The Ashtons� living room.
Alexis is finishing setting presents out under the tree when a pair of arms wind around her waist. She smiles and leans back into Ned.
Ned: �Merry almost Christmas, Mrs. Ashton.�
Alexis: �Merry Christmas to you too, Mr. Ashton.� She smiles as Ned kisses her neck.
Ned: �Do you know what today is?� he doesn�t wait for her to answer. �It�s the six year anniversary of our first meeting.�
Alexis: �The bar at the Port Charles Hotel.� She smiles. �You were flirting with the Christmas tree.� She smirks.
Ned: (laughing) �I was not. I was just enjoying my vodka a lot.�
Alexis: (turning around to face him) �You changed my life that day.�
Ned: (kissing her gently) �On that night, did you ever think that we would be married? We would have three beautiful daughters, and this house?� He smiles. �Our house.�
Alexis: �Honestly, my biggest concern that night was if the bartender was going to run out of gin for my martinis.� She smiles. �But I was very, very attracted to you.�
Ned: �I know.� He grins. �You hit on me and I rejected you.�
Alexis: (pretending to be wounded) �I know. I was very, very hurt.�
Ned: (as they sit down on the couch and she lays her head on his shoulder) �For some reason, I think you got over it.�
Alexis: (laughing) �You could say that.�
Ned: �Brinna, what did you ever end up doing that night? After the bar closed, I mean.�
Alexis: (blushing a little) �If you must know, I went upstairs to my room and sulked while I watched �It�s a Wonderful Life.� God, that movie really nauseated me.� she smiles. �But now, thanks to you, I understand the whole holiday spirit.�
Ned: (kissing her hair) �I understand completely, because I feel the same way.�
Alexis: �What did you do that night? Go caroling with the Quartermaines?�
Ned: (somewhat amused) �Brinna, IF I EVER!� he smiles. �Actually, I went back to the Gatehouse and sat in Brooke�s nursery for a while.� He looks sad. �I... I was so depressed that she and Lois had left that I couldn�t imagine Christmas without them.�
Alexis: (putting her arms around him and holding him tightly) �And you�ll never have to worry about that again.� She kisses his lips. �You have a wife who loves you more than anything, and three beautiful daughters, including Brooke.�
Ned: �And I am forever in debt to you, Alexis Brinna.� He strokes her hair. �For your friendship, for your legal skills, for your love.�
Alexis: �I feel the same way.� She leans over and kisses him gently.
Ned: �I have something for you, Lexi.� He gets up and goes to get a big box.
Alexis: �Shouldn�t I wait until tomorrow to open this?�
Ned: �It�s not a Christmas present.� He smiles. �It�s an anniversary present, in honor of our first meeting.� He looks intently at her. �Open it.�
Alexis quickly removes the wrapping paper from the box and opens it. She pulls out a gold dipped martini glass.
Alexis: (laughing) �What is this?�
Ned: (in a very low voice) �It�s the glass you were drinking from that night.�
Alexis: (shocked) �How did you ever get this?� she smiles slightly. �Ned!�
Ned: �I made a few inquiries... they retire the glasses every month or so down to the basement, and I asked about your glass. It had a tiny chip in the base.� He smiles. �They gave it to me and I had it dipped in gold last week.� He smiles. �It�s been in the attic for about six months. I forgot about it.�
Alexis: (tears running down her face) �Oh Ned. I love it. I�ll put it on the bookshelf.�
She laughs. �I can�t believe you did this!�
Ned: (tears in his eyes) �You saved my life that night, Alexis.�
They wrap their arms around each other and kiss passionately.
Wyndemere.
Stefan and Mackenzie are curled up on the couch, drinking wine, when Christabel comes running in, dragging her doll, Adrienne.
Christabel: �Mommy, Daddy, is it Christmas yet?�
Mackenzie: �Sweetie, it wasn�t Christmas when you asked four minutes ago, and it still isn�t.� she looks at her watch. �Christmas is eight hours away.�
Christabel: �Eight hours? That�s forever!�
Stefan: �Well, we�re going to go to church with Aunt Alexis and Uncle Ned.�
Christabel: �Are Avery and Brooke going?�
Mackenzie: �Yeah, and Aunt Julia and Uncle Jax too.�
Christabel: �How long until we go?�
Stefan: �An hour.�
Christabel: �Good. I�ll go get dressed.� She starts to run off.
Mackenzie: �Wait! Christabel, you don�t need to get dressed yet!�
Christabel: (turning around) �Mommy, you should know! Girls need more time!� she runs up the stairs.
Stefan and Mackenzie just start laughing.
The Penthouse.
Julia is staring out the window at the snow when Jax comes up behind her. He waves a sprig of mistletoe in her face. She smiles.
Julia: �Jasper Jacks, are you trying to tell me something?�
Jax: (in a sexy whisper) �Yeah, that I want to kiss you, Ms. Barrett...�
Julia turns around and kisses Jax passionately. He gently strokes her hair.
Jax: �I can�t believe that one year ago, we were just friends.�
Julia: �What can I say? You swept me off my feet.�
Jax: (placing his hands on her stomach) �And are Tyler and Victoria excited about Christmas?�
Julia: �They sure are.� She smiles. �Are you sure about having dinner at Wyndemere?�
Jax: �Of course I am.� He smiles. �You should be with your sister on Christmas.� He smiles. �And besides, I have Ned and Alexis to keep me company too.�
Julia: �God, we only found out about Mackenzie a year ago. Wow.� She smiles. �Now I can�t imagine life without my little sister.�
Jax: �She�s an amazing woman.� He smiles. �Just like her big sister.� He kisses her again.
Julia smiles and they stay locked in an embrace for a long time.
That night.
Saint Andrew�s Church, Port Charles.
The Ashtons, Cassadines and Jacks� are sitting in a pew as the church service ends.
Priest: �And can we all now stand for the closing hymm?�
They all stand up as the lights in the church dim and the candles glow. The ushers hand out individual candles to the congregation, and they pass the flame to light them.
Alexis and Ned smile down at Brooke and Avery, their eyes huge as they carefully hold their candles. Ned shifts Hannah in his arms so he can hold his candle.
Everyone: �Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king. Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies. With angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem, Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king.�
Alexis and Ned, Stefan and Mackenzie and Jax and Julia smile at each other.
Christmas morning. 7:12 a.m.
Alexis and Ned are asleep, snuggled together in their bed when there is a scream downstairs.
Avery: (running up the stairs) �SANTA CAME!�
Ned and Alexis open their eyes as Avery and Brooke come running into the room.
Alexis: (half asleep) �Isn�t it a little early for this, girls?�
Brooke: (pulling the covers back) �It�s Christmas!� she starts jumping up and down. �Santa brought Hannah a big Pooh doll and he brought us rollerblades!�
Ned: (smiling at Alexis) �Is that so?� they get out of bed and put their robes on.
Avery: �Yeah... and he brought a pair for Mo...�
Ned: (clamping his hand over her mouth) �Avery, why don�t you and Brooke go get your robes and slippers on and we�ll go downstairs.�
Avery and Brooke run excitedly from the room as their parents yawn.
Alexis: �They wake up earlier every year.�
Ned: (kissing her) �Merry Christmas, Brinna.�
Alexis: (kissing him back) �Merry Christmas, EJ.�
They get out of bed and go get Hannah up and head downstairs.
Brooke and Avery are waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
Brooke: (dragging Alexis into the living room) �Look, Mommy! Look what Santa brought!� she gestures at three pairs of rollerblades. Two are childrens� size and one is adult. Women�s to be exact.
Alexis: (raising her eyebrows) �Who is the other pair for, I wonder?�
Ned: (laughing) �Santa thought you might like to go rollerblading with your daughters.�
Alexis: (laughing) �I wonder why he overlooked you, Ned.�
Ned: (seriously) �I happened to have bought myself a pair. They�re upstairs.�
Alexis and Ned grin at each other as Brooke and Avery jump around them.
Avery: �Let�s open the presents! Come on!�
Ned: �Can�t you wait until we have some coffee?�
Brooke: �NO! NOW!�
Alexis: (putting her arms around her daughters) �How can you make a five and seven year old wait to open Christmas presents?� she smiles. �Ned, give Hannah to me and then you can pass out the presents.�
Ned glares at her as he hands Hannah, who is half asleep, to Alexis, who sits down.
An hour later.
The Ashtons� living room is a mass of wrapping paper, which Brooke and Avery are throwing around.
Brooke: �It�s so cool that we got the Nintendo Spice Girls game! Thank you, Mommy and Daddy!�
Alexis: �You�re welcome, Sweetie.�
Ned: �Alexis, I have one more present for you.�
Alexis: �Ned, you already gave me sapphire earrings.�
Ned: �This isn�t a present per se.... it�s something you already had, sort of.�
He hands her a long jewelry box, which she stares at for a long time.
Ned: (in a low voice) �Open it.�
Alexis slowly opens the box. Hanging from a midsized gold chain, is Arianna�s diamond earring. It has been shaped into a necklace charm. There is three little pearls and then the diamond.
Alexis: (a catch in her throat) �My mother�s earring.� She begins to cry.
Ned: �Do you like it?�
Alexis: �Oh Ned.� She smiles through her tears. �It�s the nicest present anyone has ever given me.� she looks at the necklace. �You have no idea how much that earring means to me.�
Ned: �May I put it on you, Mrs. Ashton?�
Brooke and Avery stop throwing paper at each other long enough to watch Ned fasten the necklace around Alexis� neck. They put their arms around each other and kiss passionately.
Brooke: �Do you mind? There are kids in the room.� She starts laughing.
Ned and Alexis break apart, laughing, and throw wrapping paper at Brooke and Avery until they are completely buried in it. Hannah has fallen back asleep.
Meanwhile, at Wyndemere.
Mackenzie is opening her last present, a huge box from Stefan.
From it, she pulls a long satin evening gown. It is a deep shade of purple, almost black. The straps are made from a thin line of diamonds, that crisscross in the back, the neck dips low and there is a slit up the right leg.
Stefan: �I hope you like it.�
Mackenzie: (shocked) �Stefan! I love it! I�ve never seen a dress like this!�
Stefan: �I had it made especially for you.� He smiles. �Wyndhams doesn�t carry any dresses suitable for a woman as beautiful as you.� He hands her a small box. �This goes with it.�
Mackenzie: (opening the box and looking at the contents) �Oh my God, Stefan! Opera tickets!� she looks closely at the tickets. �Wow.� She is silent for a moment. �In Paris.�
Stefan: (worried that she doesn�t like it) �I rather hoped that you would wear the dress when we go, that is, if you want to go...�
Mackenzie: �Stefan, I love it.� She smiles. �I�ve never been to Paris.� She leans over and gives him a kiss. �Thank you.�
Stefan: (happy that she likes it) �You�re welcome. But I must say that this was a purely selfish gift.�
Mackenzie: �What do you mean?�
Stefan: �I get the pleasure of seeing you in that dress.�
Mackenzie blushes. Stefan and Nikolas laugh.
Nikolas: �He�s right, you know. None of my friends are going to believe that you�re my stepmother.� He gets up. �I�m going to go take care of that one thing now.�
Mackenzie: �You two are too sweet.� She turns to Christabel, who is playing with her new barbie doll, one of about fifty presents her parents gave her. �Miss Cassadine, I believe that we have one more present for you.�
Christabel: (her eyes lighting up) �You do?�
Stefan: �We sure do.� He smiles. �Actually, this was Nikolas� idea.�
Christabel: �Where is it? Where is it? Where is it?�
Stefan: (laughing) �It�s outside.�
Christabel stands up and runs towards the door. Stefan catches up to her and picks her up.
Stefan: (calling outside) �Nikolas, are you ready?�
Nikolas: �Yeah. Bring her out.�
Stefan pushes the door open, and he and Mackenzie take Christabel outside.
Standing in the snow is Nikolas, holding the bridle of a beautiful white horse.
Christabel�s eyes light up and her mouth drops open.
Christabel: �Is that for me?�
Nikolas: (taking her from Stefan and setting her in the saddle) �Christabel Cassadine, meet your horse, Sporty Spice.�
Christabel looks down from where she is holding onto the horse�s bridle, and grins a grin that could light up the entire New York skyline.
Christabel: �Thank you, Daddy! Thank you, Mommy! Thank you, Nikolas!� she hugs her horse. �Nikolas, are you going to teach me how to ride her?�
Nikolas: �Of course.�
Christabel: �Can we go riding now?�
Nikolas: �It�s a little too cold, Sweetie.� He looks at Stefan. �But we can ride back to the stable together and walk back to the house.�
Christabel: �Yeah!� she smiles. �Can, I mean, may we, Daddy?�
Stefan: �Go ahead.� He smiles. �Merry Christmas, Christabel.�
Nikolas jumps up onto the horse behind Christabel and they ride off towards the stable.
Stefan puts his arm around Mackenzie.
Mackenzie: �I think that we have just made that little girl very happy.�
Stefan: �I think so too.� He smiles. �I would walk on water for her.�
Mackenzie: �Stefan, I really love my presents.� She smiles. �I can�t wait to go to the opera.� She pauses. �When is it?�
Stefan: �The end of January. It�s a very exclusive event.�
Mackenzie: (kissing his cheek) �You�re too good to me, Stefan.�
Stefan: �Likewise.� He smiles. �I love the book you got me. I can�t imagine where you got a first edition of Tolstoy.�
Mackenzie: (smiling) �A girl�s got to have secrets.�
They smile at each other as the snow begins to fall again.
Six o�clock. Wyndemere.
The Ashtons, Cassadines and Jacks families are seated around the dining room table.
Mrs. Lansbury has just served a dinner of turkey, yams, stuffing, mashed potatoes and other trimmings.
Julia: �Mrs. Lansbury, this looks like an amazing feast!�
Mrs. Lansbury: �Thank you, Ms Barrett.� She smiles and heads back to the kitchen.
Stefan: �Let us bow our heads for Grace.� Everyone bows their heads. �Dear Lord, thank you for bestowing upon us this magnificent feast, and for allowing us to keep the company that we are with this Christmas.� He pauses. �Keep us safe through the rest of the holiday season, and watch over us all. Amen.�
Everyone: �Amen.�
The group begins passing the food around and eating the wonderful feast.
Christabel: (around a mouthful of turkey) �Why do we have to wait for presents?�
Mackenzie: �Because unlike you, Miss Cassadine, we can�t all last an entire day on chocolate covered cherries and juice.� She smiles. �The adults were hungry. Be patient.�
Christabel: �Okay, Mommy. I can wait.�
Stefan and Mackenzie smile at her.
Brooke: �That�s so cool that you got a horse, Christabel! Can we see him?�
Nikolas: �When we�re done with presents, Emily and I will take you three girls out to the stable if you want.�
Avery: �Yeah! Cool!�
Julia: �Well, Alexis, that is one very nice necklace! A present?�
Alexis: (smiling at Ned) �Yeah. Ned gave it to me.�
Ned: (smirking slightly) �Jax, what did you get Julia?�
Jax: (in a very sweet voice) �A ruby and diamond necklace.�
Ned doesn�t say anything. He looks impressed. Jax laughs.
Avery: �You know what? Mashed potatoes are much better when Michael doesn�t throw them at me.�
Everyone starts laughing. Avery just shrugs and goes back to her mashed potatoes.
An hour later.
The group has moved into the living room and is opening presents.
Mackenzie: (opening a box) �Oh, Julia! I love it!� she holds up a silver glittery Versace tank-top. �It�s adorable!�
Ned: (reading a tag) �This is from Stefan.� He looks at him, interested. �I wonder what this could be.�
Stefan smirks a little. Alexis and Mackenzie look half amused and half worried.
Ned opens the box and pulls out a shot glass. Engraved on the side is �Berg�s House of Tequila.� His mouth drops open.
Jax: �You have got to be kidding me, Stefan.�
Stefan: �Open your present, fellow Tequila Brother.� He smiles. �It�s really from there.�
Jax picks up an identical box and opens it. He pulls out another Berg�s House of Tequila shot glass.
Ned and Jax stare at Stefan, who doesn�t say a word. All of a sudden, all three men are laughing so hard that they�re crying.
Christabel: �Mommy, what�s so funny?�
Mackenzie: (snickering) �Your daddy, Uncle Jax and Uncle Ned have some issues.�
Alexis: (also laughing) �Christabel, I believe that we have one other present for you.�
Ned: (wiping his eyes and handing Christabel a large box) �Santa accidentally dropped this off at our house.�
Christabel opens the box and pulls from it, a pair of rollerblades identical to Brooke and Avery�s. Her face lights up in a huge grin.
Ned: �You have to come over to our house to go skating with us, okay?�
Christabel: �Okay!� she gets up and throws her arms around Ned. �Thank you!�
Mackenzie: (repeating) �Us? Us? You two have rollerblades too?�
Alexis: (smiling) �Santa brought them.�
When everyone is done opening presents, Nikolas and Emily take Christabel, Avery and Brooke down to the stable to see Sporty Spice.
Ned: (putting his arm around Alexis as she stands by the fire, holding Hannah, who is half asleep) �Lex, do you want some wine?�
Alexis: (her eyes large) �No.� Ned looks at her oddly. �I mean, I�m not thirsty.�
Ned: �You look beautiful.� He smiles at the sight of her in a red long-sleeved dress with a matching blazer. �Angelic.�
Alexis: (in a low voice) �I love you.� She smiles. �I really love you.�
Just then, the door opens, and Nikolas, Emily and the girls come back in. They are all covered in snow and Nikolas is carrying Christabel.
Emily: �Wow. It is really snowing out there.�
Nikolas: (frowning) �Yeah, you can�t even see more than an inch in front of you.�
Ned: �Really?� he and Jax walk over to the window and look outside.
Spoon Island has turned into a mass of white snow and clear ice.
Julia: (looking outside) �Oh no. How are we going to get home?�
Mackenzie: (joining them at the window) �I don�t want you guys driving in this.�
Stefan: �I agree. You all can spend the night here.�
Alexis and Ned look at each other and start laughing.
Stefan: �What�s so funny, Alexis?�
Alexis: (laughing) �I was just thinking that the last time I spent the night here was before I got married to Ned.�
Mackenzie: (mockingly) �Well, if it makes you feel better, he can stay here too.�
Ned: �Oh gee, Sis. Thanks.�
Stefan: (to Jax and Julia) �What about you two?�
Jax: �We�re more than willing to stay here. I don�t want anything to happen to Julia and the twins if we attempt to drive home. Thanks, Stefan, Mackenzie.�
Mackenzie: �Julia, Alexis and Emily, feel free to borrow pajamas from me, and the girls can all sleep in Christabel�s room.�
Stefan: �I�ll have Mrs. Lansbury get the portable crib out of the closet for Hannah.� He smiles. �This is going to be an interesting night.�
An hour later.
Stefan, Mackenzie, Ned and Alexis are gathered in Christabel�s room, tucking the girls into bed.
Stefan: (kissing Christabel) �Good night, Christabel.�
Ned: (kissing Brooke) �Good night, my little soccer star.�
Alexis: (kissing Avery) �Good night, Tigger.�
Mackenzie: (handing Adrienne to Christabel) �Good night, Christabel.�
Jax: (from the doorway) �Remember, Avery and Brooke, although it is snowing, there are
no monsters anywhere near here.�
Julia: �Or anywhere.� She smiles. �Remember, they aren�t real.�
Alexis: (confused) �What are you guys talking about?�
They don�t say anything. The four of them start laughing.
Later that night. Guest room #1
Jax and Julia are laying in bed, the lights turned out.
Jax: �Ms. Barrett, I must say that your sister has excellent taste in pajamas.�
Julia: �You can�t go wrong with silk pajamas.� She snuggles closer to him. �This has been a wonderful Christmas. Thank you, Jax.�
Jax: (kissing her gently) �No, thank you. Julia, you have made my life complete.�
Julia: (in a low voice) �I wonder what Mackenzie and Stefan would say if they knew that we were making love in their house.�
Jax: (laughing) �I don�t know.� He kisses her again. �But I have always wondered what it would be like to make love in this house.�
Julia: (putting her arms around him) �Well, there�s only one way to find out.�
Jax smiles and slowly slips her pajamas off and they begin to make love.
Stefan and Mackenzie�s bedroom.
Stefan: (pulling Mackenzie into his arms) �Well, Mrs. Cassadine, I�d say that this was a fabulous Christmas.�
Mackenzie: (resting her head on his shoulder) �I love my presents, Stefan. I can�t wait until we go to the opera.�
Stefan: �I wanted to get you something original.� He kisses the top of her head. �Something that I put all of the thought into, instead of having someone else buy it.�
Mackenzie: �Well, you succeeded.� She smiles. �That dress is magnificent.�
Stefan: (in a low voice) �I�m glad you like it.�
Mackenzie: (snickering) �How much do you want to bet that either my dear brother or my dear sister is in the process of seducing their significant other at this moment?�
Stefan: (laughing) �I don�t really want to talk about it.� He smiles. �How about you seduce me instead?�
Mackenzie: �Okay.� She rolls over on top of him and begins kissing his bare chest. Stefan smiles appreciatively. �How�s that?�
Stefan: (formally) �Good, but I was aiming for this.� He rolls her over onto her back and then begins kissing her, until it escalates.
They quickly shed their clothes and begin making passionate love.
One a.m. Guest room #2 aka Alexis� room from when she lived there.
Ned wakes up to see Alexis standing over Hannah�s crib, which has been set up in a corner of the room. One light is on.
He gets out of bed and goes over to her.
Ned: (putting his arms around Alexis) �Is she okay?�
Alexis: (whispering) �Yeah. I was just checking on her.�
Ned: �You�re a wonderful mother.� He kisses her neck gently.
Alexis turns around to look at him. There are tears in her eyes.
Ned: �Lex? What�s wrong?�
Alexis: �I�m a terrible person. A terrible wife.�
Ned: �Not in my opinion, and mine should be the only one that counts for anything.�
Alexis: (half smiling) �It is.� She turns away from him and walks towards the window. �There�s something that I�ve been keeping from you.�
Ned: (in a low voice) �What?�
Alexis: (turning to face him) �I�ve been so scared that you would be angry.�
Ned: (taking her hands) �Alexis, I love you. What is it? I won�t be mad.�
Alexis: (in a barely audible voice) �I�m pregnant.�
Ned just stares at her, unsure if he heard her correctly.
Alexis: �See, I knew this would happen.� She looks at him. �Say something!�
Ned: (in a very low voice) �You�re pregnant?�
Alexis nods, tears beginning to fall down her face.
Ned: �Brinna, why are you crying?�
Alexis: �I didn�t know if you want another child. I mean, we have three and...�
Ned: (cutting her off) �Alexis, I want another child.� Tears fill his eyes. �With you, I want ten more.�
Alexis: �Than why didn�t you say anything when I told Avery that we didn�t want another child?�
Ned: (stroking her hair) �I wasn�t speaking to you, remember?�
He pulls Alexis into his arms as she cries against him. He holds her close.
Ned: (whispering) �I can�t think of a better Christmas present than a baby.�
Alexis: (looking up at him) �Really? You mean that?�
Ned: (kissing her gently) �I mean it more than anything.� He smiles. �When did you find out?�
Alexis: �A few days ago. The day that we went shopping with Mackenzie and Stefan.�
Ned: �No wonder you were off in la-la land the entire day.� He smiles at her. �I love you, Alexis, and I love this baby.�
Alexis: �I think that I�m due in September.� She smiles. �I wanted to tell you before I went to see the doctor.� She looks a little subdued. �But I am certain that I am pregnant.�
Ned: (kissing her again) �That is the best news that I have heard in a long time.�
Alexis: (still not believing him) �Really?�
Ned: �I am thrilled.� He grins. �Maybe we�ll have a son this time so I won�t be the only guy.� He laughs. �And if it�s another girl, I�m moving into the shed.�
Alexis: (laughing through her tears) �I hope it�s a boy.� She smiles. �A little boy that looks just like you.�
Ned: (gently stroking her face) �I think that this a sign.�
Alexis: �What is?�
Ned: �Us having another baby... it will bring us even closer together...� he smiles. �And, Lex, you know how I feel about your physical appearance when you�re pregnant.�
Alexis: �Ugh.� She smiles. �This feels surreal.�
Ned: �Well, it is definitely reality.� He smiles at her and puts his arms around her.
Just then, Hannah begins crying.
Ned: (going over and picking her up) �Hannah, Hannah, Hannah. When are you going to start sleeping through the night?� he holds her close as her cries cease.
Alexis smiles at her husband and her daughter, tears still in her eyes.
Ned: �Hannah Grace, can you keep a secret?� he pauses. �Well, Mommy and Daddy are going to have another baby so you�ll have a little brother.�
Unimpressed, Hannah drools on his pajamas. Ned smiles.
Alexis: �Can you imagine this? Four kids.... two in diapers at the same time... the new baby keeping us up all night...�
Ned: (smiling) �I know. Isn�t it wonderful?�
Alexis: �You really do seem happy.�
Ned: �Alexis, I�m ecstatic.� He smiles at her. �I always wanted a big family.�
Alexis: �And that you shall have.� She pats her stomach. �Baby Ashton number four.�
Ned: �It�s a good thing that we have a big house.�
He leads her back to the bed and they climb under the covers, Ned holding Hannah on his chest. She is trying to grab his earlobe.
Ned: �Lexi, are YOU happy about this? Honestly?�
Alexis: �To be honest, I was totally shocked at first. But I�m becoming more and more excited.� She frowns. �Except for one thing. You can�t put four kids in the backseat of either one of our cars. And I LOVE my car.�
Ned: (stroking her hair) �You can keep your car.� He smiles. �We�ll get a Mercedes station wagon.� He smiles. �The yuppie family car.�
Alexis: (laughing) �I can deal with that.� She snuggles against him. �I love you, Ned.�
Ned: �I love you too, Alexis.� He smiles at Hannah, who is falling back asleep. �And I love you, Hannah, my little angel.�
Relieved that she told him, Alexis slowly falls asleep, a smile on her face.