ATSSCH6-11

Chapter 6

The next day Alexis was sitting behind her desk and looking over a ton of paperwork. "Great I�m going to be here for ever."

Janis her secretary walks in. "Well good morning Mrs Ashton and how was your weekend?"

"The weekend was magical, I�m so glad Ned made me go away with him." Alexis said before looking down at the pile of papers Janis added to her desk. "Now I know I�m going to be stuck in this office all day."

"Sorry." Janis said before rambling on about what was on the agenda for the day. "Oh yea and you need to be in court for the Thomson trail by 2:00 PM."

Alexis just sighed in frustration as Janis left her office and the phone rang.

"Alexis Davis Ashton." She said picking up the phone.

"Well good morning beautiful, how are you doing this morning?" Ned asked on the other end of the line.

Alexis� face lit up by the sound of his voice. "I miss you." She looks down and sighs. "And as I sit here and look at all these papers in front of me, I�ll I want to do is come home and crawl back into bed with you."

Ned laughs because he was thinking the same thing as he sat behind his desk at L&B studios. "Tell me again why you wanted to move your office way across town?"

"Because most of my clients are on this end of town and we�ve been over this a million times." She said teasingly, knowing how much it had bothered him that she moved out of her office at the studio. "I�ll tell you what I�ll make it up to you yet again and take you to lunch this afternoon."

"I figured you�d be to busy to take off for lunch?" Ned asked.

Alexis laughed. "Well I�ll make an exception just for you, shall we say the NO Name around 12:00 PM." She looks at her watch. "That will give me plently enough time to get my act together before I have to be in court later on today."

"Twelve o�clock it is, I�ll see you then." He adds before hanging up.

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About a half-hour later Alexis is down the hall making photocopies when Jax arrives at her office. Janis told him that she would be back soon and he was more then welcome to wait for her in her office. By the time Alexis got back to her office Janis was gone.

"Now where the heck to she run off to?" Alexis asked herself while looking for a note on her desk and finding nothing. "Great I guess I have to do everything around here myself."

Alexis walked back into her office reading the file she picked up off of Janis desk. She was so induced into the file that she didn�t even notice Jax standing back in the corner starring at her.

Jax couldn�t get over how beautiful she looked, even in a black business suit. He walked over to her and grabbed her from behind. He spun her around to face her and then pulled her into a deep passion kiss. Alexis responded at first but then pushed him away.

"Jax!" Alexis yelled. "What the heck are you doing here?"

Jax just smiled at her outburst. "I came to see you, and to tell you that I love you."

Alexis was taken back by his words at first. "Jax I love you too but only��"

Alexis� words were cut off as Jax pulled her into an even deeper kiss. She kissed him back eagerly as her knees got weak. She loved the feeling of being in his arms, and that night came flooding back to her. Oh sometimes how she wished that Ned never came home and stopped them.

Alexis senses got the better of her and she finally pulled away from Jax.

"Jax this is wrong, we can�t do this. You shouldn�t even be here! To much has happened to much time has gone by!"

Jax started to walk closer to Alexis and she backed away. "Okay I know showing up here in your office out of the blue and telling you after all these years that I love you might be a little hard to grasp."

"A little hard!" Alexis yelled.

Ignoring her last statement. "But I couldn�t get you out of my mind Alexis. Every thought I had was about you, everything I did I pictured doing it with you."

"You left, you just left without so much as a goodbye." She stated firmly as the tears began to form in her eyes.

Jax shook his head as her tears slowly began to run down her face. "I�m sorry Alexis. You�ll never know how sorry I am for leaving you like that."

"Then why did you do it?" She shot back.

He tried to comfort her but she pushed him away. "Because I thought it was the right thing to do. You were so happy with Ned and I didn�t want to cause you any pain."

"And you do now?" Alexis asked completely confused by his last statement.

"No never." He shot back. "I didn�t come here to hurt you, I came here because I love you and I needed for you to know that."

She sat in the chair behind her desk and placed her hand over her eyes. "You can�t just do that to me Jasper Jax." She got up and stood right in front of him, forcing him to look into her eyes. Which by now were flowing with tears and full of so much anger. "You can just walk out of my life one day and expect us to pick up right where we left things because you decided to walk back into my life." She threw her head back and closed her eyes before she began to yell at him again. "It just doesn�t work that way. What almost happened between us should have never happened. You know that as well as I do."

"But it still happened and the only thing I�m sorry for about that night is that Ned came home early from work!" Jax yelled while grabbing her arms and holding her so that she couldn�t walk away from him again. "I love you damn it and I�m not gonna be sorry for it!"

Alexis threw her head against his chest as he held her tight. There was a strong bond between the two of them and they both felt it. The only problem for Jax is Alexis didn�t want to explore it, or at least at this moment in time he thought she didn�t want to.

Jax pulled Alexis� head up and kissed her lightly this time. She kissed him back even though she knew how wrong it was for her to be doing so. The taste of his lips against her felt so right and even she couldn�t deny that.

As the kiss ended Jax turned around and walked out without so much as a word. Alexis just watch him leave as she wiped her fingers across her lips and fell back onto the couch in her office.

Jax got onto the elevator and head downstairs. He wasn�t sure if telling her how he felt about her straight out like that was one of his more brilliant ideas. But he still did it and there was no sense in hashing over it because what was done, was done. He hated leaving her in that state of mind but he knew he had to leave in order to give her time to process him walking back into her life, and what it all means.

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Chapter 7 J

Later on that night Ned was sleeping on the couch when Alexis came home.

Alexis walked over to Ned and smiled at him before leaning down and kissing him softly on the forehead. "Hey there sleepy head it�s time to get up."

Ned stirred a little before opening his eyes and replying. "Hey yourself." He leans up and kisses her. "What time is it?"

Alexis sat down on the couch next to him and he laid his head on her lap. "It�s late and I�m sorry it�s just things got a little hectic after we spoke earlier today." She began to play with his hair as he once again closed his eyes. "I�m also really sorry I had to cancel our lunch date."

"Oh that�s okay Alexis, I was actually surprised you asked me to lunch in the first place." A half a sleep Ned stated lovingly. "I missed you today."

Alexis just smiled. "I missed you too."

She laid her head back on to the couch and stared down at how peaceful Ned looked sleeping on her lap. She knew she�d have to tell him that Jax was back in town but she didn�t know how. She still believes that deep down inside Ned thinks Alexis is the reason Jax left. She�s not sure if it was the fact that when she was married to Jax they became closer then Ned liked. Or just the fact that Jax seemed to understand her relationship with Stefan, better then Ned ever could. But either way something always told her Ned thought there was more to her friendship with Jax then just being friends.

Alexis laid her head back and sighed. Or maybe it was just her seeing something in Ned that didn�t even exist, but that she keep telling herself so she�d feel less guilty about how she really felt. Which at this point in time she really don�t know herself. She loved Ned with all her heart but there was just something about Jasper Jax that she didn�t want to give up.

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Early the next morning Jax was out for his daily run. He was so distracted about his feelings for Alexis and how he was going to win her over that he literally ran into Ned.

"I�m so sorry. I didn�t see you." Jax said wiping off the coffee he spilled on Ned.

Ned just shook his head. "Apparently, you looked like you were a million miles away."

Jax just smiled at him not wanting him to know his thoughts were a lot closer then he knew.

"So anyway what are you doing back in town, the last thing I heard is you were in Alaska?" Ned questioned.

Jax was taken back a bit by Ashton knowing his whereabouts. "I was under the impression no one knew where I had taken off to?"

"Yes let�s see when you first left town I believe you went to New York to finish up some business. Then you left there and headed to Austrailia for some much needed R&R before going back to Alaska to help your father rebuild his company."

"Well I�m impressed Ashton I didn�t know you cared." Jax said kinda sarcastic.

"Don�t get yourself all teary eyed over it Jax I only inquired about your where about because Chloe was upset that Helena Cassidine might have done something with you." Ned laughed. "But I reassured her that we couldn�t get so lucky."

Jax laughed as well. "You know Ashton I could never get over your dry sense of humor or you�re so called family loyalty."

Ned smirked at him. "So you never did answer my question!"

"Which was?" Jax asked completely forgetting there was even a question floating around.

"What are you doing back in town?" Ned repeated himself harshly.

"Let�s just say I had unfinished business to take care of and leave it at that." Jax said firmly.

Ned looked at him with annoyance. "As long as you�re unfinished business has nothing to do with me, or my family." Ned stated harshly while looking Jax in the eyes. "Trust me I won�t lose sleep over it."

With that Ned walked off and left Jax with an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Could Ned have known what him and Alexis were doing that night he came home or was he just being paranoid? Jax looked back at Ned and then shook it off, he couldn�t be worried about what Ned knew or didn�t know at this time. Beside Ashton was Alexis� problem not his he told himself, somehow justifying the fact that he was in love with Ashton� wife.

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An hour later Ned arrived home to find Alexis rocking Tommy to sleep.

"Hey there where did you take off to so early this morning?" Alexis asked quietly as to not wake the baby.

Ned walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. "I couldn�t sleep so I went down to the corner store in town and picked up some doughnuts." He said quietly before kissing the top of Tommy� head. "Are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Great, so why don�t you go upstairs and put Tommy down while I go into the kitchen and make us some coffee?" Ned stated.

Alexis looked at him and laughed. "Looks to me like you�ve already had to much coffee."

Ned followed her eyes down to his shirt and laughed. "What can I say I wasn�t watching where I was going and bumped into someone. But don�t worry about it there was no real harm done." He kissed Alexis and then slapped her on the ass. "Now go upstairs and put our son down, so we can eat."

Ned watched Alexis walk up the stairs before heading into the kitchen to make coffee. When Alexis came back down she had Kristin with her. The three of them ate breakfast quietly at the kitchen table while discussing their plans for the day. Alexis had a business meeting later that day in New York, and Ned was going up to Albany to meet with a new band. He was hoping to make a deal with them, L&B could surely use another artist. Neither of them even mentioned Jax or the fact that he was in town.

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After his run Jax decided to go down to the grill for a late breakfast. He was sitting at the table reading the morning paper when Julia sat down.

"So word has it that Alexis is going to be out of town for the next two days." Julia stated while taking a sip of Jax� orange juice.

Jax looked up at her over top of his paper. "Well good morning Julia. I don�t recall inviting you to have breakfast with me."

Julia looked at him with amusement. "So you�re not happy to hear that Alexis will be out of town?" Jax just looked at her sideways and began reading his paper again. "Well maybe the fact that she will be in New York while Ned on the other hand will be stuck in Albany interest you."

"Julia why is it that you think I would be interested in what the Ashtons are doing?" Jax asked coldly but Julia could see he was enlighten with the information she gave him.

Julia got up from the table after taking another sip of his juice. "Well you do what you want Mr Jax but I have a plane to catch.

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Chapter 8

After Julia had left the table Jax picked up his cell phone and called Alexis� office. Jax told Janis that he was Alexis� ex-husband and need to get a hold of her. Janis knew that Alexis was married before but didn�t know any of the details, so she gave Jax the information of where Alexis was staying without any hesitation. After Jax hung up with her he turned around and called the hanger. He wanted his plane fueled and ready to go.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Two hours later Julia Barrett was entering a hotel in Albany. She found out where Ned was staying from Emily.

"Yes, can you please tell me what room Mr Ned Ashton is in please." Julia asked the man behind the desk in a flirting tone. "See I�m his wife and he thinks I�m at a business meeting in New York but it got cancelled so I thought I�d surprise him."

"Well I�m sorry to disappoint you Mrs Ashton, but your husband just called a few minutes before you arrived and cancelled his room." The clerk stated.

Julia�s mouth dropped open. "What do you mean he cancelled his room?"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Meanwhile Jax was about to knock on Alexis� hotel door when he saw the maid walking down the hall.

"Excuse me ma�am but I was wondering if you could do me a favor?" Jax asked while pulling out a hundred-dollar bill. "See my wife isn�t expecting me and well I�d love to surprise her."

The maid took the money from Jax and unlocked the door. Jax smiled at her and then quietly walked inside. He looked around the room and found Alexis paper thrown all over the room, he laughed. He walked towards her bedroom and heard the shower running, so he decided to call room service and have them send up there best bottle of vine and some popcorn.

Alexis stepped out of the shower wearing nothing but a towel around her. She quickly ran out into the other room when she heard the phone ringing.

"Hello, hello" Alexis hollered into the phone, but no one answered. "Shoot they must have hung up."

^^^^^^^^^^^

Ned was just steeping out of the cab in front of Alexis� hotel hanging up his phone. "Well I guess her meeting lasted longer then I thought." He said to the cab driver while paying him.

"You know she�s a lucky woman to have you surprise her like this. I hope you catch up with her soon." The driver said stepping back into his car and pulling away.

Ned handed the doorman his bags and asked him to watch them for a moment.

"Would you like me to have you�re bags sent up to your Penthouse Mr Ashton?" The doorman asked.

"Um no thanks Dave, I don�t want Mrs Ashton to know I�m here just yet. I have a small errand to run and then I�ll take them up myself." Ned said pulling out a fifty. "And don�t tell Mrs Ashton I�m here if she should return before I do."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Alexis put the phone down and smelled the flowers setting on the table. Ned had sent them to her telling her how much he already missed her before she even arrived.

"They�re pretty but no where as pretty as you." A man said causing Alexis to jump.

"Jax! What are you doing here? How did you get in?" Alexis yelled in shock.

Jax walked over towards her. "I�m here to see you and the maid let me in."

Jax started to put his arms around her but she pulled away and walked over to the other side of the room. "What do you mean the maid let you in, Rosie would never let you in?"

Jax laughed at her. "I believe her name tag said Lori and besides I told her I was your husband."

"Ned and I have owned this Penthouse for more then four years now. Everyone knows you�re not my husband." Alexis stated matter of factly.

Jax walked over to her and quickly grabbed her waist. "What can I say then. I guess I got lucky because the girl who let me in can�t be more then 17 years old. She probably just started and doesn�t even know you."

Alexis shook her head and was going to yell at him but before she could get a word out he pulled her lips into his. She resisted at first but then slowly gave into the kiss, as she always did and he knew it.

The kiss intensified quickly and Jax� hands began to roam her body. The chemistry between the two of them was some how stronger and undeniable then ever. They both wanted each other and there was no one there to stop them from letting nature take over. Jax picked Alexis up and began carrying her into the other room. Alexis broke the kiss in order to catch her breath before grabbing him and kissing him again, this time with even more urgency.

"Put my wife down, now!" Ned yelled.

Alexis mouth and heart dropped at the sound of Ned� voice. Jax just stood there holding Alexis in his arms as Ned approached them.

"I said put my wife down." Ned stated in a much calmer voice that actually terrified Alexis.

Jax put Alexis down and Ned grabbed her arm and pulled her over to the couch.

"I�ll deal with you later." Ned informed Alexis before spinning around and punching Jax square in the face.

Jax took the punch like a man and began to just shake it off. But then he decided against being a true gentleman and walking away. He hauled off and punched Ned.

Alexis jumped up and yelled. "Stop it stop it!"

Ned and Jax both ignored Alexis and really got into it. Alexis ran into the other room and called hotel security, while throwing on her robe.

When she came back out Ned and Jax were literally on the floor killing each other; she stood there hysterical and began yelling again. "Stop it Jax you�re hurting him. Please get off of him."

Jax let go of Ned� throat, which he had his hands around and got up. Alexis ran over to Ned to make sure he was okay but he pushed her away.

"Jax maybe you should just leave." Alexis said almost pleading with him.

Jax took her hands and looked into her eyes. "I�m not leaving you here with him."

Ned got off the floor and punch Jax again. "I believe I told you to stay away from my wife."

Jax swung his fist to punch Ned in the face but Alexis stepped between them and he hit Alexis instead.

Alexis immediately flew back as Jax� hand made contact to her face. At the same time there was a loud knock at the door.

"Its hotel security, let us in." A man yelled from outside the door.

Ned caught Alexis� head just before it smashed into the floor. "Alexis sweetheart are you okay?" Ned asked.

Hotel security came flying through the door. Both Ned and Jax� face went blank as Alexis� face swelled and her eyes shut.

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Chapter 9

Alexis� eyes were shut and she was indeed unconscious. Jax� heart nearly skipped a beat as he looked down upon her and guilt over took him. Ned closed his eyes and sighed not knowing how to help her.

"Alexis honey it�s me Ned come on sweet heart open those beautiful brown eyes of yours." Ned pleaded as the tears ran down his face.

Jax was hit back into reality when a security guard grabbed his arm. "Okay some one better start telling me what happened the guard stated.

Another guard ran over to the phone and called 911.

Ned just looked up at Jax.

"I hit her, Ashton and I were fighting and she walked between us. I didn�t mean to hurt her I�d never hurt her." Jax told him with tears in his eyes. "She�s got to wake up she�s just got to."

Ned was about to say something as he felt Alexis move in his hands. "Alexis honey come on you can do it open those eyes of yours."

Alexis slowly opened her eyes. "Oh man what happened my head hurts so bad."

"It�s okay just take it easy." Ned said.

"Alexis I�m so sorry I didn�t mean to hit you." Jax added.

Alexis just thought for a moment. "That�s right you and Ned were fighting and they you hit me."

"All right that�s it I�m taking you down stairs to wait for the police to arrive." The guard harshly informed Jax.

Alexis looked at Ned and then Ned looked at Jax.

"That won�t be necessary." Ned told him. "It was an accident just like he said." He looked back down at Alexis. "We won�t be pressing any charges but I want him thrown out."

Ned� eyes pierced right through Alexis� soul as he spoke. She has never seen him so hurt or angry before. Not even with all they went through with the Jones case or Stefan and ELQ Jakarta. She was sure she lost him forever and held on to his arm tight.

Ned placed his hand over top of hers and she was sure he was going to thrown them off of him, but to both their surprise he squeezed her hand almost reassuring her.

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A little while later the ambulance showed up and took both Ned and Alexis to the County hospital. Neither one of them spoke a word to the other unless they had to.

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Emergency Room

Alexis sat on the bed while a doctor looked her face over. They had taken her downstairs to have an X-ray done on her face to make sure nothing was broken. It had been nearly two hours since they brought her in and she hadn�t seen Ned at all.

"Well it looks like you�re going to be fine Mrs Ashton." The doctor informed her. "You�re going to need a few stitches under your eye, but don�t worry it shouldn�t leave to bad of a scare."

Alexis closed her eyes and sighed. "Have you seen my husband?"

"Yes, he�s outside in the hall. I told him he could come in and sit with you but he said it would probably be better if he waited for you outside. Would you like me to get him for you?" The doctor asked.

Alexis looked down. "No that�s okay. I was just wondering if he was still here."

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About three hours later, Alexis was released from the hospital. Ned called a cab and took her back to the hotel.

"Why don�t you go and lay down while I go downstairs and get your pain medication filled." Ned told Alexis while walking through their penthouse apartment.

"Ned?" Alexis said quietly looking him in the eyes.

"Alexis go lay down, I�ll be right back." He said closing the door behind him.

Alexis fall back against their front door and cried. It hurt her face so much to cry but she didn�t care it was like she felt the pain was her punishment for betraying Ned. She had no idea how she was ever going to talk her way out of this one. She could always use the excuse but we never actually slept together, she thought to herself. "Ya right like he�d by that one. Weather or not Jax and I actually had sex or not I still betrayed my husband." She said out loud to herself as she picked up the nearest object and threw it across the room.

Alexis was so lost in self-pity that she nearly jumped out of her skin when the phone rang. Thinking it was Ned she ran over to it and quickly picked it up. "Ned!"

"No Alexis it�s me Jax." He said glad it was her who picked up. "Did that bastard leave you alone!" he yelled.

"No, he just went downstairs to the hotel pharmacy to get my medicine."

"Listen Alexis I�m so sorry that I hit you." He said with a scratchy voice.

"I know you didn�t mean it Jax but I have to go well talk about this later. I don�t want to be on the phone with you when Ned comes back. I don�t think it will help matters any." Alexis said staring at the front door afraid that Ned might walk in any second.

Jax just shook his head. "I just wanted to call and make sure you were okay."

"I�m fine Jax really but I have to go." Alexis said firmly as she hung up the phone.

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About 45 minutes later Ned came back with her medicine. As he walked through the front door he heard the shower running. All he could think about was seeing Alexis in nothing but a towel in Jax� arms. He worst fears have come true, the woman he loves and who has given his soul to was sleeping with her ex-husband. But for just how long he thought to himself. There were so many unanswered questions running through his mind and he wasn�t sure if he really wanted to know the answer to any of them.

Ned walked over to the mini-bar and opens a brand new bottle of scotch before pouring himself a drink. He guzzles it down and then takes the bottle back to the couch with him. He needs something to calm his nerves and make the pain go away. He figured that maybe if he drank enough, he could get the image of his wife in the arms of another man out of his head.

Alexis meanwhile is standing in the corner of the shower with her hands over her face, the extremely hot water is pouring down on her and she doesn�t even feel it. She slowly drops to her knees and buries her face deeper into her hands.

Ned is lying on the couch with so many things still running through his head, that he has totally lost track of time. All he wants to do is walk out that door and go back to Port Charles. The only thing stopping him is the doctor�s last words. "Make sure you keep an eye on her for at least the next twenty-four hours." Ned throws back the last of his drink and begins to pour himself another one when he realizes that the bottle is empty, he throws it across the room and slowly gets up. He stagers a little and walks into their bedroom, he�s surprised to hear the shower still running. He looks over at the bathroom and opens the door the hot steam almost knocks him off his feet.

"Alexis, Alexis isn�t that water a little to hot?" Ned asked pulling the shower curtain back when she didn�t answer him.

He may have been a little out of it but not enough to not notice her curled up in the corner and her back bright red. He turned off the shower and quickly grabbed a towel wrapping it around her. He could feel the heat off her back right through the thick cloth. He leaned down and picked her up and carried her over to the bed.

Alexis slowly lay�s back with Ned� help.

"I�m so sorry Ned." Alexis says quietly as she reaches up and rubs the side of his face.

Ned grabbed her hand tightly almost hurting her. "Not now Alexis, get some sleep. We�ll talk in the morning." He said very coldly as he got up and walked away.

Alexis reached out her hand. "Ned please don�t go." The tears welding up in her eyes. "I love you!"

Ned stopped in the door way with his back still towards her. He closed his eyes tightly as the tears fall down his face. He wanted so much to be with her, to stay with her, to tell her everything between them was going to be fine, but he couldn�t. He took his right hand and made a fist slamming it through the wall as walked out the door.

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Chapter 10

Around 9 o�clock the next morning Alexis woke up and her face was killing her. She looked all over the room for her pain medication but couldn�t find it. So she went downstairs to ask Ned where he put them. She looked all around the Penthouse but couldn�t find him anywhere. Now she knows he didn�t leave during the night because when she came down at 4 AM he was sound asleep on the couch. The phone rang and Alexis went over to answer it. "Alexis Ashton"

"Hey I want you to have you�re bags packed and ready to go home in an hour." Ned stated coldly on the other end.

Alexis just sighed. "Where are you?"

"That really doesn�t matter, just be ready to go." Ned said as he began to hang up.

"Wait Ned where�s my pain pills?"

Ned had to think for a minute as to where he put them. "They�re in the kitchen next to the coffee machine. I took them out of my pocket this morning before I left."

"Thank you." She said not quit sure if he even heard her because once he was done telling her where they were he hung up.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meanwhile Jax was pacing the floor of his Penthouse back in Port Charles. He had just called Alexis� office looking for her and Janis informed him that Mr Ashton called her late last night to tell her that Alexis wouldn�t be in for a couple of days. He was about to call her Penthouse in New York when his cell phone rang.

"Yea?" he answered, but no one responded. "Hello anyone there?"

Alexis closed her eyes and quietly spoke into the phone. "Hey Jax it�s me."

"Alexis are you okay?"

"Yea I�m fine. I just wanted to make sure you knew that I wasn�t mad at you for what happened yesterday." Alexis told him.

"Where�s Ashton?" Jax questioned rather sharply.

"I don�t know." Alexis shook her head. "You know I shouldn�t have even called you. I don�t even know why I did."

"You called me because��.." Jax began to say as he heard the line go dead.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alexis had just finished package and was ready to jump into the shower when Ned walked into their bedroom.

"Are you ready to go?" Ned asked her as he walked past her like she wasn�t even there.

"I was just going to take a shower. Where were you?"

Ned sits down on the bed and looks up at her. "Like I said before it really doesn�t matter."

Alexis walked over to him and sat down. "It matters to me."

Ned laughs. "Really I was under the impression nothing mattered to you anymore."

"You matter to me and you always will." She yelled.

"And I suppose our marring does as well." Ned snapped back as Alexis looked down. "You can�t even look me in the eyes and tell me it does."

Alexis started to get up but Ned grabbed her wrist. "So how long have you and Jax been sleeping together?" Ned asked in a rather calm but angry tone.

"Jax and I never��."

"Don�t lie to me Alexis" Ned shouted while cutting her off. "It�s bad enough that I had to walk in on the two of you kissing and mostly likely from the way things looked heading up stairs."

"Ned." Alexis begins to say as Ned places his finger over her lips.

"You know Alexis the one thing I never thought you�d do, was have an affair. I always thought if our marriage was going to end because of infidelity it would have been on my part." Ned gets up and walks over towards the bathroom door. "I mean lord knows I�ve been married six times and I have it in me to cheat." He walks back over to her and kneels in front of her. He places his finger under her chin to pick up her head and forces her to look into his eyes. "But you cheating on me I never even saw it coming."

Alexis pulls her head away from his hand and looks away. The intensity in his voice and eyes were too much for her to take. She knew she hurt him but it wasn�t until that very moment that she realized just how much.

"Ned please just let me explain." Alexis pleaded with him.

"Alexis my darling there is nothing to explain you�re sleeping with Jax and our marriage is over." He told her as a single tear ran down his face.

Alexis was taken back a bit by his last statement.

"You want to know where I went off to this morning. Well fine I�ll tell you. I went to see an old lawyer friend of mine."

Alexis� face went pale and the tears welded up in her eyes, as she know exactly what the next few words out of his mouth were going to be.

"And I�ve filed for a divorce." Ned stated so unmoved that it was like he felt there was nothing in their marriage left, worth fighting for.

Alexis� heart sunk. "You�re going to end our marriage because of something that never even happened."

Ned laughed and threw his head back. "You know Alexis you still amaze me. I mean really after all these years how you still manage to play the injured party, the wrongfully accuse. You were caught red handed in the arms of your lover." Ned stated almost choking on his words. "But yet you did nothing wrong and I�m somehow the bad guy in this picture."

"I never said that and you know it." Alexis yelled at him. "But hey pal there is enough blame in our damn marriage going down the tubes to pass around."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning your one night of drunken sex, a few months back." Alexis yelled as she picked up his suitcase and threw it at him. "So if anyone should have filed for divorce it should have been me."

Alexis stormed out of the room and headed down the stairs. Ned was shocked that she knew about that night with Julia and quickly ran after her. He grabbed her arm just as she was about to walk down the stairs.

"What the heck makes you think Julia and I ever slept together?" Ned yelled trying to play innocent.

Alexis now had the upper hand. "Who said anything about Julia?"

"You did." Ned shot back.

"No my friend you did. All I said was your one night of drunken sex. I never said whom it was with." Alexis was so mad at him that she pulled her arm out of his hand and felt backwards.

Ned felt like he couldn�t breath as Alexis began falling down the stairs. He quickly ran after her as she hit the bottom of the staircase.

"Alexis, Alexis! Are you alright." He yelled.

"I�m fine I just want to go home." Alexis stated in pain.

"Listen to me Alexis I�m going to pick you up and carry you over to the couch if I�m hurting you I want you to let me know." Ned told her trying so hard not to hurt her.

"Awa." Alexis screamed as Ned lifted her up. "Oh god my back hurts."

Ned gently placed her on the couch and she lay down on her stomach.

"What part of your back hurts Alexis?" Ned asked

Alexis squeezed her eyes closed from the pain. "My lower back."

Ned pulled her blouse out from her pants and lifted it up. Alexis� back was beat red but he wasn�t sure if it was from the fall or the hot water. He slowly and carefully put his hand on her back and gently rubbed it.

"Am I hurting you?" Ned asked.

"No�Awa�. Oh god Ned it hurts so bad."

"When�s the last time you took your pain medication?" Ned asked.

"Just after I spoke to you on the phone this morning." Alexis replied.

Ned looked at his watch. "Okay well it�s a little to early for you to have anymore but I�ll get them for you anyway. I�m going to call downstairs and have them send up a heating pad for you as well. I�ll be right back."

Ned got up and kissed her on the forehead.

"Thank you Ned."

"For what, throwing you down the stairs?" Ned said sarcastically.

"You didn�t throw me I jerked away from you and I fell. It was an accident nothing more then a stupid accident." Alexis told him.

"Yea I think that�s the problem with our marriage too many accidents." Ned quietly stated as he walked away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 11

Later on that day back in Port Charles, Ned sat on a bench in the park watching Kristina push Tommy on the swing. He looked at his two youngest kids laughing and thought about what a divorce was going to do to them.

"That Australian from the outback is back in town." Edward said sitting down next to Ned.

"Yea I know."

"I need your help Ned." Edward stated plainly.

"I�m not interested Grandfather." Ned stated watching his kids.

Edward looked over at his Great Grandchildren. "You know those children of yours are the companies further."

"I�ve heard it all before Grandfather and I really don�t feel much like hearing it again." Ned said in a voice that concerned Edward.

"Did something happen?" Edward asked. "Are you and that back stabbing Cassidine you married fighting?"

Ned laughed at him. "I guess something never do change, do they grandfather?"

"You know sometimes I wonder if that little girl of yours really is yours? If you ask me she looks more like Jax then she does you. Are you sure Jax and your wife weren�t sleeping together while they were married?"

"NO! We weren�t" Alexis yelled. "And I don�t appreciate you talking about me behind my back Edward."

"I thought the idea of me taking the kids to the park was so that you could get some sleep?" Ned asked as he walked over to her and put his arms around her.

"Oh please give me a little credit will ya?" Edward stated.

"Excuse me?" Ned asked.

"You two trying to act like the happy married couple that I know you�re not." Edward told them.

"What makes you think that Alexis and I aren�t happy?" Ned shot back at him.

"You." Edward stated firmly. "I can see just by the look on your face my dear boy that your so called marriage to this woman is falling apart right in front of your eyes. And the only thing I can say is what the hell took you so long to realize that Alexis here was no good for you. She�s a Cassidine, a pure and simple fact. She�ll never amount to anything or live up to our families standers."

Ned dropped his arms from around Alexis and walked right up to Edward�s face. "Now isn�t that a joke old man�Family standers�What family standers the only one we have is how to not kill each other over the dinner table. And another thing Alexis is my wife and I will not have you stand here and try to intimidate her. If you can�t get over this insane jester you have about her being a Cassidine well I feel sorry for you, because Alexis and I are not having any kind of marital problem." He walks back over to Alexis and holds her. "And if we were it wouldn�t be any of your concern. Now if you�ll excuse me I�m taking my wife and my children to get some lunch. You�re more then welcome to join us but I think it would be safer for you if you didn�t."

Edward just looked at Ned. "You don�t scare me Ned I lived with you�re mother and survived."

"Yea well my mother did have a tendency to always screw things up." Ned shot back.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After lunch Ned took Alexis and the kids home. Tommy fell asleep on the car ride home so Alexis carried him upstairs and placed him in his crib. Ned turned on the TV in the playroom for Kristin and then joined Alexis on the couch in the living room.

"Okay here�s the deal." Ned said as he took Alexis hand. "Next week is Christmas and for the sake of the children we act as if nothing is wrong. This might be the last Christmas they spend with the both of us and I want it to be a happy one."

"I don�t have a problem with that." Alexis told him. "Remember I�m not the one who filed for a divorce."

Ned continued ignoring her last statement. "In front of our friends and family we are to put up the pretence that we are happily married. After the first of the year however I expect you to sign the divorces papers."

"Fine I�ll play your happy little family game with you but only on one condition." Alexis stated firmly.

"And that would be?" He asked.

"That you call off your lawyers and drop the divorce all together until after the new-year." She said looking him straight in the eyes.

"Fine I�ll agree to your condition, but be prepared to be served divorces papers right after the first of the year." He said before getting up and walking into the kitchen.

"We�ll see about that Ned Ashton. You are my husband and I refuse to give you up without a fight." Alexis said out loud to herself as she picked up the phone and dialed out.

"Hey yea it�s me." Alexis told the person on the other end. "I need your help with a small but important matter��do you think it would be possibly for you to come back to town�..Yes trust me it�s very important�Great we�re having Christmas dinner at Emily and Lucky� this year, will you be here in time to attend�..Thanks this means a lot to me�don�t worry; I�ll explain everything when you get here. Oh listen I have to go someone is at the door but call me the minute you get in."

Alexis hangs up the phone and answers the door. "Emily come on in."

"Thanks" Emily says walking in and looking at her. "What happen to your face?"

Alexis places her hand on her face. "I got into a fight, how does it look?"

"Like it hurts a lot" Emily said.

"That it does." Alexis told her walking over to the couch and sitting down. "So what brings you by?"

Emily gets a real big smile on her face and leans in towards Alexis. "I have some great news but you have to promise me you won�t say anything to anyone. Including Ned, the last thing I want right now is my family knowing."

Alexis looks up and see Ned coming. "Hey Ned Emily just stopped by to tell us what time Christmas dinner was."

"Oh yes that�s right we�re having dinner at your house this year. Well I hope you�re up to it." Ned says kissing her hello and then sitting down on the arm of the couch next to Alexis.

Emily laughed "Well I will say it�s going to be a challenge, having the entire Quatermaine and Cassidine family in the house at one time and not killing one another, but I think I can handle it."

"Are Luke and Laura attending as well?" Alexis asked holding Ned�s hand which he placed on her shoulder.

"I�m not really sure. I think Lucky said something about Luke going to Canada for the holidays." Emily replied.

"Trust me Emily I wouldn�t lose any sleep over Luke Spencer not being there your hands are going to be full as it is." Ned told her.

Alexis looked over at Emily and remembered the real reason she stopped by. "Ned honey would you mind going into the kitchen and getting us some ice tea?"

Ned kissed her on the top of her head while getting up. "No not a problem. Besides I know a hint when I hear it."

They both watch as Ned leaves. He turns back and looks at them strangely for a moment and they laugh. Once they know he is completely out of the room they continue their conversation.

"Emily I�m so glad you stopped by, it saves me from calling you." Alexis told her.

"What�s up Alexis?" Emily asked.

"I�ve invited someone for Christmas dinner, I hope you don�t mind?" Alexis said.

"No not at all, who did you invite?" Emily asked curiously as Alexis whispered whom into her ear.

"Oh that�s great, but why all the secrecy? Emily questioned.

"I�ll tell you later when we have more time." Alexis said smiling. "So if I do recall you said something before about having good news."

"I�m pregnant, Alexis." Emily told her so excited.

Alexis hugged Emily. " Well that�s great congratulations. So how does Lucky feel about it?"

Emily just looked at her. "I don�t know I haven�t told him yet."

Alexis looked at her with a concerning look. "Why not?"

"I don�t know how to tell him Alexis and I was kinda hoping you could help me out." Emily said through a look of pure desperation. "I mean how did Ned take it when you told him you were pregnant?"

"Pregnant!" Ned yelled walking into the room and almost dropping the ice tea. "Alexis Ashton you better not be pregnant."