked her.�
Avery: �I did.�
Jax: �Avery, I�ll get you some water, and then you�re going back to bed. Say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy.�
Avery: �Bye Mommy! Bye Daddy! I love you!�
Ned: �We love you too. Tell Brooke and Hannah we said hi.�
Jax: �Ned, I�m going to take her back to bed, so Happy Birthday, buddy.�
Ned: �Thanks.�
Julia: �I�m going to hang up now, so you two can get on with your celebration, so have a great birthday, Ned, and Lex, don�t do anything to him that may require hospitalization.�
Alexis: (laughing) �I�ll try not to. Bye.�
Julia: �Bye.�
Ned: (as Alexis turns his phone off) �That was sweet of them to call.� He grins. �I hope you aren�t going to follow Julia�s advice about not doing anything too wild.�
Alexis: (smiling innocently) �Let�s get this started.� She takes a sip of her champagne and then walks over to the stereo and turns it onto a CD.
�No Ordinary Love� by Sade blasts out. The song has a seductive, slow beat.
Alexis begins slowly removing her jewelry, nylons and shoes in time to the music.
Ned watches in awe as she begins to dance seductively to the chorus as she sings along.
Alexis: (singing) �This is no ordinary love, no ordinary love.� She smiles at him.
Ned: �I�ve always wanted a professional striptease from you.� He smiles. �What took so long?�
Alexis ignores him and pulls her dress over her head. Underneath is a black lace teddy with the thinnest of satin straps.
Ned: �Wow. All I can say is wow.�
Alexis walks closer to him and sits down on his lap.
Ned begins running his hands over her upper body.
Alexis kisses his neck and face as she sways with the music, back and forth on his lap, making him extremely aroused.
Ned: �A lap dance? This really is my best birthday ever.�
Alexis: (in a sexy whisper) �You have to find your surprise.�
Ned: �Ooh, fun.�
Alexis takes off his tie and begins unbuttoning his shirt. She climbs off of his lap and unbuttons his pants and slips them off.
Ned stands up, wearing only black silk boxer shorts, and turns the music off. He goes over to Alexis and kisses her passionately.
Ned: (reaching down and unsnapping her teddy and taking it off) �You are so beautiful.� He puts his arms around her naked body.
Alexis winces again. Ned sees her face.
Ned: �Alexis, what is going on here? Every time I touch your back, you flinch.� He lets go of her and walks behind her.
His mouth drops open in shock when he gets a good look at her.
Alexis: (laughing) �Like it?�
Ned: �You got a tattoo?�
Alexis: (in a low voice) �Note that it�s placed where it can�t be seen if I�m dressed.�
Ned: �It�s the sexiest thing I�ve ever seen.�
Alexis: (turning around to look at him) �You aren�t mad, are you?�
Ned: �God no. I love it.� He smiles. �And since it�s so small and can only be seen when you�re undressed, I love it even more.�
Alexis: �It�s meant to be a secret between you and me. I don�t want anyone to know that I have a tattoo except you.�
Ned takes a closer look at the tiny ice blue star on the right side of lower back.
Ned: �I love it.� He leans down and gently kisses her tattoo. �I assume that you got it this afternoon?�
Alexis: �Yeah. That�s why it still hurts a little.�
Ned: (concerned) �Are you okay? Maybe we shouldn�t...�
Alexis: (amused) �Who are you and what have you done with Ned Ashton?� she takes his hands. �Ever heard of the phrase �no pain, no gain?� she smiles and slips his boxers off. �God, you look good naked.�
Ned: �You�re not so bad yourself.�
Alexis gently pushes him down onto the carpet before climbing on top of him. She begins making love to him as he moans in pleasure.
Ned: �Oh God, Alexis.... Lexi....�
Alexis: �Happy birthday, Ned.�
They continue to make love for the rest of the night, and as the dawn breaks, they fall asleep in each others� arms, listening to the sound of the ocean outside.