Search & Rescue: Chapter Seven

Llanview, Pa

Still staring at the door she whispers, "But I'm not the one you’re in love with anymore." She falls asleep, playing with the ring on her finger.

He goes to the guest room down the hall, and falls back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, he pulls the ring box out of his pocket, he throws it across the room, "Dammit, Buchanan, why did you have to be so pigheaded, you let your soul mate slip right through your fingers," and with that he closed his eyes and fell into a fitful sleep.

Matthew lay in his bed tossing and turning, watching the plane fall from the sky and burst into flames, Nora rising like an angel from the fire. He bolts up in bed, and slips out of bed. He quietly makes his way down the hallway. He opens the door and peeks inside. Nora looks up and sees him standing in the doorway, the little boy fighting with wanting to be brave for his mother and needing her to hold him, "Well are you too old to sleep with your mom?” she says moving over and lifting the cover for him.

He goes over and jumps into bed with her. "I had a bad dream."

"You want to tell me about it?" She brushes the hair off his forehead.

"There was a plane crash, and you were there, you looked like an angel."

"I'm right here sweetie and I don't plan on going anywhere for a long, long time."

"Are you going to stay here with me and dad?"

"You mean in Llanview?"

"No I mean at Granpa's."

"Honey your dad lives at the garret."

He shook his head, "No he doesn't. He’s been living here with me ever since, well since...you know."

Not knowing what to make of the information she hugged her son, "It's late, we need to get some sleep." She rubbed his back until his breathing settled.

Down the hall, he sees her across the room, she is dressed in a red gown, slit up to her hip, and the back cut to her tailbone, he knows she can't have anything on underneath, she turns to look at him, smiling as their eyes meet, they begin to make their way towards each other, a gravitational pull. Just as they are within an arms length of each other, she turns to step around him, walking into Troy's arms. He bolts up from the bed, covered in sweat. He looks around and unable to shake the image from his mind, he decided to go downstairs for a drink.

The next morning he wakes as Matthew jumps on the couch, "Dad, wake up!" He looks around and notices the empty bottle of bourbon, next to the couch, and tries to slip it under the couch before anyone notices.

"Hey champ." He sits up pulling Matthew next to him, "you hungry?"

"Starved!"

"Why don't you go see if Nigel can whip us up some waffles with strawberries?"

"Okay!" and with that he was off.

She hobbles into the living room, "Morning."

"Good morning bea...." she raises her eyebrows as he runs his hand through his hair, "um, it's a beautiful morning."

"Yes, it is."

"How did you sleep?"

"Good…"

Nodding her head at the couch, "I thought you were sleeping in the guest room."

"Yeah, I um, well it's a long story."

"It takes a while to make waffles....I got time."

"It's nothing really," he gets up and walks over to the bar, pouring himself a glass of water.

"Did you and Gabrielle have a fight because you stayed here?"

"Huh?" he looks up at her. "No, I don't think she cares where I sleep anymore."

Surprise crosses her face, "I don't understand."

"Gabrielle and I we weren't meant to be, I’ve known it for a while and before I knew Matthew was mine, well, what we had was enough, now, I realize that I don't want someone whose convenient, I don't want to teach my son to settle, I know what he would be missing, he needs to reach for the brass ring, because the feeling when you get is just Wow!"

A smile crosses her face, "yeah wow." she whispers.

"Mom, Dad, waffles are ready."

"Well the prince awaits, you want a hand?"

"Yeah that would be nice, these crutches are starting to hurt my arms."

He walks over and places one arm around her waist, the contact makes her shiver.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, better than I have been in a long time." They walk into the kitchen to dine with their son.

After breakfast they bundled up and headed outside, Matthew wanted to build a snowman, the first time he had wanted to play in the snow since before Nora disappeared, so despite the bitter cold, they headed outside. After placing the head on top of the slightly lopsided snowman, Bo went to sit by Nora as Matthew went about placing the facial features on the snowman.

He placed his arm around her and she snuggled into them, both enjoying the warmth of the other. Matthew peering from behind the snowman noticed his father lost in thought, and pelted him with a snowball.

Reacting to the hit he leaned in front of Nora, as if protecting her, causing their faces to be mere inches apart. Their breathing was coming in random gasps, he leaned in, slowly taking her lips in his; the sensation caused her to shiver.

Mistaking her movement for disgust, he pulled back, and without ever looking at her, started chasing after Matthew. She sat there alone on the bench, where just moments ago, her whole world was right, realizing that she wasn't what he wanted after all. Tears threatening to fall, she decided to head inside.

Nora walked into the den and headed to the couch, dropping her crutches to the floor, she heard them hit something. She leaned over and picked up the cause of the noise, "This isn't the answer Bo." With that she hobbled over to the bar, placing the bottle on the shelf and made her way back to the couch to take a nap. Within minutes she was asleep.

After Mr. Snowman was declared dead by snowball attack, Bo decided it was time to head inside, that and he couldn't feel his left ear where Matthew had blindsided him. Although dad was proud of his good aim, even if it meant he would never hear out of that ear again. "Come on champ, let's go get some cocoa."

Matthew ran into the kitchen to get cocoa from Nigel while Bo headed to the bar for his own warming drink. He poured himself a brandy and a noise from the couch caused him to look up. She was lying there, tossing and turning. The fear on her face was evident, he set the glass down and walked over to her, kneeling beside her he ran his hand along her cheek, something he had done dozens of times to comfort her in the past. As if knowing she was safe, the thrashing stopped and she fell into a peaceful sleep, a smile crossing her lips. He was still running his hand across her cheek when Renee entered a few minutes later.

"She okay?" she whispered as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Bad dream I think."

"I would think all her bad dreams are over now, wouldn't you?"

"I wish they were, but it's not my place to take her bad dreams away anymore."

"What are you talking about Bo?"

"I waited too long, she found what she was looking for, and all I want is for her to be happy." He turned to go to the kitchen.

Whispering to herself, "I didn't think it was possible that two people could be more stubborn than Asa and I, but I guess I was wrong."

"Wrong about what?" Clint asked walking in the room.

"Looking at these two last night, and again today watching them out there, I thought for sure they had figured it out, found their way back, but every time they get to the door, one of them backs away instead of knocking."

Laughing as he guides her to the study away from where Nora is sleeping, "I know what you mean. You would think one thing us Buchanan men would learn from our father is that pride gets you no where, but instead, we follow in his footsteps, and end up missing out."

"What's Bo afraid of Clint? I saw him the whole time she was gone, he loves her, and you can tell by the look in her eyes, she loves him, so what is it that's keeping him away?"

"I think it has to do with Gabrielle."

"He's not over her?"

"Oh he is more than over her....but she said something to him, her parting shot. It had to do with Troy....and whatever it was, it caused a big dark cloud to come into his eyes."

"Do you know what it was?"

He shook his head. "No but I wish I did, because I think that would answer a lot of questions."

Three days later...

Nora is still staying at Asa's, so is Bo. Matthew is oblivious to everything but the fact that his parents are in the same house and he is totally happy. He has begged his father to tell Nora about the ring, but Bo has asked him to keep it a secret and so he does, although he knows it will make her tears go away.

Matthew told Bo, that she cries in her sleep, and Bo tells Matthew that he needs to take care of her. So every night he goes into her room, and places his little hand on her back, rubbing it in circles until she falls asleep, just like she does for him, and every morning Nora wakes up, to her son's arm flailing over her face. Bo has taken up permanent residence on the couch, his 'best buddy' a bottle of bourbon by his side, allowing him to pass out without the dreams of Nora in Troy's arms that have been plaguing him in the guest room.

He wakes up and feeling the cotton in his mouth heads to the bathroom for some mouthwash, knowing Matthew will be making an appearance soon. At least the past two nights he had enough sense to change before going down to the couch. Just as he returned to the den, Matthew came running in the room, "Dad, can we go to the diner for breakfast?"

"Sure, your mom coming?"

"Of course, miss a breakfast at the diner with my two fav...with my son, not a chance. We’ll wait down here for you to get dressed." Bo headed upstairs, while Nora sat on the couch to wait, "Matthew why don't you go get Harry Potter and we’ll read while we wait for your dad."

"Okay." He disappears up the stairs.

A couple minutes later, Asa walks in and heads to the bar, "Nigel!"

Nigel comes from the kitchen, "You bellowed."

"Ha ha, where is all the bourbon?"

"Sir, I just stocked the bar with a half dozen bottles three days ago."

"That's impossible; there are only two there now."

Nora remembered the empty bottle she had found, then spying a glass on the table next to her; she picked it up and took a whiff, the strength of the remains almost made her dizzy; he was drinking it straight. Still hearing Asa and Nigel bickering, she looked up, "Asa leave him alone; I know where your bourbon is going.

"Nora, if you are in pain we can get you some pain pills, drinking all that bourbon isn't good for you."

"Asa I have pain pills thank you, I am not the one drinking it."

"Well if not you, then...seeing Bo's robe thrown across the couch, "Bo slept down here again didn't he?"

"Looks that way."

"I'm really sorry you two couldn't work it out, I really thought that when you got back things would be different, I thought maybe you had finally come to your senses."

Angered by his last statement, "Me, come to my senses, I lo…No I won't let you blame me for Bo's drinking or his attitude, its Gabrielle he is pining over."

Asa started to laugh, "You are one..."

Matthew came running in the room, "Here it is mom." He handed the book to Nora as she glared at Asa, silently pleading with him to stop and he did.

Bo came down from his shower, "Whose ready to go to the diner?"

"I am."

Matthew jumped off the couch, "Matthew sweetie, can you take this back upstairs please?"

"Sure mom." He took the book and headed to the stairs.

"Bo we need to talk?"

"About?"

"About…" she picked up the glass and held it out to him.

"It's just something to help me sleep, a little nightcap is all." He couldn't look her in the eye, he had to look past her or else she would know he was lying.

Tears came to her eyes, "Don't lie to me Bo, please, after all we’ve been through, we have always promised to be honest."

"Nora it's not a big deal."

"A drink before bed isn't a big deal once in a while, a bottle before bed every night for three nights in a row is a big deal and you know it. Now tell me what's bothering you!"

"I can't"

"You can't or you won't?"

"Nora, it's not about you."

"Oh I KNOW that, you have made that perfectly clear. Look," she went to stand up, "I think I am going to go get my things and head back to my house, I don't need to be here anymore."

"Nora, wait, what about Matthew?"

"What about Matthew, he will come home with me."

"But I promised..." his voice trailed off.

"What did you promise?"

A heartbroken Matthew rounded the corner glaring at his father, "You said we would never live apart again, all she has to do is read it you know…"

"Matthew!"

"Hmph, come on mom, I’ll take care of you." He went upstairs with Nora to help her pack.

Bo just stared at the stairs watching his whole life slip away. Clint walked up behind him, "Care to share?"

"I love her."

"I know."

"It's too late."

"What makes you say that?"

"I wasn't there, and another man picked up the pieces of her heart and put them back together. All I would be now is a substitute for what she can't have." he turned to look at his brother, and finishing in a whisper, "and to what I can never measure up to."

"What?"

"Nothing, just forget it." He grabbed his coat and headed out of the house.

She finished packing her bag and threw it on the floor, "Hey need a hand." Clint peeked in the room.

"That would be great if you don't mind."

"No problem, the least I can do for my favorite sister-in-law."

"Ex…"

"Huh?"

"Ex-sister in law"

"Bo divorced you I didn't." He took her bag and helped her to her feet with his free hand.

A tear fell, "Thank you Clint."

"No need." He looked down the hall to where Matthew was obviously getting his things together, his temper getting the best of him, causing him to throw and slam. "He's got the Buchanan temper I see."

"He's got a lot of Buchanan qualities."

Laughing, "I hope he didn't get the pride, it's a dangerous trait, cost all us men the women we love."

She looked at him, not sure what he was trying to tell her, but they were interrupted by Nigel, "All set Ms. Buchanan?"

"As soon as Matthew comes down, we’ll be ready to go."

"Well, it looks like you’re in good hands, take care of yourself," he leans over and kisses her on the cheek, "and my nephew and little brother."

"He's not mine to take care of."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Clint, where are you?"

"Coming, Pa." He winked at her as he walked in the other room.

He drove by her house a dozen times since she had gotten home. Finally, when he realized it was Matthew's bedtime, he pulled in the driveway and headed up to the door. She hobbled over and opened it, "Hi Bo,"

"Hey, I just thought I would come say goodnight to Matthew, its' been a long time, since I haven't had him with me at night."

"Of course, he's upstairs."

"Thanks."

"Bo, we need to talk..."

He looked over at her, "Yeah okay." He headed upstairs and peeked in Matthew's room, "Hey champ."

His eyes brightened, "Are you staying here with us?"

He shook his head, "I just came to say good night."

"You should’ve told her dad."

Nora made her way upstairs, and hearing Matthew talk about her she hesitated outside the door. "Matthew, I just want your mother to be happy."

"She would be happy if she read the ring."

"I don't think so champ, it's complicated, but it's been a long time since your mother and I were together and in love."

"But…"

"No buts, just know that I love you very much and I will always be here for you, okay?"

"I guess."

She decided to make her presence known, knowing now that Bo no longer was in love with her, her heart ached, but at least she could move on, "Okay sweetie time for lights out."

They leaned in giving their son a kiss and tucking him in then headed downstairs. "You want something to drink."

"No thanks."

Still hurt by his earlier confession, "That's a first lately."

"What?" he looked up at her.

"Nothing…"

"Just say it Nora, you know you want to."

"Okay fine, you’re drinking your problems away. You've done nothing but bury yourself in a bottle....I don't want Matthew around a drunk!"

"What?"

"You heard me, until you stop drinking, I don't want you around MY son."

"Your son, I thought he was our son."

"Bo, I didn't mean that,.. "

He held his hand up, "I know, I won't make the father Troy would have. I mean I’m a little older, a little more out of shape, I can't exactly keep up with him, but I love him, and there is nothing I wouldn't do for that little boy and I will be damned if you are going to keep him away from me!" With that he turned and walked out slamming the door behind him.

She stood there shaking, not sure what had just happened, Matthew came running downstairs; "Mom what happened?"

"Nothing, sweetie."

"Why was dad talking about Dr. Troy?"

"I don't know baby, I don't know." She sat down and pulled him close to her, the tears falling down her cheeks.

"Mom, please don't cry."

"I’m sorry sweetie, it's just..."

He reaches for her hand, the one with the ring, "Dad broke his promise, I'm breaking mine." He pulls the ring off her finger, "Read it."

She looks at the inscription on the ring, and as a smile comes to her face, she hears the squealing of tires and blaring of horns, looking towards the door, she screams, "NO!!!!!"

*~*

Port Charles, NY:

Alexis reached over and buried her face in his pillow, trying to silence her sobs. He may have said that he loved her but he was no longer in love with her. Too much had come between them and while she was gone he had patched things up with Skye. If Skye made him happy then that’s one thing Alexis would just have to deal with. Ned’s happiness, after all the hurt she had caused him, was the most important thing here; not her broken heart. She rolled back over, tucking his pillow tight against his chest and fell asleep.

She awoke in the middle of the night, unable to go back to sleep, she grabbed her robe and walked downstairs. She walked over to the couch and kneeled down beside it and ran her hand along his cheek, never making contact with his skin. She pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and covered him up. She grabbed a book off the shelf and walked over to the window seat, reading it by the light of the moon, as it reflected off the snow.

Ned awoke the next morning and found her sitting on the window seat, the book lying in her lap, she was fast asleep. He walked over and kissed her forehead, causing her eyes to slowly flutter open, “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

She smiled at the sound of his voice. She finally noticed where she had fallen asleep and realized that she had slept better on the window seat than she had alone in the bedroom; no nightmares plagued her sleep. She looked up at him and knew why she had slept so well, he had been there, just a few feet away. She stood up and stretched the forgotten book falling onto the seat. They both leaned down to pick it up. They both looked up at each other as they reached for the book; their faces just inches apart. She could feel his warm breath caressing her face as he leaned in closer, placing a soft and gentle kiss on her lips. She responded to his kiss but pulled away at the sound of four feet running down the stairs. She walked over to the bottom of the stairs and scooped Kristina up with her good arm and kissed Brook before they all headed to the kitchen for breakfast.

They spent the next three days reconnecting. They played in the snow with the girls, watched old movies at night while eating popcorn. The kiss they had shared two days before was the only one they had shared; they were still guarding their hearts, but little by little they were chipping away at what was blocking their path back to each other…

Later that night, Alexis wakes suddenly, another nightmare robbing her of sleep. She slips on her robe and walks down the hallway towards Kristina's room. She slowly opens the door, careful not to wake the little girl. She walked over to her bed and covered her back up. Kristina rolled over and pulled the blanket tight under her chin, but never woke, "You sleep my angel."

Alexis walked across the hall to Brook's room and noticed that she was sitting up in her bed, tears falling down her face. Alexis walked over and sat down on the end of her bed, "Penny for your thoughts?" Brook just looks down at the pictures in her hand. Alexis leans in and takes a closer look at what she holds in her hand. Tears well up in Alexis' eyes when she sees the picture of Lois in one hand and a picture of the four of them together taken soon after Brook came to live with them, "Brook, honey what's wrong?"

She looks up at Alexis for the first time since she had come into her room, "Do you think my mom's mad at me?"

Alexis reaches out and lays her hand on Brook's leg, "Why would you think your mom was mad at you."

Brook just shrugged and then looked back down at the pictures, "Come on Brook, you can tell me."

"I just....I just don't want her to think that I don't love her any more just because I have you for a new mom now. Do you think she knows that I still love her?"

Alexis reached out and wiped a stray tear from the little girl’s cheek, "Of course your mother knows you still love her. She watches over you from heaven and she knows; believe me she knows."

Brook looks back down at the pictures one last time and slips them under her pillow. She wraps her arms around Alexis' neck and hugs her tight, "I’m so glad...I’m so glad you came back to us."

"I'm glad I'm back too, sweetie, but you know what, it’s getting late, and I think it's time you get to sleep." Alexis stands up and tucks Brook in bed, kissing her forehead before turning out the small light beside her bed. "Good night sweetheart."

"Good night," Alexis walks towards the door, "Mama?"

Alexis turns and smiles at her, "Yeah, baby.

“I love you, just as much as I love my other mom."

"I love you too, baby,” she says through her tears, “I'll see you in the morning."

She walks back into Ned's room and lies back down on the bed, tossing and turning until she falls into a fitful sleep. Downstairs Ned is pacing back and forth as he twirls the liquid in his glass. He brings the glass back up to his lips and swallows the remaining scotch in one gulp. He looks down at the bottle and notices that there is only enough left for one more glass and that he's drunk the whole bottle that night, "What the hell," he mumbles as he empties the bottle into his glass. He walks back over to the couch and sits down, gulping down the rest of his drink before lying back and closing his eyes, falling into a scotch filled sleep.

Upstairs in the bedroom she turns on her side once again, her brow creased in confusion as she dreams. She can hear the engines squealing as they plummet towards the ground.

Ned tosses and turns downstairs finally awaking with an uneasy feeling. He looks around the room, trying to steady the spinning of his head. He sits up on the couch and rubs his eyes, adjusting to the light he had left on. He stood up and was about to head into the kitchen with his glass when he heard her screams coming from his bedroom. He ran up the stairs taking them two at a time. He swung the bedroom door open and ran towards the bed. She was lying in the middle of the bed, her body covered with perspiration, her eyes still closed; lost in her nightmare. He wanted to wake her but he was afraid he might scare her even more. He walked over to "his" side of the bed and laid down beside her; pulling her tight against him, letting her finish out her dream as he held her tight. After a few minutes he felt her body relax against his, although she never woke. He leaned over and kissed her forehead before climbing back out of the bed. He grabbed the blanket off the bottom of the bed and walked over to the chair in the corner. He sat down and pulled the blanket tight against his chest as he fell back to sleep.

She awoke the next morning to the smell of French toast and coffee making its way up to the room. She looked over at the chair in the corner of the room and noticed the blanket lying in a pile on the seat. She wondered what it was doing there trying to remember if she had laid it there the night before. She walked past each of their bedrooms and noticed that neither of them were in their rooms. She finished tying her robe as she made her way downstairs. She walked into the kitchen and smiled at the sight in front of her. Kristina noticed her standing in the doorway and raised her arms in the air, "Mama." Ned looked over at Kristina and then over in the direction that she was looking in. A smile formed without him noticing as he looked at her standing there, memories of so many mornings from their past when she would just stand and stare at him from the doorway.

Brook looked between her "parents" breaking the silence that had fallen over the room, "Daddy said this was your favorite breakfast."

Alexis walked over and kissed the top of her head, her eyes locking with Ned's, "Well your dad's right, it is my favorite." She walks over and kisses Kristina's syrup clad face, "Hey my sweet." Kristina fed her mother a piece of French toast, "MMM that's good." Kristina clapped her sticky hands at her mother's appreciation of the "gift" she gave her. Ned stood up and filled a plate for her. He placed it in front of her and for a moment their hands touched as she reached for her fork. She looked up and smiled a small smile, "Thank you....for everything." Ned just nodded as he returned to his seat. They finished out their breakfast listening to Brook retell her adventures playing with Reginald and Emily in the snow the day before.

Once they were finished eating Brook ran off to get dressed. Alexis watched as Ned washed Kristina's face and hands and took her into the living room to play. Ned walked back into the kitchen and rushed over to her as she tried to clear the dishes away with one arm, "Hey let me get that, you go on up and get dressed."

Alexis smiles and goes upstairs to get dressed. She walked into the bathroom and turned the hot water on. She stepped into the shower and let the hot water relax her muscles as it washed the tears from her cheeks. She walked back downstairs a half hour later dressed in one of Ned’s oversized sweatshirts and a pair of old sweats, his warm socks on her feet. She walked into the kitchen and found him on the back porch, talking on the phone, "Skye..." Alexis felt a lump rise in her throat when he said her name; she turned around and walked back into the living room. She walked over to the closet and pulled out Kristina's small bag and began to pack up some of her things.

Ned walked back into the living room a few minutes later and noticed her packing up Kristina's belongings, "Alexis?...what are you doing?"

"Oh...I'm just getting a head start on packing up Kristina's things. You know so that we can go ahead and return to my place once she wakes up."

He walked over and placed a hand on her arm, stopping her from doing what she was doing, "Alexis..."

"I really need to get back to my place and you know…check my messages...I'm sure I've lost a lot of clients while I was..." she continues to ramble, not hearing him call her name a third time.

"Alexis...stop...please. Why are you doing this...I thought you were going to stay here for a while."

"Ned..." her tears begin to well up in her eyes as she walks away from him, his closeness causing her more pain than comfort, "I can't stay here. This isn't my home. It's yours....yours and Brook’s… and Skye's."

"There is no me and Skye anymore."

She spun around and looked at him, "What...what are you talking about?"

"It's just what I said, there is no me and Skye anymore. It's over. I told her the night we brought you home, when you brought the girls back here."

She absentmindedly played with the bracelet on her wrist, "Why...why did you do that? I thought....you love her…"

"Well you thought wrong. I don't love Skye....I...." his thoughts were interrupted by someone banging on the door.

Ned runs his hands down his face in frustration as he walks over to answer the door, "Grandfather, keep it down....Kristina's sleeping."

"Well I need to speak with you," he glances over at Alexis, "in private, its business."

"Anything you have to say to me you can say to..."

"No, Ned that's fine. I'm going to go for a walk, clear my head. I'll be back in a little while."

Ned nodded his head and watched her slip on one of his jackets as she walked out the door. He waited for the door to close before he turned and faced his grandfather, "This better be good."

Alexis found herself walking along the docks looking out over the water. She remembered all the times that she and Ned would meet there, more like hide out there, anything to escape their lives and just find some time for each other. She pulled his jacket tighter against her chest as the wind blowing off the lake chilled her to the bone. She started to walk up the stairs when she heard her, "You're not going to get away with this."

She sighed at the sound of her voice. This was the last thing she needed. She turned around and tried to place a smile on her face, "Skye, what are you talking about?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. You’re not going to take him from me."

"I have no control over what Ned does or doesn't do, Skye."

Skye reached out and grabbed her hurt arm, causing Alexis to wince in pain, "I'm going to give him the family he wants. The wife you could never be to him and a child he's always wanted to have. All you are to him is a neurotic ex-girlfriend who he happened to have the misfortune of getting pregnant during a one night stand. My child," she lays her hand on her stomach and smiles, "Our child was created out of love, something you've never been able to give him. You and Kristina will always just be an unfortunate obligation to him."

Alexis just stared at her as she walked away. Alexis turned and walked up the stairs making her way back to her house. She walked into her apartment twenty minutes later, her decision made. She would walk away and let Ned find happiness with Skye and their child. Skye’s words kept ringing in her ears, “You and Kristina will always just be an unfortunate obligation to him” Skye was right she could give Ned what Alexis couldn’t, another child of his own. She turned on the light and looked around the apartment; everything was just as she had left it before she had gone on her trip. She picked up the phone and dialed the Gatehouse...."Hello"...."Ned, it's me...ummm I'm back at my apartment and you know I'm going to go ahead and stay here now. I really need to return some phone calls and try and make some sense out of my practice. Do you think you could bring Kristina back here in the morning, just to give me some time to settle in before you bring her?"

"Alexis...what's wrong? Did something happen?"

"I just need to get my life back Ned, and I can’t do that at the Gatehouse."

Ned sighed on the other end of the phone, "Fine, then I'll see you in the morning,

"Thanks....oh and Ned..."

"Yeah?"

"Nothing....I'll see you in the morning." Alexis hung up the phone and walked back to her bedroom. She pulled some clothes out of her closet and threw them on the bed. She sat down beside them and was about to lift the sweatshirt over her head when she inhaled his scent. She lowered the shirt back down and laid down on her bed, crying herself into a fitful sleep.

Brook walked back into the house after spending time up at the main house with Lila. She closed the door and looked over to where her father was standing in front of the Christmas tree, absentmindedly running his fingers over an ornament on the tree. She walked over to him and stood beside him, "Daddy?"

He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of her voice, "Hey princess."

"What's wrong daddy?"

"Nothings wrong, baby", he picks her up and carries her over to the couch, sitting down, placing her on his lap.

"Then why do you look so sad, and where’s Alexis?"

"Umm...well Alexis went back to her house. She's going to be staying there now."

"But....but I thought she was going to live here with us? That we were going to try and be a family."

"I did too, baby. I did too. Listen I don't want you to worry about that right now. Why don't you go on upstairs and take your bath and when you're done I'll come up and we’ll read a book together."

"Okay daddy." leaning in and kissing his cheek, before running up the stairs.

Ned walked over to the bar and poured himself another scotch. He went to place the bottle back on the rack but decided against it, a few more wouldn't hurt. He was just about to pour another drink when there was a knock on the door. He hurried over to the door, hoping it was Alexis and she had changed her mind. He pulled the door open, "Ale....” he sighs, “Skye, what are you doing here?" She waltzed passed him and made herself comfortable on the couch, "Skye....I don't have time for this."

She crossed her legs and smiled a sly smile, "You don't have time for the mother of your child?"

TBC