Click here for more information. Read MessageRELATED:Dictionary Thesaurus ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 23:52:55 -0400 From: tjhnnm@mailserv.mta.ca Save Address Block Sender Reply-To: tjhnnm@mailserv.mta.ca To: kimmyso@hotmail.com Subject: fam sec chaps 9-10 Chapter 9 Alexis' Hospital Room ~ Two Hours Later Alexis awakes slowly and notices Stefan sitting rigidly in a chair beside the bed. Alexis: Stefan, what- Stefan: Oh good, you're awake. I was concerned that you would be asleep when they arrived. Alexis: What time is it? Stefan: (glances at his watch)...Just past one. You did say it was only a few hours, there and back? Alexis: My goodness, Stefan, you seem almost nervous! Stefan: Nervous, no....anxious, yes. Alexis, you know how important family is to me. I have so few relatives that I have any kind of relationship with...There's really only you and Nikolas in my life now. Alexis: I know, I understand how important meeting Emma is to you, but please Stefan, remember, she knows you as my cousin only. Be careful you don't betray the fact that you're also her uncle. She's not ready to know everything quite yet. Stefan: Yes, of course - I understand. They make small talk for another 15 minutes, when Stefan finally sees Debbie turn the corner into the room. He stands to greet her. Debbie: (still a bit wary) Mr. Cassadine, hello. Stefan: (nods to her) Mrs. Norwood...(suddenly he sees a child whom he recognizes almost immediately from the day before). You. Emma: ...Yeah....(not knowing what else to say)....hi. Stefan: You look so much like your mother, I can't believe I didn't notice it yesterday. Alexis: What yesterday? What are you talking about? Emma: (to her mother) I waited until he got here before I called Debbie to come get me. I couldn't just leave you here all by yourself. Alexis smiles, understandingly at her daughter's sense of duty. Debbie: Well, I'm sure you'd all like to get to know one another....Emma, I'll be down in the cafeteria when you're ready to leave ok? Stefan: Really, Mrs. Norwood, Emma will be fine, we will arrange for her to be taken home later this evening. Debbie: (looks cautiously to Alexis, who nods her confirmation) Well, alright then, I'll see you tonight. Emma: (as Debbie leaves) Ok, bye. Alexis: (noticing both her visitors look uncomfortable) Why don't you both sit down.... Stefan snaps out of his reverie and realizes he has been standing akwardly beside his chair. He sits and waits for Emma to do the same - she takes another chair and pulls it over beside her mother. Emma: Are you in lot of pain mom? Cause, I mean, it really.... Alexis: Looks gross huh? Emma: Well, sore anyway. When are you going to be able to leave? Alexis: The doctor said probably a couple weeks, give or take a day or two. Emma: Oh (looks around uncomfortably).....So....you're my cousin Stefan huh? Stefan: Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you Emma. I was very excited when your mother told me about you. I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage though, as I'm sure she's already told you a great deal about Nikolas and myself. Emma: Yes, she has. I have pictures, and a couple of humorous stories - one about teaching my mother to swim in shark-infested waters comes to mind - but it doesn't compare to the real thing. You're the first family member I've ever met, besides mom of course. Stefan: Well, I'm delighted that we finally did meet - I'm looking forward to getting to know you, as will your cousin Nikolas I'm sure. I haven't had the opportunity to tell him about you yet. I thought it might best be done in person. Emma: This is a dream come true for me, I mean I had always heard about the two of you, but it was just never safe - Stefan: (warming to her quickly) I know child, and we will still have to take precautions. Your father's mother is a very vengeful woman. Emma: She told you about them? Stefan: While I wasn't aware of you, I have known the family for some time now. They are not a people to be trifled with. Emma: Yeah, that's pretty much the impression I got too. Stefan: So, tell me, you would be in the eighth grade, would you not? Emma: Yeah, technically I would. I've never gone to public school though. Mom has arranged for tutors since I was five. Stefan is obviously pleased to hear this, and Alexis is glad that he approves. Stefan: Wonderful. Your cousin Nikolas has recently decided to return to his private studies as well, the two of you could share a tutor if you wished. Perhaps you would enjoy having the company of someone who has been raised the same way you have. Emma: I can't even imagine....I mean, that would be great. (Looks to her mother) Was he forced to learn Russian and Greek too? Again, Stefan is visibly pleased that Alexis has raised her daughter appropriately for her station in life. Alexis: Yes, smarty pants, he was. Though he didn't seem to take such a strong dislike to learning foreign languages as you did. Emma: Well, Russian I can understand, but Greek? Please. I mean people don't even speak it any more. * Bear with me, I'm making this language stuff up - I have no idea what they speek in Greece today...* Stefan: (smiling indulgently) Not in uneducated circles, no, but it bears a great resmblance to the modern Greek tongue. Emma: (humoursly) And I suppose I'm going to be going to Greece in the near future? Stefan almost visibly shudders at the thought of her stepping foot in the same country as Helena. Stefan: No, of course not, but in a few years time (looks conspiratorally at Alexis)....who knows? Our family has a great deal of history in both Greece and Russia. Emma: Really? What did you say your last name was? Cassa-something or other? Stefan: It's Cassadine, a very proud name with a great deal of history and - Alexis (interrupting) Pomp, and circumstance, and self-importance.... Stefan looks irritatedly at his cousin and Emma giggles at her mother's gaul at making light of the family legacy. They find other directions in which to take their conversation, which continues until it is time for Alexis' supper. Stefan offers to accompany Emma home in his car, which he sent for (driver too) the previous evening. They leave, and Alexis' eats a somewhat lonely meal, suddenly devoid of all her company. Then she sees a face peer around the corner into her room. Ned: Knock knock... Alexis (smiling): Ned! Ned: (getting a good look at her condition) Ouch, whoever was driving that car was a real schmuck. Alexis: Relax, I'm not holding any grudges. As long as there aren't any visible scars and I've still got all my teeth, you'll live to see another day. Ned: Whew. But, on a brighter note, I'm getting out of here tomorrow, which means I'll be able to visit officially, not just sneak down the hall. Alexis: Is that where you were hiding.... Ned: Well, it hasn't come to that quite yet - the family should arrive any time now though. Ok if I crawl under your bed? Alexis: Now I don't think that would look very good would it? Ned: You think they have a rule against fraternization among patients? (Sitting on her bed) Alexis: Oh, I tend to think they might. Ned: (leaning in for a delicate kiss) Well then, remind me to buy the hospital when I get home, will you? Alexis realizes suddenly how wonderful her life has become in the past 48 hours. Though her body might beg to differ, things really couldn't get much better than this. She has Emma, Ned and Stefan, all at the same time - and they all know about and even (dare she say it) like one another. She sighs contentedly as Ned gently makes room for himself on her bed and cuddles beside her. Chapter 10 Alexis and Ned are enjoying some rare quiet time when they are interrupted by an irate Edward storming into Alexis' room. Edward: Ned! There you are! What in the devil is going on here? Ned: (looking up sleepily) Oh, grandfather. What a pleasant surprise... Edward: Pleasant surprise be damned! I want to know what you're doing here with that woman! (looks pointedly at Alexis) Was she driving the car? Even if she wasn't, I'm sure she was somehow responsible...one of them always is. Monica: (entering the room, hears the end of Edward's tirade) Oh Edward, just relax. Let him explain for Heaven's sakes! Edward: (to Monica) Fine, (to Ned) I'm waiting young man....go ahead....this should be a doozy. Ned reluctantly gets up off the bed and Alexis seriously contemplates covering her head with the sheets, but decides against it. Ned: Ok, but shouldn't we wait for the rest of them? I don't want to have to go through all of this twice... Edward: You'll go through it as many times as it takes for it to make sense to me, but as for the others - they're not coming...I was the only one who seemed to care that you had completely lost any last remaining shred of good judgement - Monica: And I was the only one willing to come and keep an eye on him. Ned: I see...well then, here it is - condensed version: Alexis was in no way responsible for the Indonesian Takeover, we've reconciled, I came here to New York with her, we had an accident. Case closed. Edward: Hmph! Monica: I'm just relieved to see that you're both alright. Alexis, you look a little more - Alexis: I know...so I've been told. I should be fine in a month or so, but I think they're releasing me in a couple weeks - that's the plan anyway. Monica: Oh, well that's good. Edward: Hmph! Monica: Edward, please. Ned: Grandfather, I've told you what happened. Alexis is not the enemy, and you're going to have to get used to having her around....because she's going to be (smiles at Alexis)....a lot. Edward: Hmph. Monica: Well, I think Edward's found out what he needed to know, and you two were obviously doing much better without us, so I think we'll head out now. Edward: What? Oh no, no, no, I think we should stay here and supervi- Monica: Come on Edward (pulls him gently by the elbow out of the room)....see you at home Ned, and I hope you feel better soon Alexis. Alexis heaves a sigh of relief as she sees the last of Edward, for the time being anyway. She doesn't know what it is about that man that makes him so cantankerous. Although, now that she thinks about it, if you added a diabolically evil streak to him, he was definitely reminiscent of someone much closer to home, or Greece, as it were. Ned: Well, I believe that's round one to us. Alexis: I don't think I want to think about how many more there are going to be. Ned: No big deal - Grandfather'll come around - he has a soft spot for beautiful women. Alexis: I'll just bet. Edward: (smiling down at her) Trust me, it'll get better. And if it doesn't, I have every confidence that you'll have no problem going toe to toe with Grandfather....I think you're more than a match for him. Alexis: We'll see. Ned: Well.....now that we're all alone, what are we going to do with ourselves? Alexis: Oh, I don't know....compare bruises? Ned: Well, we could do that.....but I was actually thinking of something more enjoyable... Alexis: Such as... Ned: (moves back onto the bed, lying down beside her) I'm sure we'll think of something. He lifts his head to kiss her softly, careful not to touch her abdomen. After a few moments, they relax and just lie together, enjoying the still new sensation of being this close to each other. ********************************************************************************** 13 Days Later Ned has already returned to Port Charles (business you know) and Alexis has just been discharged. She and Stefan are flying back to New York with Emma on the Cassadine jet. Emma: (To Stefan) So, does mom live with you? I mean is that where we'll be staying? Stefan: Yes, We live on an island in the large lake outside Port Charles - the estate is called Wyndemere. Emma: Sounds elegant. Alexis: And dark. Stefan grimaces slightly at her comment, but nothing is going to deflate his good mood today. He is finally replacing a missing piece to the puzzle that is his family. Just thinking about all the years that she has been secluded, away from her mother and cousins saddens him, but he doesn't blame Alexis for her decision. Had their roles been reversed, he dosen't know that he would have felt comfortable telling her either, given the distance between them after she left home permanently. Alexis: Y'know, actually Stefan, I was thinking that we'd only stay there for a few weeks - until we find our own place. Stefan: Why would you do that? You have everything you could possibly need at Wyndemere, and Emma would be surrounded by family. Alexis: I know, but I'd like the chance for us to be on our own for a bit - we've got a lot of catching up to do (looks at Emma) don't we? Emma: (smiles at Alexis) Yeah. Stefan: Alright, but I do wish that you would give this some more thought Alexis. Alexis: I will. It'll take me a while to find the right place anyway. I promise to be thinking while I'm looking ok? Stefan scowls slightly at the thought of them not living at Wyndemere. Emma: So, do you think Nikolas is going to be surprised to meet me? Alexis: God knows he shouldn't be. Emma: How come? Alexis: Let's just say that he's had enough surprises over the past year and a half to pretty much wear the edge off of his ability to be shocked. Emma: Oh. Do you think he'll like me? He is a lot older - 16 right? Stefan: That's correct. But I'm sure Nikolas is going to adore you. Alexis: Absolutely, and you'll love him. He's a wonderful boy. Emma: I can't wait.... A voice comes over the speaker announcing their descent. They buckle their seat-belts as the plane begins to dip gently towards Port Charles. Click here for more information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © 1996-1997 Hotmail. All Rights Reserved.[Contact Us|Help]