Alexandria awoke to the sound of a gentle knock at her door. Sleepily, she peered around the room, confused of her whereabouts until the door opened slightly.

"It's me Jason, can I come in?"

Alexandria sat up and rubbed her eyes slightly, now she remembered.

"Yeah, I'm decent."

Jason opened the door and smiled disarmingly at Alexandria, "Graciola, she cooks for me, she's making breakfast, do you want any?"

Alexandria's senses were becoming more alert as the smells of bacon and eggs filtered into her bedroom. As if on cue, her stomach growled loudly and Alexandria blushed while Jason let out a chuckle.

"Don't feel too bad, my stomach does it all the time. I like to think of it as a reminder that I should be eating."

Alexandria threw back the covers and swung her legs over the edge letting out a huge yawn before grabbing a large towel off her bed.

"The food smells great, I'll be down in a little bit," she said before heading off to the bathroom.

Alexis rolled her eyes, "Luke, relax, I've had plenty of heated debates with Helena before and I'm sure I'll manage this time."

"Yeah, but this time honey, she's deciding if she's gonna eat you for lunch or dinner. It's a whole new ballgame, you gotta be on your toes."

"Thanks for the pep talk coach, now leave before Amy comes over and spends a year telling us about her date last night. From the rumors swirling around this place, it's getting serious and frankly, I don't care."

Luke peered from behind the large potted plant he and Alexis were carefully hidden behind and spotted Amy at the nurses station, chatting with the other nurses, as usual.

"A new, serious boyfriend huh?" Luke narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Amy, "I haven't heard a thing about this guy, maybe it's time I do some prying of my own."

"I'll call you later," Alexis whispered before running to catch the elevator.

"Right, right," Luke answered vaguely before turning his attention to Amy.

"Amy, how's my favorite sister-in-law?" Luke hollered as he approached the desk as the elevator door closed and the elevator headed down, to the underground parking lot.

"Thank you for coming Alexis," came Helena's voice as she turned in her seat to face Alexis. Alexis heard the automatic door locking system and her heart raced as they clicked on, locking her in.

"As you already know, your life has been spared because of my good will and because of that, I'm putting you to work. The plan is simple but effective. I want this family back in my powers and that means complete control over Nikolas. Unfortunately, this means drastic measures must be taken to ensure this successfully. We have one roadblock though, Stefan."

Alexis nodded nervously, Luke was right, this was a whole new ballgame. "What do you need me for?"

"Information regarding your brother. You've lived with him, eaten with him and worked intimately with him for years. You know him better than anyone else and you were his greatest ally."

Alexis's face hardened, "why, what are your plans Helena?"

"I want you to report a detailed file on your brother immediately. I give you two days, but what I can tell you Alexis is that I will be solving all my problems with one blow."

Alexis's face drew back in horror as she realized Helena's intentions, "you're going to murder your own son?!!"

"Stefan betrayed me many years ago, Cassadines do not forgive Alexis, you know firsthand that feeling."

Alexis shook her head, "never, I'll never help you kill him."

Helena leaned closer to Alexis, "listen carefully to your words little one. If this information gets past this car, you will die along with your brother. It doesn't stop there, everyone you have ever loved will also suffer my wrath. Their deaths will be laid at your feet, because you will be last in recieving your punishment. Think Alexis, you will die knowing scores of innocent people died simply because you had drinks with them, or smiled at them in your workplace."

"What about Nikolas?" Alexis whispered hoarsely.

"He will of course, try to avenge Stefan's death, only he won't know who is responsible until I provide him with the information that leads him to his beloved uncle's killer. The trail will lead directly to the Spencer home."

"You're going to blame Luke Spencer," Alexis observed.

"He is the obvious choice," Helena smiled.

"Why are you telling me your entire plan?"

"You hide things well Alexis and you have hidden many truths from us. Some I've found and I know your most precious secrets have yet to be discovered. Don't think I'll never find them, because I will. After all, I did find you and your mother didn't I? I trust you Alexis, because I know, you will not tell a soul if you value your secrets. Besides, a perfect plan needs to be shared with an audience. That audience is you."

Helena watched with sickening delight as the information, fears and threats sunk into Alexis. Alexis's silence only confirmed Helena's growing suspicions that she was indeed hiding something.

"I need time," Alexis mustered.

"I've given you time, two days. Don't even think about failing me Alexis. Now get out, I will call you in two days time."

"Two days," Alexis repeated as she exited the car. She watched as the car drive down the quiet parking lane. She quickly re-entered the hospital and headed towards her office. Shutting the door behind her she took a breath, perhaps the first since entering Helena's car.

"Hey pretty lady," Luke's voice interrupted her calm and she groaned inwardly as she watched Luke shut the door to her bathroom behind him. He perched on the edge of his desk and smiled.

"Spill it woman, what did the she devil have to say?"

Alexis eyed him as Helena's warning about her secrets haunted her mind. Her secrets, her secret, her biggest secret, her daughter. The truth or her daughter? Luke sat, waiting in anticipation but could she trust him? Would he help her and then throw her back to Helena? Could she trust him with her daughter's life? Straightening her suit, Alexis made her choice, she wasn't one of them anymore, and she never would be.

Grabbing a piece of paper, she quickly scrawled the message 'not here' and handed it to him. Luke furrowed his brow but nodded.

"Helena told me nothing, she just ranted and raved about the old days." Alexis stated.

"Fine, whatever."

Luke motioned for them both to leave, he had a lot of questions but it would have to wait until they got back to Jason's.

"Dearest Alexis, you will pay for your sins. Just like your mother did."

"Now, the story that I have for you is sort of an explanation, to a certain degree. It might take me awhile to get it all out, so if you have any questions, keep them to yourself until I'm done, is that all right?"

Alexis stared quietly around the table. Luke, Jason and Alexandria all nodded in agreement and waited patiently for Alexis to begin.

"My father is Mikkos Cassadine and a long time ago, he had an affair with a singer named Kristen Bergman, and I came as a result of that affair. I was his illegitimate daughter so I already had two strikes against me but for some reason, he cared for me and my mother, keeping us both a secret until I was about four. Helena Cassadine, Mikkos's wife and the real ruler of the family, found out about my mother. By this time, she had become a famous opera singer and Helena hated her. You see, Helena had given birth to two healthy sons, Stavros and Stefan during the first few years of their marriage. Mikkos was the head of the family and having a son to follow and another in the wings was Helena's dream. She didn't love him by any means but she did feel that he shouldn't be conducting affairs with other women, especially women who would give birth to his illegitimate daughter."

Alexis paused for a moment and took a drink of her water before continuing.

"When Helena tracked Kristin down, she found me instead. When my mother returned to her hotel after a performance, she was horrified to find me playing in Helena's lap. From what I know from Luke and other recent information, Helena allowed my mother to say good bye to me before killing her. Helena was cunning like that, leaving her mark behind for Mikkos to find. She ripped out her vocal cords and left me untouched."

Alexis cringed as Alexandria gasped in horror. Both Alexis and Jason reached towards her to comfort but Alexandria resisted their attempts. She needed to hear the rest.

"Mikkos found me and buried Kristen in a cemetery just outside of Munich. In a weak moment, Helena allowed me to come and live with the family. I became the long lost cousin Stavros and Stefan had never heard of or seen before but they accepted the fabrication easily. Stavros, of course, was a beast. He bullied me constantly,and Helena encouraged it, always behind Mikkos's back of course. Stefan was different, quieter and gentler. He protected me and treated me like the sister he never had, or never knew he had as it were. He insisted on me being schooled and promised great rewards to Helena. She agreed grudgingly, and I thrived in school. I finished well ahead of my peers and always at the top of my class. I finished University before my 19th birthday. Stefan encouraged me to follow my instincts and my instincts had always been the law. I became pregnant during the summertime, after my first year at law school at Harvard. Stefan had made some calls and managed to get me a job working at a powerful firm in Manhattan. I was terrified of Helena's repercussions, she had always hated me even thought I had no idea of my past. I'd forgotten everything of my past, who I'd been, who my mother had been, even my name Natasha. I was Alexis Davis, cousin to Nikolas and Stefan Cassadine. Having a child without Helena's consent was unthinkable, out of wedlock was...deadly."

Alexis turned to Alexandria, who had become pale since learning her grandmother's fate. Alexandria gripped the arm rests on her chair, her knuckles becoming white, she was filled with mixed emotions but still wanted to hear the rest of her mother's tale.

"With Mikkos dead, Helena's control over the family worsened as time went on. but I somehow managed to conceal the pregnancy, even from my classmates. Once I reached 7 months though, I ran out of ideas until another family tragedy hit. Stavros died, and since I wasn't too close to him, I wasn't as devastated as Helena was, she was a shell of her former self for almost six months. Those six months were a blessing in disguise for me. I gave birth to you, Alexandria, six weeks after Stavros died. I was alone and under an assumed name, I never told anyone about you, not even Stefan, I simply couldn't risk it. I managed, through a friend at school, to find a nanny who would help me care for you while I attended school. The years flew by so quickly for me that it wasn't long before you became rebellious and defiant towards me and I realized that I needed to give you a more stable home. By that time, I'd become fairly settled in the Manhattan firm and was quickly building seniority when I found Agnes through a co-worker. She had no connections to me, lived in a safe and quiet community and best of all, you wouldn't be halfway across the ocean."

"The plan worked well, except I never saw you or was ever able to write or call. After the first year, I almost felt as though telling people would only disturb the new life and friends that you'd found with Agnes. I'd moved you around for years, barely keeping you out of Helena's reach, it seemed cruel to ask you to give it all up. So I simply kept a close eye on you and continued my life as though nothing was out of the ordinary."

"Until now," Luke said curiously.

Alexis nodded, "I've had a falling out with Stefan, which I hope to resolve soon an-,"

"Face it honey, he kicked you outta the clan," Luke said gleefully.

"Why? I thought you were tight, I mean, that's what you indicated," Alexandria asked.

"Well," Luke started, interrupting Alexis, "seems Uncle Stefan hooked up with the blond bombshell, Katherine Bell. Katie has a big bad history as a schemer and gold digger. Alexis didn't like the thought of Stefan thinking with his joy department rather than the old cranium, see, she figured Katherine was gonna come in and swoop the entire Cassadine fortune away from Nikky and with Stefan in stuck in the fog, she'd make a clean getaway. Alexis basically transplanted her life onto Katherine, to make it seem like the two were siblings, but it didn't work. Stefan threw a hissy fit and chucked Alexis out. Did I get everything babe?" Luke turned hopefully to Alexis, seeking the approval from her.

Alexis nodded halfheartedly, "it's a rough version but yes, basically, I'm no longer a Cassadine."

Luke leaned over and patted Alexis's hand gently, "s'okay, I still love you honey." Alexis rolled her eyes, "thanks Luke, life would have one less dimension without you in it." "So, you're his sister, does he even know that?" Alexis nodded sadly, "he's still angry with me though." "He doesn't care, even though your life is in danger? After all these years, you've been his greatest ally and totally loyal to him? He trusts you with his secrets and he always knew you were on his side? After all that he still kicks you out?" Alexandria wrinkled her nose slightly, "it just, it seems so...juvenille." Shaking her head, "I guess you just had to be there huh?" Luke beamed, "what a smart girl, don't you agree?" Alexis held up her hands for silence, "that's not everything, I had a meeting with Helena today as part of my deal with her. She lets me live if I help her regain control of the family." "That ain't gonna happen, not with Stefan in the way," Luke noted. Alexis lowered her voice, "Helena wants him removed, and with my help. She's given me two days to gather the information I can on his schedule and habits." "That's not a lot of time," Jason remarked. "When you've known someone for thirty odd years like Stefan and I know each other, two days is plenty. Anyway, after he's killed, she'll be the grieving mother and comfort Nikolas. With Laura and Nikolas being ill at ease, me untrustworthy, Nikolas has no one to turn to but his grandmother. She'll vow to him that Stefan's killer will be found and then a few days later, she'll let him know that it was Luke Spencer who made the call." Luke's eyes raised with interest, "moi? But everyone knows, I love that man like a brother!" "So what we'll have is an unstable, unpredictable teenager hell bent on exacting revenge on the man who killed half his family. Anybody standing in his way could be a target and that means Lucky, "Jason concluded. Jason's eyes turned to Luke, who at the mention of Lucky's possible involvement, shifted his mood to serious, "killing two generations with one stone," Luke said softly, "bravo Helena." "So why did she let you in on this grand scheme of things?" Luke wondered. Jason pursed his lips thoughtfully, "I think I know. My guess, is that after Stefan, Luke and possibly Lucky, you're next Alexis and finally Alexandria." Alexis grabbed her daughter's hand,"oh, God of course. She'd kill Alexandria first and then let me die, knowing I'd killed my own child." "I think she'll kill us all with or without Mother. It doesn't really matter, she just wants the family back under her power, how she gets it isn't really the issue, all that matters is that she gets what she wants." The room became silent as the information dispersed in the last hour sunk into all four members at the table. Luke and Jason had a real task at hand. Once again, every member of the Spencer family would have to be put under protection as well as Alexis and Alexandria. Putting Nikolas and Stefan under similar, undetected guard would be a challenge. Alexandria allowed the family history to sink in slowly, filtering and categorizing every detail. Her understanding and appreciation for her mother's sacrifices and the lengths she went through to protect her had grown, but the unresolved anger still remained. Alexis watched her daughter carefully, trying to read her every thought but Alexandria carried an excellent poker face and revealed nothing. Alexis could only hope she'd reached her daughter. Finally, Jason spoke, "okay, we play along. Alexis, get all the information you'll need, let Helena know you're on her side. Luke, you're going to have to fill Laura and Lucky in on this, it won't work if they're in the dark. Alexandria, just sit tight and stay in the penthouse, don't leave without my given permission. Is everyone clear?" All three nodded silently in agreement. Jason smiled, satisfied with the arrangement. "What about Stefan and Nikolas?" "Don't worry about that darlin'", Luke said evenly as he pulled a cigar out of his coat pocket and inserted into his mouth. "I'll deal with Stefan," he said with a smile. Chapter 7 "NO!!! You can't have him! He doesn't belong to you, he's mine! Please, he has nothing to do with this! NOOOOOO!!!" Alexandria screamed as she tossed in her bed, unable to wake. "Alexandria?!!" Jason flew out of bed and expertly grabbed his gun off the dresser in the dark. He threw his door open, paying no attention as it crashed against the wall, knocking a painting down. Opening Alexandria's door, he fumbled for the light switch unsuccessfully and after a few seconds, gave up and rushed to the bed. Unsure of what to do, he quickly put his gun underneath the bed and firmly grabbed her arm. Startled awake, Alexandria sat up panting and crying. Jason turned her nightstand lamp on and Alexandria gradually focused her eyes on Jason. Relief, fear and sadness filled her instantly and she began to weep. Jason gently pulled her close, wrapping his arms firmly around her. "It's okay, just let it all out," he soothed as he lightly rubbed her back comfortingly. Gradually, Alexandria calmed herself but instead of pulling away from Jason, she rested her head on his shoulder. She felt safe, a first in many days. After a few minutes of silence, Jason gingerly pulled away and Alexandria quickly wiped her eyes. Jason got up and retrieved a glass of water from the bathroom as well as the tissue box. Gratefully, Alexandria wiped her eyes and blew her nose before taking a sip of the cold water. "Feeling better?" Alexandria nodded, "I'm sorry, I don't let go like that, ever." Jason shrugged, "you were pretty upset. Screaming, something about a guy." Alexandria's eyes lit up and then just as quickly, went down. She bit hard on her trembling lower lip. She had to tell him. Jason had spent the last few days teaching her the rules of his life. She'd met all the bodyguards and had learned his routine down pat. She'd even learned where Jason kept hidden guns in the penthouse, just in case. He trusted her to keep certain things secret and she in turn would have to trust him. "I have to tell you something Jason and it's not pretty." Jason nodded slowly, prodding her to continue. Clasping her hands together she raised her head so her gaze met his. "I-I haven't been completely truthful to any of you the past few days. I've been keeping this, mostly because I didn't know or understand what I was getting involved with or was already involved in." Jason carefully unclasped her hands and took them in his. Giving them a gentle squeeze, he smiled encouragingly. "Just say what you need to say." Alexandria took a long deep breath before she spoke. "I have a son." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "So she's over at Jason Morgan's place right now? Alexis has a daughter that she's been hiding for 17 years, even from Stefan and now because of Helena, she's brought her daughter here for safety and now her daughter is living in Jason's place?" Lucky asked, awe struck by his father's latest venture. Luke nodded and Lucky shook his head, a smile forming across his face. "This is deep," he stated. "Now that you and your mother know what's what, I need you to be perfectly clear on what's going to be happening around here." Lucky rolled his eyes, "I know, I've been through this a million times Dad, no going anywhere without you knowing, come straight home from school and work and steer clear of any and all Cassadines." Luke nodded, "I've taught you well, very good." "And your partners with Alexis too?!" Lucky added. Luke smiled at his son before snapping off the living room lights as the two trucked upstairs to their respective rooms. "Don't worry pal, I got eyes in the back of my head." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Jason's eyes bulged, THIS wasn't what he expected to hear from her. Quickly, his mind raced, he needed more information. "How," was all he could muster. Alexandria's face softened, "it was just after my fifteenth birthday. I met THIS GUY," she stated dramatically, "his name was James, but everyone called him Jamie, Jamie Michaels. He was home schooled and two years older but I met him at the movies through mutual friends. Jamie was the best, funny, smart, caring. He would actually listen to me and we'd talk about everything and anything. I'd help him with History, he'd help me with Math and we just spent so much time together, he was my best friend. Alexandria chuckled as the memories drifted into her mind, "that is until I fell in love with him. He said it first, you know, 'I love you'? He said it first." *~* "Y'know, I'm not one for foreign films, but that was a beautiful film," Alexandria sighed as she and Jamie walked hand in hand down the dark street, littered with streetlights. Jamie suddenly stopped in his tracks, the butterflies in his stomach were getting louder and louder. "Jame?" Alexandria turned around and gave him a concerned look. Jamie looked up and impulsively pulled her close. "Ally?" "Yeah?" "I love you." Alexandria stood shocked by his sudden statement, she gazed into his eyes, eyes full of love and hope and pure happiness. Alexandria's face softened and she smiled as tears formed. "I love you too Jamie." Jamie smiled as tears began to form in his eyes also. She loved him and he loved her. Was there anything better than that? He traced the outline of her face with his hand and gently kissed her. The two parted after a moment and hugged fiercely. "I love you Ally, always have, always will," he whispered. *~* "A few months later, at his parents summer cabin, we made love by the fireplace. He never pushed me, he was gentle and loving, we took it real slow. After, he held me in his arms and told me about his parents, they died when he was really young. He lived with his grandmother and didn't remember much of them. I told him a little about Mother, and he told me that no matter what, she loved me. God Jason, he was the one for me, I mean, I was so ready to spend the rest of my life with him." Alexandria's eyes shone with happiness, "when I told him I was pregnant, I was ready for him if he booked, saying it wasn't his. Guys are like that, but not Jamie. He celebrated, said he was the luckiest man on earth. For months, I was always waiting for him to just leave one day, I didn't know if he'd really keep his word, but he did. We kept the pregnancy from everyone but his grandmother and Agnes, I'm not sure why but it was like it was nobody's business but ours. Agnes and his grandmother freaked, of course, but they were totally supportive." Taking another sip of her water, Alexandria continued, her voice steady and full of pride that only a mother could feel, "I gave birth to Luca James Michaels on November 12th. He was so beautiful, quiet and looked exactly like Jamie, even for a baby. It was going to be so perfect Jason, me, Jamie and Luca, happily ever after." Jason spoke softly, "only it wasn't, was it?" Alexandria shook her head sadly, "no, Jamie died in a car accident 2 months later, just after I turned sixteen. We had a beautiful year together but in one moment, it was all gone. For months after his death, the only thing that kept me going was Luca. Agnes begged me to let her tell Mother but I said no. Mother would only contact us for one reason, that we were in danger and I couldn't draw that kind of attention to us. So, I moved on, I grieved for Jamie and for the fact that Luca would never know his father. It was hard, but it was all I could do." "So, now that you know what's going on, you felt it was best to tell me about your son? Where is he?" Jason was curious and anxious for the baby's safety but tried not to sound too aggressive. "He's with Jamie's grandmother, he's been with her the past few months. See, Agnes had a bad fall a few months ago and I've been taking care of her and going to school. I was getting too busy and frustrated to care for Luca and I didn't want to take it out on him so I gave him to Joy, his great-grandmother to care for until Agnes got better. I was actually going to pick him up this weekend." Jason quickly stood and pulled Alexandria out of bed. "Get dressed, we need to get him now. Agnes and Joy need to be put under protection in new areas but I can arrange that without raising suspicions. Where is Luca now?" Alexandria yanked on her jeans and buttoned them quickly before pulling on her socks and shoes. "You read my mind, I thought you'd want to wait until morning, so we could tell Mother and Luke. He's in Toronto right now, Joy won't have a problem, she was expecting me anyway." "Let's go," Jason ushered her down the hallway and barked for Renaldo to call up a car.