Alexis is just about to step into the shower when she hears the knock at the door. Assuming it is Nikolas again, she turns off the water, pulls on a robe and walks to the door. Seeing Ned through the peephole, she doesn't bother to open or unlock the door.
Alexis: (sighing deeply) Go away Ned.
Ned: No, I need to talk to you.
Alexis: I am too tired to be hassled any more tonight, make an appointment for tomorrow, will you?
Ned: Alexis, please....I overheard your conversation with Nikolas....we need to talk.
Alexis: (startled) What?
Ned: Please, let me come in.
Not knowing what else to do, Alexis unlocks the door and opens it to see
Ned, looking very ashamed of himself.
Alexis: And just how much did you overhear?
Ned: Almost everything, I'm afraid....sorry.
Alexis: Well I should think so...tell me, do you make a habit of
eaves-dropping on your guests?
Ned: (pauses, looking at her meaningfully)....Only the ones I fall in
love with.
Alexis: (startled, but recovers quickly) Ned, don't presume to think
you're in love with me just because you now know that I didn't betray
you. My innocence doesn't change our fundamental problem.
Ned: Which is?
Alexis: Over-riding loyalties to our own families.
Ned: (smiling) Oh, that. I would like to think that we can overcome
that.
Alexis: Oh? I would have thought that this last episode would have left
a more lasting impression on you.
Ned: Alexis, please....I'm here to make amends. I'm sorry I doubted
you, I should have known better.
Alexis: That's part of the problem, Ned, we barely knew each other at
all.
Ned: I know, but I'd like to work on that....wouldn't you? Can't we
just start over?
Alexis: Theoretically....perhaps, but in your enthusiasm, you've
forgotten my travel plans.
Ned: (moving closer) Well, I had hoped to be able to change your
mind....show you that there was something here for you in Port Charles
after all....
Ned almost catches her off guard with his kiss. She is startled
momentarily, but eventually responds with equal passion. It has been
too long since he has kissed her like this, and she is too swept up in
the moment of reconciliation to even notice that he has picked her up in
his arms and is making his way towards her bedroom. He lays her down
gently on the bed, and their motions become more and more fervent as
they remove each other's clothing. For tonight, they are just two souls
who have found their way back to each other, and nothing else matters.
*************************************************************************
*********
The Next Morning
Ned's eyes flutter open and he is momentarily confused by his
surroundings. Then a slow smile creeps over his face as he begins to
remember why he got so little sleep last night. He snuggles up to a
still-sleeping Alexis and silently wonders what he must have done right
to have gotten past what he thought was an impassable roadblock in their
relationship. At his touch, Alexis stirs in her sleep and begins to
wake up. Her smile is not as quick in coming - in fact, she looks
almost displeased with herself.
Ned: Good morning, beautiful.
Alexis: mmmm....Good morning, yourself.
Ned: (sensing her apprehension) What's wrong?
Alexis: Nothing, it's just....I....
Ned: What?
Alexis: (decides to get this overwith) I didn't expect this to ever
happen, Ned. I was supposed to leave today and never see you or this
wretched city again.
Ned: (toying with her) Now if you're not careful, you might just offend
me.
Alexis: (apologetic) No, Ned, I'm sorry...last night was....more
wonderful than I could have imagined....but it doesn't change what I
have to do.
Ned: Why not? You can stay here and set up a practice....you can avoid
your cousin like the plague, and spend all your free time with me
(grinning).
Alexis: I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than that.
Ned: How so?
Alexis: Well, to be honest, I began to see an advantage to returning to
New York. Something I didn't ever see as being possible - now is, and I
have to take advantage of this ‘opportunity' that has presented itself.
Ned: I'm confused....what opportunity?
Alexis: My expulsion from the family - it has an up-side.
Ned: Oh? And what might that be?
Alexis: (hoping he'll understand) Nothing I can really get into -
suffice it to say that I'll be free to be someone I've never been
allowed to be before.
Ned: OK....does this ‘New and Free' Alexis have room for weekend
sojourns with a certain debonair CEO?
Alexis: (eyes downcast)....Not really.
Ned: (confused) Why not? New York is only a couple of hours from here.
That's hardly what one would call a long-distance relationship.
Alexis: (gathering a sheet around her) I'm sorry, Ned. I care about
you, I really do. There's just something more important in my life that
needs to be dealt with right now. (Stands up, wrapped in a sheet) I'm
going to take a shower....(hesitantly) I'd appreciate it if you were
gone when I came back (walks toward the bathroom).
Ned: (stunned at her abruptness) Excuse me? Alexis, can't we at least
discuss this?
She's already shut the door, and Ned hears the lock click into place -
hardly an invitation for further discussion. Confused and hurt, he
quickly gathers his things and puts on his clothes. He runs his fingers
through his hair and is long gone 20 minutes later when Alexis emerges
from the bathroom. Seeing him gone, her own words echo back in her
head. She regrets treating him the way she has, but being a mother to
Emma is more important to her than her relationship with Ned. In an
ideal world, she could have both, but the ideal world has never been the
Cassadine world.
*************************************************************************
*********
Half an hour later, she is packed and ready to go. As she checks out at
the front desk, she checks periodically for Ned skulking around, but
he's nowhere to be seen. Gratefully, she leaves the hotel and hails a
cab for the airport.
Chapter 3
Flight 418 to New York
Alexis undoes her seat-belt as the indicator light flickers off and she
heaves a sigh of relief. All the burdens of the world have been lifted
from her shoulders...no more gate-keeping...no more convoluted ‘Natasha'
lies....no more damage control for Stefan....this was going to be a
fresh start for her and Emma, new beginings and a real mother-daughter
relationship. She should be more excited, but she's not. Granted,
she's thrilled to be heading towards a permanent reunion with Emma, but
at the same time, feels horrible about her treatment of Ned. She almost
wishes she could have told him about Emma - she is sure he would have
understood - but there were just too many risks involved. God, before
yesterday there was no one she trusted more than Stefan, and it had
taken fourteen years for her to be sure enough to almost tell him.
Fourteen long years, alone with this secret. Unwittingly her mind
drifts back to the Cassadine Island in Greece. It was Christmas
vacation....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1983 ~ Greece
As the helicopter descends onto the lawn, Alexis sees Stefan waiting for
her. She is glad that his is the first face she'll see - he's really
the only thing she misses about this place. As she steps out and onto
the grass, she notices that Stefan looks less than thrilled to see her.
He walks over to meet her as the helicopter takes off again.
Stefan: Alexis, we need to talk
Alexis: Sure, let me get my stuff unloaded and then we can catch up
(moves towards the main house).
Stefan: (gently stops her by putting his hand on her shoulder) No...I
mean before you go inside.
Alexis: Stefan - What's wrong?
Stefan: (speaking slowly) Laura is gone.
Alexis: (eyes widening) Gone - escaped? (bitterly, another thought has
occured to her) Or gone - Stavros finally beat her to death?
Stefan: (shakes his head slightly) She escaped over a month ago. Helena
allowed it to happen, but Stavros was predictably furious.
Alexis: Well good for Laura, I certainly hope Stavros doesn't expect any
sympathy from me. Maybe this will show him that he can't just choose a
bride at will and force her into marriage.
Stefan: (eyes downcast) I'm afraid not.
Alexis: No, you're probably right - he's far too thick-headed to see
reason. (noticing that he is very ill at ease) Stefan, you look
downright ill...what aren't you telling me?
Stefan: (trying to find the words)....its....I don't know the right
words to say what I have to say (seemingly furious that he has to bear
this message). Alexis....(sighing, with resolve) Stavros may have his
desired heir....but he is now without a wife....
Alexis: (sudden realization hits her) No....you're not going to tell me
that after all this time -
Stefan: (trying to calm her, but understanding her fear and rage) It was
agreed upon when you were brought into this family. Lasha was a
convenient distraction for Stavros, but now she is gone and....mother
demands that you fulfil your role. I'm sorry Alexis....I truly am. I
know you never expected this.
Alexis: Never expected it! Of course I never expected it! Stavros has
never shown any interest in me other than as someone to sneer at and
insult...I will not marry him Stefan...I won't do it! I don't care what
Helena says....(softening, pleading) please, you have to help me reason
with her.
Stefan: (his heart aching for her) Believe me Alexis, I've tried. She
doesn't care what you want...she only sees a role to be filled. I've
even tried reasoning with Stavros...he's still bitter over Lasha's
escape, but he wants a wife by his side...and in his bed. Love is not
an issue for him.
Alexis: (her fury growing) Stefan, I-I can't...I won't....(picks up her
fallen knapsack) I'll talk to Helena myself....(storming toward the main
house).
Stefan follows her and tries to dissuade her from confronting Helena in
her present mood, but she is far beyond any capacity to be reasoned
with. She enters the study where Helena sits, and clears her throat
loudly when Helena doesn't acknowledge her presence. Finally, the
matriarch's head turns and a cold smile forms on her lips.
Helena: Alexis, welcome home...I take it by your demeanor that you've
heard the happy news.
Alexis: Happy news my ass!
Helena looks momentarily shocked at her neice's gaul, but recovers her
composure in the blink of an eye.
Alexis: (speaking words she has rehearsed on the walk to the house) I
absolutely refuse to honor any commitment that was made for me when I
was too young to speak for myself. Furthermore, if you try to force me
into a marriage with your son, I will -
Helena: SILENCE! (Standing furiously) How dare you tell me what you
‘will' or ‘will not' do! Who do you think you are? We took you in when
you had no where else to go and now you have the audacity to think you
can back out of a 17-year-old betrothal committment?
Alexis: (struggling to regain the upper hand) I am NOT Laura Spencer...I
will not be forced into a love-less marriage just because this family
says so!
Helena's backhand across Alexis' cheek catches her completely off-guard,
and she reels from the force of it. She clamps her mouth shut however,
resolving to say nothing further until she has spoken to Stefan. Surely
there was a way out of this....they would find one together....she knew
he would help her....he had to.
Helena: Get out of my sight. (to Stefan) Take her to her suite - she can
come out when she's prepared to be reasonable.
Stefan, knowing better than to argue with his mother in her present
state of mind, takes Alexis by the arm and guides her up the stairs.
When they are safely in her quarters she finally speaks.
Alexis: Stefan, please, you've got to get me out of this. Even if I
tried to leave it would only be a matter of time before they found me
and brought me back. I can't live like that Stefan. (looking him
directly in the eyes) Believe me when I say that I will die before I'll
marry Stavros.
Stefan's eyes widen at her insinuation. He watches her as she begins to
pace, talking more to herself than to him.
Alexis: Seeing him with Laura made me pity her....but at the same time I
felt guilty....I was grateful that he had found someone to marry ....as
long as he had her, I could rest assured that he had forgotten about
me....I had never given the betrothal much thought before then - I just
assumed that Stavros's open hostility towards me would make Helena
choose a more appropriate wife for him. Apparently she doesn't care
whether he's happy or not, just that he's a fine upstanding prince with
a wife and child by his side. (Focuses on Stefan again) My God Stefan,
please say you've thought of a way out by now!
Stefan: (earnestly, afraid she will do something drastic) Let me see
what I can come up with....I'll be back to see you later tonight.
He kisses her on the cheek and heads back to his own quarters to think.
*************************************************************************
*********
Half an hour later, Alexis is staring out her window, trying to imagine
what a fall from four stories would feel like, when there is a knock at
her door. She almost runs to open it, expecting Stefan with a
plan...her heart plummets when she sees Stavros' cruel smile.
Stavros: Well, well, home at last are you? I take it by now you've
heard the news....
Alexis: (in a last-ditch attempt to reason with him) Stavros, please,
this can't be what you really want - you've never made any secret of the
fact that you dislike me -
Stavros: (toying with her, moving closer) Dislike you? Surely you don't
pretend to be ignorant of my affections for you. (Shuts her door)
Alexis: (begging now) Stavros, listen to me...(tears begin to well in
her eyes as she becomes aware of his intention) You don't want me. I'd
be nothing more than a wife of convenience - a replacement for Laura.
Her remark pushes him over the edge and he violently shoves her up
against the wall, pinning her there with his arms.
Stavros: You could never replace Laura! She's twice the woman you'll
ever be. (His eyes narrow menacingly) But....since she's gone...I'll
just have to make do with you....
Alexis struggles violently, but Stavros is six years older and twice her
size. As he forces himself into her she sees clearly what a living hell
the rest of her life with Stavros will be. She refuses to let her life
spin this far out of control. Her fear and disgust mold themselves into
a cold, hard, rage and, when he is finished with her, she pulls up her
jeans and looks at him with a defiance that wells up from somewhere deep
within her.
Alexis: (speaking with an eerie calmness that disturbs Stavros) Was it
really worth it Stavros? Was your little display of power worth your
life? Because that's what it'll cost you.....not today....not
tomorrow....but someday. (Pauses for emphasis) I may slip poison into
your wine, I may slit your throat while you sleep, Hell, I may even hire
someone to do it for me, but rest assured Stavros, if you intend to use
me as the town whore, you won't live long enough to gloat about it.
Stavros is stunned by her unexpected display of backbone and doesn't
quite know what to make of her threats. She definitely has murder in
her eyes, and he begins to think he may have dangerously under-estimated
her. He is at a loss for one of the snide insults that usually come so
easily to him, so instead he stands over Alexis, glaring down at her.
He looks away for an instant, then looks back at her disgustedly and
spits down onto her face. Alexis doesn't flinch, and he turns, almost
distractedly, on his heel and walks out of the room, slamming the door
behind him.
Alexis slides down the wall until she is sitting on the floor, exhausted
from her show of false bravado. She can only hope that perhaps her
words will change his mind - because if not....well... (glances towards
the window again)....it was a long way down.
*************************************************************************
*********
An hour later, Alexis is stirred from her trance-like state by Stefan
shaking her worriedly.
Stefan: Alexis, Alexis, wake up!
Alexis: (begining to come out of her fog) What? Stefan? What are you
doing?
Stefan: I was concerned when you didn't answer the door, and then I come
in and find you in a fetal position on the floor - you scared me to
death. Are you alright?
Alexis: (her head beginning to clear) Yes, I'm ok.
Alexis glances at herself and realizes to her relief that there is no
real evidence of Stavros' crime. She feels used and ashamed enough
without burdening Stefan with the disgusting truth. Besides, in a few
more days, she'll be Stavros' wife and Stefan would be powerless to stop
the abuse, just as he was with Laura.
Stefan: (seeing that she appears fine)Thank God.
Alexis: (shoulders sagging) So tell me, did you think of a way to solve
this wretched mess I call my life?
Stefan: (warmly) I thought I had. I decided that the thing to do was to
confront Helena with your vow of suicide, that perhaps that would convey
your desperation to her. However, when I went to talk to her, Stavros
had already been there....apparently he has decided that you're not
worthy of him after all. He's released you formally from the betrothal
contract - you're free to return to school whenever you like.
Alexis: (weeps with relief) Oh, thank you Stefan, for trying to help
me. You're my only friend here.... I don't know what I would ever do
without you.
Stefan: (somewhat embarrassed) I love you Alexis - I would do anything
to try to keep you from unhappiness.
Alexis: (pulling him into her arms) I know you would Stefan.....I love
you too.
Stefan: (regaining his composure) So...now that the crisis is over,
where do we go from here?
Alexis: (resolutely) Back to Belgium....will you arrange for the
helicopter to pick me up in an hour?
Stefan: (startled) You're not staying for Christmas?
Alexis: No, I - I'd rather not. I'm afraid I don't feel very much like
spending quality family time with Helena right now (not to mention
Stavros). Please, I'd like to just leave quietly. (reassuringly) I'll
most likely be home again in the summer; I'll see you then.
Stefan: (conceeding, not wanting to push her) Alright. (standing) I'll
go call the pilot.
Alexis: (smiling wanly) Thank you Stefan.
Stefan: You're welcome.....(somewhat begrudgingly) I'll see you on the
lawn in an hour.
Alexis nods her head in agreement and as he turns and leaves her suite,
she marvels at how her life has gone to Hell and back in a matter of
hours. Perhaps this falling out with Helena was the point at which she
could finally break her ties with the family and move on with her life.
She would miss the regular contact with Stefan of course, but the
farther away she was from this insane family, the better. Little did
she know that even while these thoughts were forming in her mind, the
Cassadine seed had already begun to germinate within her womb.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The touch-down of the wheels on the runway jolts Alexis from her
reverie. It's been a long time since she has relived that night on the
island - but not long enough. Looking back she is astounded by the
irony that from the worst night she has ever known has sprung the most
wonderful blessing of her life. She wouldn't trade her daughter now
for anything in the world, and she is grateful for every day she is able
to spend with Emma, and even moreso for the knowledge that there is no
trace of her father to be found in her.