Alexis is becoming more and more excited about her reunion with Emma. She never dreamed that she would be able to have any kind of full-time relationship with her. She is so lost in her own thoughts that she doesn't notice the stout, blond woman who appears to be following her at a discreet distance. Alexis hails a cab and, as it pulls away, the blond hails a cab for herself and gets in quickly, pointing out the front window and speaking to the driver:
Blond: See that cab? There's a fifty dollar tip in it for you if you don't lose it.
The second cab speeds away.
Alexis hopes that at 6:00, the family won't be eating, as she makes her way up the walk, almost shaking with anticipation. She rings the bell and a friendly-looking woman in her early forties comes to the door.
Alexis: (smiling) Hi Debbie...
Debbie: (surprised) Alexis! Come on in, Emma's just upstairs.
Alexis walks into the familiar hallway and waits expectantly as Debbie shouts up to Emma that there is someone here to see her. Momentarily, an auburn-haired 13-year-old begins to make her way down the stairs.
Emma: Who did you say - (notices Alexis) MOM! I can't believe it! How long can you stay? (rushes into her mother's arms) Why didn't you tell me you were coming?
Alexis: (smiling at her daughter's enthusiasm) It wasn't exactly a planned visit, sweetheart.
Emma: (sensing that something is not right) There's something wrong isn't there? Mom, you're looking at me funny...
Alexis: Yeah, I guess I am. (Toying with her) I'm just trying to size up my new roommate and see how much she's grown in three months.
Emma: Half an inch for your information, and just how much closet space are you going to require this time, roomie?
Alexis: Well, none actually....I was kind of thinking that we could each have our own closets this time.
Emma: (confused) Huh?
Alexis: I've tried to think of a million different ways to say this, but the simplest is just to get it overwith I guess....I'm back for good, Emma.....and if you're ready, we can go apartment-hunting this weekend.
Emma: (with growing excitement) Does this mean I'm going to get to come and visit you, and have my own room there and everything?
Alexis: (smiling at her incomprehension) It means more than that, Sweetie, it means you can come and live with me now - for good.
Emma is floored and Debbie, in the background, is trying not to appear noticibly distraught, but Emma's response hurts her more than she cares to admit.
Emma: Oh my God! How? When? Right now? What will Mark and Debbie
think?
Alexis: (gently) Relax. I know this is sudden, but we can take this at
your speed. You can still come and spend time with Debbie and Mark as
much as you want, but I'm afraid we will have to find you a new tutor.
Emma: That might not be such a bad thing - Mrs. Reynolds has been quite
the slave driver lately... Wow. I'm - I can't believe it! I never
thought this would be possible....I mean you said that -
Alexis: I know what I said, and granted, we'll still have to be careful,
but a lot has changed in the past few days and, well, suffice it to say
that I'm no longer going to be of any interest to your father's family.
Emma: (more calm) I still can't believe it....this is great.
Emma pulls her mother close and hugs her so tightly she can scarcely
breathe. When she pulls away, Alexis sees that her daughter has tears
in her eyes.
Alexis: Why don't you go upstairs and start to put your stuff together,
I need to talk to Debbie and Mark.
Emma nods and heads up the stairs, turning around to smile down at her
mother from halfway up.
Alexis smiles warmly back at her and heads into the kitchen where she
knows Debbie and Mark will be waiting for her.
**********************************************************************************
At the hotel, Ned is relieved to find that not all desk clerks are as
honest as they should be. His hundred dollar bill had loosened the
young man's tongue quite a bit, and now, strategically placed in the
suite across the hall from Alexis', he lies on the bed beside some
wadded up towels and a blond wig, and waits.
**********************************************************************************
Meanwhile, in the Norwood's kitchen, Debbie is trying hard not to cry,
while Mark talks to Alexis.
Mark: So, you're sure they're not going to be checking up on you?
Alexis: Well, as sure as one can be where the Cassadine's are involved.
Stefan made it quite clear that he no longer considers me family in any
way, shape, or form. His pride alone should keep him from making any
inquiries about me.
Debbie: What about the boy, Nikolas?
Alexis: He's a different case entirely. Nikolas would like to stay in
touch, and I have relented to e- mail him on a regular basis - that
should keep him satisfied.
Debbie: And if it doesn't? What if he comes here looking for you?
Alexis: He won't know where to find me. I won't be returning to the law
firm in the city, I'm going to find a local place, out in the subburbs,
maybe as far out as Connecticut - and, I'm going to have my name
changed, but of course, Emma will keep Norwood, if that's alright with
you. It's just one more formality that legally separates us.
Mark: Yes, of course. It's the only name she's ever had....
Alexis: I know this is difficult for both of you, and I want you to know
that this by no means is the termination of your relationship with Emma
- you're free to see her as often as you like. She can come for visits,
weekends....whatever you decide. I know she is a daughter to you almost
as much as she is to me, and that is the most wonderful evidence to me
that she has been loved here.
Debbie looks slightly comforted by her words, but Mark is still
unconvinced of Emma's safety.
Mark: I know it sounds like I'm flogging a dead horse here, but....I
just need to be reassured that she's going to be ok.
Alexis: I know - and believe me, her safety always has been, and will
continue to be, my top priority. I've had to hide her for 13 years, but
I'm confident that she'll be safe with me now. I'm going to do
everything I can to guarantee that.
Debbie: (quietly) When are you going to take her?
Alexis: Well...I had thought that she could come with me for the
weekend, and then come back here on Monday. We could meet with Joanne
Reynolds then and I could get a good handle on where exactly she is in
her studies, so we can pick it up from there when we find a new tutor.
I'll just have to manage on my own in the meantime....good tutors who
also speak Russian aren't exactly a dime a dozen.
Debbie: No, no they're not....
Alexis: (looks at her watch) Well....it's getting late, and I really
should be on my way.
Debbie: Of course - I'll go see if Emma's ready yet.
Debbie leaves the kitchen and goes upstairs to say goodbye to her
daughter, the only child she has ever been able to almost call her own.
This is the hardest thing she has ever had to do, but she knows that
Alexis loves Emma and that she will be a good mother to her. She opens
the bedroom door to see Emma trying to squish an amazing amount of
clothes and parphenalia into an overnight bag.
Emma: Oh, Debbie - will you help me with this? I think I may have
under-estimated my packing abilities.
Debbie: (reigning in tears) Sure hon, let me try...(succeeds in closing
the zipper after a mild struggle). I'm going to miss you, you know.
Emma: I know, me too. You guys are the only family I've ever really
had. You're not upset with me are you? For wanting to go with her, I
mean?
Debbie: Of course not sweetheart - she's your mother, you belong with
her. That doesn't mean we're not going to be checking up on you all the
time though (trying to make her laugh). We're going to be bugging you
so much you'll get downright sick of us!
Emma (smiles) Not possible. I love you guys...you know that right?
Debbie: I know, we love you too. (With resolve) C'mon, lets get this
stuff loaded into your mom's car.
They head downstairs and Mark and Alexis are waiting for them by the
car. He throws her bag into the back and gives her a big hug, lifting
her up off of her feet. He whispers in her ear that he loves her, that
he'll see her soon. Debbie approaches her next and hugs her tightly
before telling her to be good, and make sure she studies hard. Alexis
almost feels guilty watching the emotional goodbyes, but her joy at
having her daughter with her again over-rides any negative feelings she
might have. As they back away from the house, Emma looks out the window
at Debbie and Mark who are waving on the lawn and she waves back, her
eyes moistening slightly.
**********************************************************************************
Ned's Room - An Hour and a Half Later
Ned stirs from his sleep as he hears what he takes to be Alexis' door
closing. He showers quickly and dresses even faster, running a comb
nervously through his hair before heading across the hall.
He knocks twice on the door and waits anxiously, hoping she's still
awake.
Alexis' mistake is not checking to see who is at the door before opening
it, since she is expecting the room-service she ordered not 10 minutes
ago. Seeing Ned's smiling face stuns her and she attempts to shut the
door before he has a chance to say anything but he wedges his foot in
the doorway.
Ned: Now Alexis, that's hardly a polite way to treat a friend.
Alexis: Ned, what are you doing here? Never mind, I don't care...I just
want you to leave alright?
Ned: Nu-uh...sorry. (Manuevers his way into the room) You have been
behaving pretty strangely today and I think I deserve an....(cocks his
head) Is that your shower running? It is! (Lightening- quick mood
swing) Who is here with you? If you were leaving me for someone else
Alexis I damn well had a right to know about it!
The shower shuts off and Alexis tries to calm Ned and get rid of him
quietly.
Alexis: Ned, please, this isn't a good time. (Trying to push him towards
the door)
Ned: I bet it's not! (Stands his ground) I'm not going anywhere until
you, AND he give me the decency of an explanation....just how long has
this been going on Alexis?
Just then the bathroom door opens and a robe - clad Emma ererges, drying
her hair with the towel draped over her head.
Emma: Mom, did you pack a razor in there somewhere - cause I couldn't -
(seeing Ned) Oh, um, sorry....I didn't know anyone else was here.
Ned's eyebrows are arched so high they're almost off his face as he
looks at Alexis with a knowing smile.
Ned: Well, well, well....