Stefan wakes up to see Mackenzie staring at him. As he opens his eyes, she leans over and softly kisses his lips.
Mackenzie: �Good morning, Mr. Cassadine.�
Stefan: (kissing her back) �Good morning, Mrs. Cassadine.� He smiles. �I just love saying those words.�
Mackenzie: (snuggling closer to him) �Than by all means, say it again.�
Stefan: (kissing her passionately) �Good morning, Mrs. Mackenzie Cassadine... or Mackenzie Cisnaros Cassadine... or Mackenzie Cisnaros...�
Mackenzie: (laughing) �I was thinking last night when we got home... and I�ve come to the decision that once our marriage is out in the open, I want to change my name to Cassadine.�
Stefan: �Really?� he smiles. �No one ever wants to be a Cassadine.�
Mackenzie: �Well, I do.� She smiles. �I want to be the queen of the house.�
Stefan: �My lady, my goddess, my princess.� He smiles. �You already are those things.� They begin kissing passionately but Mackenzie pulls away.
Mackenzie: (rolling over and looking at the clock) �Oh great. I have a staff meeting in an hour.� She pulls back the covers and climbs out of bed.
Stefan: (looking up at her) �Do you have to go?� he looks utterly pathetic.
Mackenzie: (leaning down and kissing) �Yes.� She smiles. �And you do too.�
Stefan: �I could be a little late...� he smiles innocently. �Come on, Mackenzie...�
Mackenzie: (unable to resist him) �Okay, but if your sister yells at me...� she climbs on top of him and begins kissing his chest.
Stefan: �Just tell her that you were busy making love to your husband.�
Mackenzie: �I could.� She smiles and begins running her hands over his body with reckless abandonment as he does the same.
They begin making sweet and passionate love, completely forgetting about work or anything else.
An hour and a half later. The ACBA building.
Alexis, Kimberly, Scott and Gregory are sitting around in the boardroom, looking at their watches.
Scott: �Alexis, where is that sister of yours?�
Alexis: (laughing) �Okay, so she�s my sister when she�s late?�
Just then, Mackenzie comes running in, her face flushed.
Kimberly: �Nice of you to join us, Mackenzie.�
Mackenzie: (blushing) �I am so sorry. I got... stuck in traffic.�
Scott: �Is that so? Must be lots of traffic on a private island.�
Mackenzie doesn�t say anything. She smiles slightly and sits down.
Gregory: �Can we just start the meeting?�
Alexis: (amused) �What�s your hurry?�
Gregory: �I�m meeting someone for a late breakfast if that�s okay.�
Alexis gives him a knowing look. Gregory blushes and looks away.
An hour and a half later.
Alexis, Kimberly, Gregory and Scott are on their way out of the boardroom. Mackenzie is standing at the head of the table, still reading a file.
Just then, a pair of arms snake themselves around her waist. She is about to scream when she looks down and sees the Cassadine family ring on one of the fingers.
Mackenzie: (laughing) �Stefan Cassadine, don�t you have anything better to do than follow me around all day?�
Stefan: (kissing her neck) �I missed you, Mrs. Cassadine.�
Alexis, coming down the hall and into the boardroom, freezes outside the open door. She is totally shocked.
Mackenzie: �Well, I missed my husband too.� She turns around and kisses him.
Stefan: (laughing) �What do you say we have a private board meeting right now?�
Mackenzie: �Ooh, Stefan, you�re so bad!� she laughs. �But by all means, lets.�
Just then, Alexis steps into the boardroom.
Stefan and Mackenzie hastily break apart, both of them blushing.
Stefan: (weakly) �How much of that did you hear, Alexis?�
Alexis doesn�t say anything. She walks over to Mackenzie and picks up her left hand.
Alexis: (looking closely at Mackenzie�s new ring) �Say, Mackenzie, where did you get this ring again?�
Mackenzie: (flustered) �It was my mother�s.�
Alexis: (perplexed) �I could have sworn that you said that you bought it in Venice.� Her voice drops to a whisper. �Could this by any chance be a wedding ring, Mrs. Cassadine?�
Mackenzie: �I don�t know what you�re talking about, Alexis.�
Alexis: �Well, before you two start carrying on your own private board meeting,� she pauses as they both blush a deep shade of red. �I want some answers.�
Stefan: �What do you want to know?�
Alexis: �I am very curious to when you were planning on telling your families that the two of you are married.�
Mackenzie: (making one last attempt) �We aren�t...�
Stefan: �Save it, Mackenzie.� He puts his arm around her waist. �Alexis knows when I�m lying.� He turns to Alexis. �We got married in Venice.�
Alexis: �I thought so.� she smiles. �Congratulations.�
Mackenzie: �Alexis, you CAN NOT tell anyone. Not even Ned.�
Alexis: �Why not? I don�t understand why you don�t want anyone to know.�
Stefan: �We just... want to keep it private for a little while. Besides, we have Nikolas and Christabel to consider.�
Alexis: �I think that they�ll be thrilled.� She smiles. �I sure am.� She gives both of them a hug. �And I won�t say anything to anyone until you do.�
Mackenzie: (testing her) �Not even Ned?�
Alexis: �I will try my hardest. I have trouble keeping things from Ned though.�
Mackenzie: �Try. Try hard.�
Alexis: (smiling) �So I guess that we�re even more sisters now.� She laughs. �Who would have known that me and my brother would marry you and your brother.�
Stefan: �I never thought I would marry a Quartermaine.�
Mackenzie: �Make that Cisnaros... actually, soon to be Cassadine.�
Alexis: (amused) �Mackenzie, he talked you into taking his name?�
Stefan: �No, she decided on her own.� He gives Mackenzie a loving smile.
Alexis: �Aw, you guys are so cute.� She smiles. �May you be as happy as Ned and I are.�
Stefan: �Minus the sex-capades in elevators, on stages and under pianos?�
Alexis: (shocked) �How did you know about the piano?�
Mackenzie: �Oh please. Who DOESN�T have sex under a piano when they buy it?�
Stefan and Mackenzie start laughing hysterically. Sighing, Alexis joins in and they continue laughing until all three of them are practically in tears.
That evening.
Alexis and Ned are snuggled together on the couch, drinking champagne.
Ned: �You would not believe the day I had.�
Alexis: �What happened?�
Ned: �My entire family is mad at me for throwing them out on Thanksgiving.�
Alexis: �You didn�t do anything. It was all Mackenzie.�
Ned: �Well, she�s my sister and she doesn�t work at ELQ, so I get the resentment by proxy.�
Alexis: (kissing his neck) �Well, I don�t resent you, Mr. Ashton.�
Ned: �I�m glad.� He gives her a kiss. �I miss you at work.�
Alexis: �I miss you too.� She smiles. �You should come visit me more.�
Ned: �I envy Scott. Kimberly works in the same building.� He laughs. �At least Stefan is in the same boat as me since he and Mackenzie don�t see each other all day.�
Alexis: (smiling slightly) �You would think.�
Ned: �Meaning?�
Alexis: �Uh, meaning that Stefan comes by to see Mackenzie every once in a while.�
Ned leans over and kisses her passionately. Alexis responds eagerly.
Just then, they hear screaming from upstairs.
Brooke: �AVERY, YOU ARE SO WRONG!�
Avery: �I AM NOT! SHE BOUGHT IT FOR ME! MOMMY BOUGHT IT FOR ME!�
Brooke: �YOU�RE STUPID!�
Avery: �YOU�RE EVEN MORE STUPID!�
There is a loud thump in the hallway. Ned and Alexis break apart and run up the stairs.
Lying on the hall floor is Brooke. Avery is standing over her, holding a blue shirt.
Alexis: �Avery Madelynn Ashton! What is going on here?�
Brooke: �Mommy, she took my shirt!�
Avery: �I did not! It�s mine, mine, mine!�
Ned: �Avery, pushing your sister isn�t going to accomplish anything. Say you�re sorry.�
Avery: (sighing heavily) �Sorry.�
Ned: �Say it like you mean it.�
Avery: �I�m sorry, Brooke.�
Alexis: (hiding a smile) �Good. Now both of you get ready for bed.�
Brooke: �Wait! Who gets to wear the shirt?�
Ned: �Neither one of you. Both of you have to wear something else.�
Avery: �Daddy!�
Brooke: (at the same time) �Daddy!�
Alexis: �Your dad is right. You both have to wear something different. Now give me the shirt.�
With a loud sigh, Avery hands Alexis the shirt and trudges off to her bedroom. Brooke shuffles after her. Ned and Alexis start laughing.
Late that night.
Alexis wakes up and rolls over in bed to see Ned staring at her. Even in the dark, she can see the gentle smile on his face.
Alexis: �What are you doing up?�
Ned: �I can�t sleep.� He smiles. �And I love watching you when you�re asleep. You look like an angel.�
Alexis: �I couldn�t sleep either.�
Ned: (in a low whisper) �Do you remember the first time we ever made love?�
Alexis: �How could I ever forget?� she smiles. �I don�t think I�ve ever been so scared in my life. Well, at least my adult life.�
Ned: (playing with a strand of her hair) �What do you mean?�
Alexis: �I was afraid that I wouldn�t... meet your expectations.�
Ned: �Brinna, you exceeded them.� He smiles.
Alexis: �And I knew that on that night, we were laying everything on the line. Our friendship, our relationship, everything.� She smiles. �But that didn�t matter. We gave ourselves up to the night and never looked back.�
* * * F L A S H B A C K * * *
The Gatehouse. October 13, 1997.
Alexis and Ned, dressed in eveningwear, have just returned from dinner at the Port Charles Grill. They are now drinking champagne.
Ned: �Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight, Ms. Davis?�
Alexis: �Only six times.� She smiles. �But feel free to say it again. It�s good for my ego.�
Ned: (in a sexy whisper) �You are the sexiest woman I have ever met.�
Alexis: (blushing profusely) �Ned...�
Ned cuts her off by kissing her hard. She responds eagerly.
Just then, the clock strikes midnight.
Alexis: �I�d better get back to the hotel.� She half smiles. �This has been a wonderful night.� She heads for the door.
Ned: (before he can stop himself) �It doesn�t have to end.� She turns around, somewhat shocked. �I�m sorry, I shouldn�t have said that.�
Alexis: (in a low voice) �I�m glad that you did.�
Ned: �Alexis, what are you saying?�
Alexis: (whispering) �What I�m saying is that I want you to take me upstairs to your bedroom and make love to me, and I want to spend the night in your bed and wake up in your arms tomorrow morning.�
Ned: (breathless) �You do?�
Alexis: �I want you, Ned.� Tears begin to feel her eyes. �I need you.�
Without a word, Ned sweeps her into his arms and carries her upstairs to his bedroom. They slowly take each others clothes off and then stand in front of each other.
Ned: �I am in awe.� He smiles. �Perfection.�
Alexis: (blushing) �I could say the same.�
They cross the room to each other and Ned wraps his arms around Alexis.
They walk over to the bed, still in an embrace, and falling onto it, begin making passionate love, all of their pent up feelings and emotions fusing their bodies together until the sun begins to rise over Port Charles.
* * * E N D O F F L A S H B A C K * * *
Alexis: (resting her head on Ned�s chest) �That was an amazing night.�
Ned: �Every night together is amazing.� He smiles. �Lexi, when did you realize that you loved me?�
Alexis: �I knew that I loved you when we were spending the night at your house, and I had a dream about Helena, and woke up screaming. You never asked me any questions and you just held me until I stopped crying.� She smiles. �I�ll never forget falling asleep in your arms, feeling for the first time in my life that I was safe and that you would always protect me.�
Ned: (his eyes filled with love) �I love you, Alexis Brinna.� He gently kisses her forehead. �And do you know the moment that I realized that I loved you?� he holds her tightly. �We were walking down along the harbor in the moonlight, and the wind was blowing gently through your hair. You started shivering and I gave you my coat.�
Alexis: �I remember that night.� She thinks. �But what did I do that warranted you to realize that you loved me?�
Ned: �I was getting to that, Ms. Impatient.� He laughs. �I remember asking you if you were cold and you said kind of. So I asked you where you wanted to go.... you said, �anywhere as long as I�m with you.� I looked into your eyes and they were filled with emotion and desire, and the stars were out and I just knew that I loved you.� He smiles. �Do you remember what we did after that?�
Alexis: (in a whisper) �We went back to the Gatehouse and made love for the rest of the night in front of a roaring fire.�
Ned: �Remembering this kind of makes me want to make love in front of a roaring fire.�
They exchange a glance and simultaneously get out of bed, and holding hands, go downstairs to the living room where Ned starts a fire in the hearth.
Shedding their clothes, they fall to the ground and begin making love for the rest of the night.
The next morning.
Alexis and Ned are asleep on the living room floor, a blanket covering them. The remains of a fire is burning in the fireplace.
Avery: (shaking them) �Mommy, Daddy, it�s morning! Wake up!�
Alexis: (slowly opening her eyes) �What?� she looks around and then nudges Ned. �Ned, wake up.�
Ned: (slowly opening his eyes) �Ready for round two, Lexi...� he opens his eyes fully and focuses on Avery.
Avery: �Round two of what?�
Ned: (blushing a little) �Round two of getting ready for school.�
Avery: �I don�t think so.�
Alexis: (laughing) �Is that so? Why not?�
Avery: �Hello! You don�t go to school!�
Alexis: (laughing) �Good point.� She looks at the clock. �Can you and Brooke go get dressed for school?�
Avery: �Okay.� She gets up and runs off.
Ned: (kissing Alexis softly) �Good morning, Beautiful.�
Alexis: �Last night was wonderful.� He smiles. �There�s nothing more romantic than making love in front of a roaring fire.�
Ned: �I agree.� He kisses her again. �We should do this again.�
Alexis: �Okay. I�ll see you right here tonight.�
Ned starts laughing. Alexis does too.
Later that morning.
Dr. Souza�s office at General Hospital.
Julia is sitting on the examining table and Jax is holding her hand.
Dr. Souza: �Now, this won�t hurt a bit.� She squeezes the ultrasound gel on Julia�s stomach and then begins moving the ultrasound stomach thing around on her stomach.
The sound of the baby�s heartbeat suddenly fills the room.
Jax and Julia look at each other in amazement. Tears begin to fill Julia�s eyes.
Julia: �Oh my God. There really is a baby in there.�
Jax: �Doctor, is it possible to see the baby?�
Dr. Souza: �Right here.� She moves the ultrasound around until a little blip is seen on the screen. Just then, she frowns. �Wait a minute, this isn�t right.�
Julia: (panicked) �Is there something wrong with the baby?�
Dr. Souza: �No, there is nothing wrong with your... babies.�
Jax: �Good.� Just then, her words set in. �What do you mean BABIES?�
Julia: (at the same time) �What do you mean, BABIES?�
Dr. Souza: (smiling) �Julia, Jax, congratulations. You�re having twins.�
Julia: (aghast) �TWINS?�
Jax: �You mean, TWO babies? Are you sure?�
Dr. Souza: �I know, it�s a lot to take at once.� She points at the monitor. �See, there�s one head, and there�s the other.�
Julia: (beginning to cry) �Oh my God, we�re having twins!�
Jax: (putting his arm around her protectively) �This is amazing.� He smiles. �We�re having two babies, Jul.�
Dr. Souza: �Actually,� she moves the ultrasound around. �You�re having a boy and a girl.� She smiles. �I�m going to go get some information about multiple births, and I�ll be right back.�
As she leaves, Jax leans down and gently kisses Julia�s forehead.
Jax: �I love you, Julia.�
Julia: �I love you too.� She smiles. �I guess that we�re both right. We�re having a boy AND a girl.�
Jax: �I guess that we�re going to have to start thinking of names.�
They smile at each other as Jax takes Julia�s hands and holds them tightly.
Late Evening. The Port Charles Marina.
Julia and Jax are walking along the docks, looking up at the stars.
Jax: �So, Mrs. Jacks-to-be, I was thinking about names for the babies... and why don�t we both choose one and then decide together.�
Julia: (softly) �I remember when Brenda and I were little... She used to play with her dolls and pretend to be their mommy. She always liked the name Victoria. What do you think of that for our daughter?� she pauses. �Victoria Marie Jacks.�
Jax: (kissing her gently) �I love it. I think that Brenda would be pleased.�
Julia: �I think so too.� She smiles. �Now it�s your turn.�
Jax: �What about... hmm... Tyler? Tyler Barrett Jacks.�
Julia: (touched) �You want to give our son my maiden name as his middle name?� she smiles. �I love it.� She moves closer to him. �And Jax, I decided that I want to change my last name to Jacks when we get married.�
Jax: (putting his arms around her) �You do?� he smiles. �Julia Jacks... well, you�ll fit right in with the J theme in the family.�
Julia: �I wonder if our kids will have Australian accents... especially Tyler.�
Jax: �For some reason, I doubt that.�
Julia: (laughing) �Even so, we�re going to have two beautiful children.�
Jax: �How could they not be, with you as their mother?�
Julia: (laughing) �Well, I hope that Tyler doesn�t take after you in the major flirt department. He�ll have girls falling at his feet when he starts kindergarten.�
Jax: �And I hope that Victoria isn�t as coy as you.�
Just then, the wind begins to pick up.
Jax: �We�d better get home. I don�t want you out in the cold.�
Julia: �Jax, it isn�t exactly the arctic out here.�
Jax: �I don�t want any arguments from you, Julia Michelle. You have to take care of yourself for the sake of the twins.�
Julia: (smiling) �It still shocks me to hear the word twins.�
Jax: �You aren�t the only one who�s in a state of shock.� He smiles. �Why don�t we go home and veg out in front of the TV and eat ice cream and watch old movies?�
Julia: �That sounds wonderful.� She yawns. �I feel like a quiet evening at home.�
Jax: (taking her hand) �We just so happen to have your favorite kind of ice cream sundae ingredients at home.� They start walking back to the car.
Julia: (pleased) �French vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and caramel sauce?�
Jax: �Of course. I vow to you to keep those foods in the house as long as you�re pregnant.�
Julia: �Jasper Jacks, you�re too good to me.�
Jax: �No, I�m not.� He smiles. �You deserve the world on a silver platter.�
Julia: �I�d rather have you.� She smiles. �And our babies.� She stops walking and kisses him. �You�re the only thing that matters to me.�
Jax: �And you are to me, too.�
Just then, a shooting star goes off across the star. Julia and Jax stare up at it.
Julia: �We love you, Brenda.�
Jax: (at the same time) �We love you, Brenda.�
With a final look up at the night sky, Julia and Jax leave the harbor, heading for home.