Chapter 1

**NOTE - Okay, I could do an introduction to this story, but I’m really not in the mood for it, and I can just fill you in as I go
along. The only thing that you have to know is that Chloe never came to town, thus the mixed married thing never happened, and
Ned and Alexis’ relationship is as strong as ever (they HAVE said their I Love You’s). I moved the Kat/Nat/Bat story line up
so that Alexis didn’t find out about her true identity, and Stefan didn’t banish her until a couple days ago. In my story, Ned was
away on business when Stefan banished Alexis and when she found out her true identity, so she went to Ireland to get away.
Okay, I think that’s it. Wow, this turned out to be like an intro even though I didn’t mean for it to be. Oh well. Anyways, on with
the story. I hope you enjoy it! NexisRocks**

~~

Alexis sat on a rock overlooking a cliff, the cold December winds blowing through her hair as she pulled her coat tighter around
her. As she looks out at the blue waters below the cliff, memories of the past week in Port Charles come flooding into her head,
as she remembers the day she was told about her being Natasha….

**FLASHBACK**

Alexis is sitting on the bench on the docks, and Luke is standing opposite her, having just told her that she is Natasha.

Alexis: (suspicious that he’s lying) Exactly HOW did you find this out?"

Luke: (smug) Research, baby, research. I went to the Cassidine Compound in Greece, where I found Helena’s diary from 30
years ago, and in it it explained EVERYTHING." Alexis starts to interrupt him, but he holds up his hand to silence her, "It IS
true. I went to Helena and confronted her, and she wasn’t lying when she said it was true, believe me, I would have known if she
was."

Alexis sits there shocked beyond belief.

Luke: Well, Tash, it’s been a pleasure. See ya later." And with that, he was gone.

**END OF FLASHBACK**

Alexis stares out off the cliff as she thinks about just how much she had wanted Stefan to acknowledge her as his sister, and how
she had told him about it just after he banished her. Thinking about this brought her mind back to that night, that dreadful night…

**FLASHBACK**

Alexis walks into the conservatory at Wyndamere, looking for Stefan. She finds him in his study.

Alexis: (poking her head through the door) "Um, Stefan, could I speak to you for a minute?"

Hearing her, Stefan looked up from the documents he was reading, the ones that showed the little scheme Alexis had set up
about Kathrine being Natasha.

Stefan: (coolly) "Sure."

Alexis: (noticing his tone) Stefan, is everything all right?"

Stefan: (losing control and starting to yell) "No, everything is NOT all right!" He flings the documents at Alexis, and she starts to
pick it up, confused at Stefan’s outburst. Her face pales when she sees what the document is.

Alexis: (stammering) "W-w-where did you g-get this?"

Stefan stares at her long and hard before speaking.

Stefan: (seething) "Is it true? Is what this document says true?" Alexis looks down, not bothering to answer his question and that
gives Stefan his answer. "Why, Lexi, why?"

Alexis: (looking up, there are tears in her eyes, but her voice is harsh) "She was, no, is a threat to the family. I did that to protect
us from her. You are so fixated on her that you can’t think straight, which is why I had to this. I did it to protect the family,
Stefan, I did it to protect us."

She stares at him, silently begging him to believe her.

Stefan: (his voice harsh and growing louder with every word) " I don’t care who you did it for. All that matters to me is that you
betrayed me, and that is unforgivable." He walks over to her and yanks her medallion off her neck as he stares at her
menacingly. "You are dead to me, Alexis. I want you out of here now. Your things will be delivered to the hotel in the morning."

Alexis: (tears are streaming down her face, but she is really angry) "Fine, Stefan! I’ll leave. But there is one thing that I have to
tell you. Natasha is real. I would know. I am her!"

Stefan is momentarily shocked at this, but he recovers quickly.

Stefan: (still seething mad) I don’t care whom you really are, Alexis! You are dead to me. (Screaming) Get out of here now!"

Alexis walks to the door with her head held high, even though tears are streaming down her face. Before walking out, Alexis
looked at Stefan one more time to make sure he really meant it. He did. She left and went to the hotel, where she curled up in a
ball and cried herself to sleep.

**END OF FLASHBACK**

The next morning was when she decided to come here, she remembered. She had really needed an escape, one she wished she
could have had with Ned, but he was away and wouldn’t be back for another week or two.

She was startled out of her thoughts when Mr. McKline, the old man she was staying with, approached, carrying loads of bags.

Alexis: (surveying all the bags) "I hope this isn’t all because I’m here."

Mr. McKline: "No, we got another person from America coming here later today, and the wife wants to make a nice dinner."

He shifts the bags and one almost falls, but Alexis grabs it and starts walking back towards the house.

Mr. McKline: (smiling a bit) "Thanks. So, what brings you, to Ireland? Escaping your problems?"

Alexis looks shocked, wondering how he knew this.

Mr. McKline: (chuckling) "Don’t look shocked. Most people we get around here in winter are escaping some sort of problem."

Alexis nods, wanting to get the subject off of her problems.

Alexis: (changing the subject) "How come you’re the only place around here that stays open to guests in winter?"

Mr. McKline: "Well, most the people around here like to take the time off, but me and my wife like the travelers, so we stay
open all year long."

Alexis nods, understanding. Just then they reach the house. Going inside, Alexis puts the bag down, then turns to Mr. McKline.

Alexis: I’m going to go back outside, so I’ll see you at supper."

Alexis leaves and goes back to the rock she was sitting on before. Fifteen minutes later, she sees a figure approaching the house,
and figures it must be the other person Mr. McKline told her about. Turning back to the cliff, Alexis starts thinking about
anything she can to get her mind off of her problems. She is startled out of her thoughts by a familiar voice calling her name.

Alexis: (turning around) "Ned? Ned, is that you?"

As the figure gets closer she sees that it is Ned, and she jumps up off the rock and runs to meet him. They meet each other half
way, and Ned sweeps Alexis into a big hug, burying his face in the crook of her neck. They stay that way for a while until Alexis
pulls back.

Alexis: (surprised and happy) "What are you doing here?!"

Ned: "I could ask you the same thing. Does Stefan know you’re here?"

Alexis’ face clouds over at the mention of Stefan, and Ned notices this.

Ned: (concerned) " Alexis, what’s wrong? Did something happen?"

Alexis: "I – I …" Tears fill her eyes, and she comes dangerously close to crying. "Could we not talk about it?"

Ned nods, taking her into his arms and holding her close, wishing he could do something to take away her pain.

Ned: (softly, soothingly) "You don’t have to talk about it until you’re ready to talk about it."

Alexis pulls back and looks into his eyes.

Alexis: (softly) "Thank you."

Ned: (looking at her lovingly) "Don’t thank me. It’s all I can do." He notices that she’s shivering. "Come on, let’s go back to the
house. You’re shivering."

Alexis nods and takes his hand, and the two of them head back to the house, hand in hand, talking happily. As Alexis talks, Ned
watches her intently. He can tell that she is hurting inside, but doesn’t know why, or what to do help.