"Mommy, where are you going? Don't leave me, mommy, please. Mommy, no! MOMMY!" cried Alexis in her sleep.
He went into the bedroom and held her trying to comfort her in her sleep.
"Mommy." she cried softly in her sleep.
"Ssshh. It's okay. I'm here for you." he said softly.
He gently rocked her until he could feel her relax.
"I love you, Alexis." he whispered.
He kissed her cheek and slowly fell asleep next to her.
The next day Alexis awoke with Ned's arms around her.
"Morning, beautiful." he said smiling.
"I thought you were sleeping on the couch." she said smiling.
"I came in here because you were having a nightmare about your mother." he said.
"I was? It must've been the night Helena killed her." she said.
"Do you remember the dream or anything that happened that night?" he asked.
"No and I don't think I want to remember." she said sadly.
He hugged her close as she cried some more.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Stefan.
"Yes, I enjoyed the guest room. It's very beautiful." said Cassie.
"Nikolas, this is Cassie Cassadine, our cousin." said Stefan.
"Nice to meet you. What side are you from?" asked Nikolas.
"I'm Mikkos's cousin." said Cassie.
"Sorry to ask such a ridiculous question." said Nikolas.
"No need for apologies. I can see you're none to trustworthy of strangers. Besides Stefan already grilled me. By the way what is your relationship to Stefan?" asked Cassie.
"He's my uncle." said Nikolas.
"I was wondering because I thought he was your father." said Cassie.
"He's like a father to me." said Nikolas.
"I see. I'm here to protect all of you." said Cassie.
"We don't need protection." said Nikolas.
"Yes, you do. Mikkos made me promise to watch over and protect his family from Helena. Please, let me keep my promise." said Cassie.
"Does that include Alexis?" asked Nikolas.
"By all means. I've heard she needs the most protection." said Cassie.
"Yeah, because Helena was making a plan to murder Alexis." said Nikolas.
"WHAT?" asked Stefan getting furious.
"Why?" asked Cassie.
"Alexis's real identity is Natasha Bergman bastard child of Mikkos Cassadine and Kristen Bergman. She's also my uncle's sister." said Nikolas.
"I heard about her horrible death, but I never knew she had a child." said Cassie.
"Well, now you know." said Nikolas.
"I assume Helena killed Kristen." said Cassie.
"That she did. It scarred Alexis for life." said Nikolas.
Cassie's face saddened and tears were forming in her eyes.
"I must be going. I should go see Alexis. Where is she staying?" asked Cassie.
"She's in the Port Charles Hotel on the sixth floor in suite six hundred and eighty-six." said Stefan.
"Thank you." said Cassie.
She left the room and went down to the launch. She got on the boat and started to cry.
"Helena will pay for this dearly." said Cassie softly.
"I wish you didn't have to go to work today." said Alexis.
"I don't have to." said Ned.
"Yes, you do. I'll be fine without you for a couple of hours. I have to see Stefan anyways." said Alexis.
"Call me if you need me." said Ned.
"Thanks." said Alexis softly.
They finished breakfast and he kissed her goodbye. Alexis went to the stereo and turned her mother's aria on as she got dressed. Cassie went to knock on Alexis's door when she heard the aria. Tears formed in her eyes when she heard the music. She left quickly not ready to face Mikkos's beloved child.
"Thank you, Ari." said Helena.
He left the room as she picked up the phone.
"Hello?...What?...Who is she and where did she come from?...Who?...It can't be. You will move to plan B." she said angrily.
She slammed the phone down.
"Ari, get in here!" she yelled.
"Yes, madame?" he asked.
"Bring Cassie Cassadine here right now!" she said angrily.
Ari quickly left.
