The Port Charles Courthouse.
Stefan, Mackenzie, Nikolas and Christabel come walking out.
Christabel: (skipping along) �Mackenzie, now that you�re my mommy for real, can I call you that? Please?�
Stefan and Mackenzie exchange a look. He nods and smiles slightly.
Mackenzie: (picking her up) �Of course you can, Sweetie. I�m so happy that you�re my daughter now.�
Christabel: �It�s so cool that your last name is Cassadine too!�
Stefan: �I agree.� He smiles at his wife. �Mackenzie Cassadine has a nice ring to it.�
Nikolas: �So, what are we going to do for Christmas?�
Stefan: �We haven�t really thought about it... Maybe we should... Uh...�
Christabel: �Can we put out cookies for Santa?�
Mackenzie: �Sure. And some carrots for the reindeer too.�
Nikolas: �I was thinking that we should have quiet family dinner.� He smiles. �But I want to bring Emily too because she refuses to spend all day with her family.�
Mackenzie: (laughing) �Go figure.� She looks at her watch. �You know what? I have to get to work because I have an important staff meeting at noon.�
Stefan: �Do you have to go?� he smiles at her.
Mackenzie: �Unfortunately, yes.� She smiles. �But we�re still on for Christmas shopping tonight, right?�
Stefan: �Of course.� He smiles. �Alexis and Ned are going to meet us at the mall.�
Christabel: (pouting) �I want to go with you!�
Nikolas: (pulling her ponytail) �I think that you and I will have more fun together.�
Christabel: (interested) �What are we going to do?�
Nikolas: �I was thinking that we could eat pizza and watch movies.�
Christabel: (her eyes lighting up) �Okay, I�ll stay home with you, Nikolas.�
They stop in the parking garage in front of Mackenzie�s black Lexus.
Mackenzie: (giving Christabel a kiss) �I have to get to work now.� She sets her down on the ground. �I�ll be home later.�
Stefan: (giving her a kiss) �Have a good day.�
Mackenzie: (unlocking her car door) �It should be an interesting staff meeting with me and Scott playing referees between Alexis, Gregory and Kimberly.� She laughs as she gets in the car.
Christabel: (as Mackenzie backs her car out) �Bye Mommy!�
Mackenzie waves and drives away. She smiles at the sound of Christabel calling her mommy.
Fifteen minutes later.
The conference room at ACBA�s offices.
Alexis is glaring at Kimberly. She is glaring back. Gregory is checking his watch. Scott is staring off into space. Mackenzie just shakes her head.
Mackenzie: (beginning to get mad) �I thought that this was going to be a staff meeting.�
Scott: �It is.�
Mackenzie: �Well you know what? It sucks! You two,� she gestures at Alexis and Kimberly. �Can�t even put your personal feelings aside long enough to do business? You�re acting like three year olds!�
Kimberly: (icily) �Mackenzie, why don�t you mind your own business?�
Alexis: �Shut up, Kimberly.�
Kimberly: �Make me, Alexis!�
Scott: (interrupting them) �Alexis! Kimberly! Knock it off!�
They both look over at him, chagrined.
Scott: (going on) �Now, we have some business to discuss.� He consults his notes. �A businessman in NYC, Ryan Miller, wants to hire a lawyer. He is being sued for libel.�
Gregory: �New York City? Isn�t that a tad far away from Port Charles?�
Scott: �He wants to hire an out of town lawyer because they would be impartial.� He rolls his eyes. �He�s a nice man though. He�s only twenty nine.�
Kimberly: �So, which one of us gets it?�
Scott: �I was thinking, and don�t get mad, Kim, that Alexis should take this case because she�s handled a libel suit before.�
Alexis: �Me? Go to New York City? I can�t! I have kids and a job here...�
Scott: �No, no. He�s going to come here. The case will be fought in NYC, but the preparations will take place here. You�d be there two weeks tops.�
Alexis: (hedging) �I don�t know... I should talk to Ned first.�
Kimberly: (loud enough for Alexis to hear) �Yeah, you need him to hold your hand.�
Alexis sneers at her. She sneers back.
Scott: �Can you get back to me by tomorrow afternoon?�
Alexis: �Sure. I�ll talk to Ned when I get home.�
Kimberly: (in a bored tone) �So, Greg, I�ll drop Morgan off tonight.�
Gregory: �Okay. I�ll be home about six. I was planning on taking her out to dinner.�
Kimberly: �She�ll be happy about that. You may have to help her with her math homework.�
Gregory: �Okay.� He smiles. �If I can remember.�
Alexis watches the two of them banter, and rolls her eyes in Mackenzie�s direction. Mackenzie hides a smile.
Alexis: �Is there anything else that we need to talk about that is pertaining to work?�
Scott: �Not that I can think of right now.�
Alexis: �Good.� She stands up and practically runs from the room.
Back in her office, Alexis locks the door, and pulls a small box from her purse. She heads into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later.
Alexis: (in a whisper) �No. It can�t be.� She stares at the plastic stick she is holding, tears beginning to run down her face.
That night. The Port Charles Mall.
Alexis and Ned walk through the main doors, holding hands.
Stefan and Mackenzie are waiting for them on a bench.
Mackenzie: �Well, brother dearest, you�re late.�
Ned: (amused) �We are not. Emily was late getting to the house to baby-sit the girls.�
Stefan: �Why don�t we start with the kids? We can go to Toys R Us.�
Ned: �Sounds like a plan.�
Alexis doesn�t say anything. She is staring off into space.
Ned: �Lexi? You okay?�
Alexis: (snapping out of it) �I�m fine.�
The two couples head down the mall to Toys R Us, admiring the lavish Christmas decorations that adorn the mall.
Ned: (stopping in front of Toys R Us) �I love this store. It makes me feel so young.�
Mackenzie: �Me too.� She smiles. �I�m looking forward to shopping for Christabel.�
Ned: �How is life as a mother?� he smiles. �As a Cassadine mother?�
Mackenzie: �It�s wonderful.� She grins. �And even more wonderfully, Stefan and I have been talking about having a baby.�
Stefan: (looking at her lovingly) �I think that Christabel would enjoy having a little sibling.�
At this point, Alexis looks like she is about to throw up.
Mackenzie notices but doesn�t say anything. They proceed into the store.
Twenty minutes later.
Ned: (walking with Stefan) �So, you�re enjoying marriage?�
Stefan: (smiling) �Very much so.� they stop in front of a display of barbie dolls. �I believe that Christabel wants one of these.�
Ned: �Avery wants the Christmas one.� He looks over the selection. �Boy, there�s a lot.�
Stefan: (gesturing at the dolls) �How am I supposed to know which one of these to buy?� he laughs. �It was a lot easier when I had a personal shopper.�
Ned: �It would be so much easier to have a son. A basketball and a few star wars figurines and they�re happy.� He takes a barbie off the shelf. �This one looks good.�
Stefan: (taking a beach barbie off the shelf) �I think that Christabel would like this one.�
They look at each other and start laughing hysterically.
Ned: �Who would have ever thought...� he continues to laugh.
Stefan: �That we would be shopping for barbie dolls together?�
Ned: (still laughing) �I wonder how our wives are doing.�
Across the store.
Alexis is holding a pink soccer ball for Brooke, and an Elmo toy phone for Hannah. Mackenzie is carrying a huge stuffed Piglet doll for Christabel.
Mackenzie: �Lex, are you okay?�
Alexis: (staring at a display of newborn toys) �I�m fine.�
Mackenzie: �No you aren�t.� she looks her sister-in-law in the eye. �What�s up?�
Alexis: (covering) �I�m just over stressed with work and Christmas and everything.�
Mackenzie: �Well, if you need to talk, I�m here.�
Alexis: �Thanks. I appreciate it.� She sighs.
Ned: (walking up behind her) �Hello, Beautiful.� He holds the barbie doll out. �See what I found for Avery.�
Stefan: (showing Mackenzie the barbie he chose) �Do you think Christabel will like it?�
Alexis and Mackenzie exchange a look and they both start laughing.
A half hour later.
The two couples are walking down the mall together, laden down with bags.
Mackenzie: (stopping in front of a bench) �Why don�t you two be nice husbands and go get us some lattes?�
Ned: �Okay.� He hands Alexis his bags. �We�ll be right back.�
Stefan: �Wait a sec, why don�t you go with Ned, Mackenzie? I need to talk to Alexis.�
Mackenzie: �Okay.� She stands up and walks off with Ned.
Stefan and Alexis sit down on a bench. Alexis looks exhausted.
Stefan: (brushing her hair back) �How are you, my sister?�
Alexis: �Fine.� She tries to smile. �Tired, but fine. You?�
Stefan: �I am happier than I have ever been.�
Alexis: �What do you need to talk to me about?�
Stefan: �I�ve been thinking about Christmas. I don�t know what to get Mackenzie.�
Alexis: (smiling slightly) �Hmm... what about jewelry? All women love diamonds.�
Stefan: �I was considering that, but I want to get her something with a little more substance.�
Alexis: �What about a dress?� she thinks about it. �I bet that she would love it if you bought her a fancy dress and took her out on a special date after Christmas. You could go spend a night in New York City, go to the opera or something.�
Stefan: (thinking about it) �Ooh, I like it. Do you happen to know her dress size?�
Alexis: �It�s a four.�
Stefan: �Do you have any suggestions for a store? Or a color or something?�
Alexis: �Try the formal department at Wyndhams. As for the color, I refuse to help you. It will be more meaningful if you do everything yourself.�
Stefan: �Thank you, Alexis. You�ve been very helpful.�
Mackenzie: (coming up to them with two lattes in her hand) �Helpful about what?� she hands one to Stefan. �For you, Mr. Cassadine, a plain two shot latte with one sugar and extra foam.�
Stefan: (laughing) �I�m impressed.� He smiles as she sits down next to him.
Ned: (giving Alexis her latte) �One French vanilla latte, one shot, with extra whipped cream.�
Alexis: (smiling up at him) �Thanks, Sweetie.�
Ned sits down next to her and she rests her head on his shoulder.
Ned: (whispering in her ear) �Want to have a little fun when we get home?�
Alexis: (yawning) �What kind of fun?�
Ned: (in a sexy whisper) �I was thinking that we could fool around.�
Alexis: (yawning again) �I�m too tired.�
Ned: �Okay.�
Alexis: �I�m sorry.�
Ned: �Don�t be. It�s okay.� He looks at her. �Are you okay?�
Alexis: (laughing bitterly) �I wish everyone would stop asking me that! I�m fine!�
Stefan and Mackenzie hear her and they over look at her. Ned just stares at her.
Meanwhile. Gregory�s apartment.
Monica, Gregory and Morgan are sitting at the dining room table.
Monica: �And then you multiply the two fractions together.�
Morgan: �Okay.� She leans over her math book and starts writing.
Gregory: �Boy, Mon, you�re pretty smart, aren�t you?�
Monica: �Not really. I just paid attention in school.�
Just then, there is a knock at the door.
Gregory: �I�ll get it.� He goes over and opens the door.
Standing on the doorstep is Kimberly and Serena.
Gregory: �Kim, what are you doing here?� he opens the door wider. �Hello, Serena. Come in, both of you.�
Morgan: (not looking up from her homework) �Hi, Mom. Hi, Serena.�
Kimberly: �What are you doing, Morgan? You look very scholarly.�
Morgan: �Monica is helping me with my math.�
Kimberly: �That�s nice of you, Monica.� She smiles at her. Monica smiles back.
Serena: �Mommy, can I ask them?�
Kimberly: �Go ahead.� She smiles down at her daughter.
Serena: �Mommy and Daddy wanted to know if you want to come for Christmas.�
Morgan: �I thought I was already going to.�
Kimberly: �I meant Gregory and Monica too.� She smiles at them. �Scott and I would really like it if you guys would join us for Christmas.�
Gregory: �I�d love to.� He looks at Monica. �Mon?�
Morgan: (looking up) �Monica, you have to come!�
Monica: �Well... I have to spend the morning with my family, but I�m sure that I can come over for dinner... Emily is running off to have dinner with Nikolas.�
Kimberly: �Great!� she smiles. �We were on our way home from ballet so we decided to stop by and invite you all.�
Gregory: �Thanks for asking us. I really appreciate it.�
Serena: �It�s going to be such an awesome Christmas! I can just tell!�
Later that night. The Ashtons� house.
Ned comes into their bedroom to see Alexis holding Hannah.
Ned: �Well if it isn�t my two favorite girls.�
Alexis: �She wanted to be held.�
Ned: (sitting down next to them) �Hannah Grace, are you excited about your first Christmas?� he smiles at her as she gurgles.
Alexis: �She�s so adorable.�
Ned: �Our last little baby.� He looks sad. �They�re so cute at this age.�
Alexis: (her face going pale) �Yeah, they are.�
Ned: �So, Mrs. Ashton, what do you want for Christmas?�
Alexis: �I don�t know.� She pauses. �I haven�t thought about it.�
Ned: �Lex, are you okay?�
Alexis: �I�m fine. Why do you ask?�
Ned: �You just seem a little distant lately.�
Alexis: (standing up and heading for the door) �I�m going to put Hannah to bed, and then I�m going to take a shower. You can join me if you�d like.�
Ned: (smiling slightly) �I�ll get the shower running.�
Alexis gives him a wavering smile and heads out of the room.
Inside Hannah�s nursery.
Alexis lays the baby down in her crib and covers her with a blanket. Hannah stares up at her, her eyes beginning to droop.
Alexis: (in a low voice) �Oh Hannah, what am I going to do? I didn�t mean to get pregnant again. I guess that I slipped with my birth control pills. But what am I going to do, and more importantly, what is Daddy going to say?�
Hannah sticks her pacifier in her mouth and gurgles a little.
Alexis: �Yeah, that�s what I thought. I should wait to tell him.� She pats the baby�s back gently. �Thanks for listening, Hannah. You�re a great help.� She smiles down at her. �Good night, Angel. Sleep well.�
She turns off the light and leaves the room and goes back into her own room.
The water in the bathroom is running and the bathroom is beginning to fill up with steam.
Alexis sheds her clothes and climbs into the shower behind Ned. She wraps her arms around his waist and rests her head against his shoulder blade.
Ned: �You�re so beautiful.� He turns around to look at her. �So sexy, and so perfect.�
Alexis: (staring at his abdomen) �You�re not so bad looking yourself.� She smiles at him.
Ned: (placing a hand on her stomach) �You�re too thin, Lex. No one could ever guess that you�ve had two children.�
Alexis: (in a low voice) �I doubt that.� Her eyes fill with tears as he massages her stomach.
Ned: (seeing her red eyes) �Alexis, is there something you�d like to share with me?�
Alexis: (wiping her eyes) �No.�
Ned doesn�t say anything. He just picks up a bottle of shampoo and begins washing his hair. Alexis sighs.
Twenty minutes later, they climb out of the shower and wrap fluffy white towels around themselves.
Ned: (following Alexis back into their bedroom) �Brinna, you�re awfully quiet.�
Alexis: (before she can stop herself) �Is it required that I share every thought with you?�
Ned looks like Alexis has just slapped him and she looks instantly guilty.
Alexis: (in a soft voice) �Ned, I�m sorry. I was out of line.�
Ned: �It�s okay.� He looks deep into her eyes. �I just want to know if something�s wrong so that we can work through it together.�
Alexis: (in a very low voice) �I�m just under a lot of stress.� She yawns. �And I need sleep very badly.�
Ned: (putting his arms around her) �Than sleep you will have, Princess.� He kisses the top of her head. �Go get your pajamas on.�
Alexis smiles at him gratefully and heads over to their dresser.
They change into their pajamas (Alexis in lavender silk pajamas, Ned in navy striped silk boxers) and climb into their bed.
Ned: (turning the light off) �I can�t believe that Christmas is only two days away.�
Alexis: �I love Christmas. It�s so beautiful.�
Ned: �So are you.� He pulls her close.
Alexis: (resting her head on his chest) �I love you, Ned.�
Ned: �I love you too, Alexis.� He smiles. �Always and forever.�
Alexis: �And I�m sorry that I�ve been such a bad wife lately.�
Ned: (laughing) �You�re not a bad wife.� He kisses her gently. �It�s just that we were estranged for a week, and then we make up and now you�re acting aloof again.�
Alexis: �Ned, believe me, if I could tell you, I would. And I will when the time is right.�
Ned: (stroking her hair) �It�s up to you.�
Alexis sighs contentedly and looks up at him.
Alexis: (whispering) �Will you sing me to sleep?�
Ned: �Of course I will. Any song you want in particular?�
Alexis: �Anything. I love the sound of your voice.�
Ned: (pulling her closer, singing) �I will never find another lover, sweeter than you, sweeter than you. And I will never find another lover more precious than you, precious than you. Girl, you are close to me like my mother, close to me like my father, close to me like my sister, close to me like my brother. You are the only thing, my everything, and for you, this song I sing.�
He pauses and looks down at Alexis. Her eyes are beginning to droop. He smiles.
Ned: �And all my life, I prayed for someone like you. And I thank God that I finally found you. And all my life, I prayed for someone like you. And I pray that you do love me too... yes, I pray that you do love me too.�
His voice trails off as Alexis� breathing becomes steady and relaxed. He pulls her closer and tucks the blankets around her.
Ned: (in a whisper) �Good night, my Princess. Have sweet dreams.�