Denial

Disclaimer: I do not own them.

Skye had just been released from Pentonville, right after new evidence was brought forward that cleared her. Mostly her thoughts went to Luke, but right now nothing mattered more to her than getting home to the Quartermaine's and seeing the rest of her family. She had missed them, even Tracy.

She walked through the front door of the Mansion, dressed in designer clothes instead of prison blues. Her heels clanked loudly throughout the foyer, alerting Edward who was in the den. He peered out the door.

"Skye?" he called softly.

Slowly she turned around. "Grandfather."

He walked over to her and surprisingly wrapped his arms tightly around her. "How did you get out? Did you escape?"

"No." she told him as she pulled out of his embrace. "New evidence was brought forward and I was cleared this morning."

"Dear, that's wonderful."

Skye smiled. "Is Grandmother up in her sitting room? I'd like to see her."

Edward was silent, his eyes moved from Skye to the ground.

"Grandfather is there something wrong?" she asked softly. "Is Grandmother sick?"

"We didn't want to upset you." he said, lifting his eyes to meet her again. "Lila, she...she died in July."

"What?" Skye breathed out. "She's gone?"

Edward nodded and pulled her into a hug. "Please don't be angry at us for not telling you, but you were just sent away and we wanted you to keep your spirits up. We all felt that telling you about Lila would only upset far more than you already were."

Skye cried into his shoulder. "How?" she whispered. "Was she in any pain?"

"No. She went peacefully in her sleep." Edward recalled. "Monica said it was like the angels came and took her."

"I loved her." Skye sobbed. "She accepted me and my flaws immediately. She was incredible kind and loving and I'll never forget her, she was the back bone of this family."

"She loved you." Edward whispered. "She loved us all, despite our flaws."

-----

Alexis and Kristina were playing with some toys on the couch when the phone rang. Alexis leaned forward and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hello." Kristina repeated, causing Alexis to laugh.

"Natasha?" Luke asked. "Is that you?"

"Luke, where in God's name have you been?" She asked, getting up off the couch, walking over to her desk.

"I was locked up in the sanitarium."

Alexis was silent for several long seconds. "Who actually had the good sense to put you there in the first place?" she laughed.

"Oh, you think that's funny?" he questioned.

"Yeah, yeah I do." she confessed. "How did you get out?" she asked, getting serious.

"I broke out." he told her. "Someone drugged me and put me there when I went in search of Laura."

"Did you find Laura?" she asked.

"Yes, her name tag got switched." Luke explained. "She's still here and as catatonic as ever."

Alexis glanced over at Kristina. "I'm sorry to hear that Luke."

"Yeah, well, I knew it couldn't be her."

"Are you coming back?" she asked.

"To Port Chuckles? I guess so."

She took a deep breath. "I don't know if that would be such a good idea Luke."

"Why not?"

"Because an innocent woman went to prison over Ross Duncan's murder." she told him. "You know the cop that was killed and then you skipped town and threw Skye to the vultures?"

"I never threw Skye to the vultures." he argued.

"Like hell you didn't." she argued back. "You took off and then Skye was arrested, tried and convicted for his murder."

"Skye was sent to prison?"

"To serve twenty years." Alexis noted. "I did everything I could to save her, everything. The Quartermaine's stepped forward and supported her, testifying on her behalf and Lucky, but in the end it just wasn't enough. Her only crime Luke, was loving you and for that she was taken away to where she doesn't belong, all because she followed your lead down the wrong path."

"I had no idea." Luke breathed out. "Skye didn't kill that cop."

"I know she didn't." Alexis agreed. "I was watching them take her away, taking her away from her life and her family. They placed those cold cuffs across her wrists and my heart broke, because I didn't feel that I had done my job good enough, I couldn't save her and she was the one to pay the ultimate price."

"Why are you taking this so personally?" he asked.

"Because, Skye....she's my sister." Alexis confessed. "I couldn't protect or save my own sister."

"How?" he asked. "How is Skye your sister?"

"We had the same Father." she told him.

"Skye a Cassadine?"

"Skye's a Quartermaine, she's Alan's daughter, she loves him and he loves her and there's no reason that she ever has to find out the truth about being a Cassadine." Alexis said. "It will only destroy her."

"She doesn't know." Luke concluded.

"No. Helena will only come after her." Alexis said softly. "It's best this way and as for Skye, her being a Cassadine should end this thing between the two of you. She was very concerned about you during the trial but after the first few weeks in Pentonville, I think her feelings changed somewhat, her eyes didn't seem to have the same glow when your name was mentioned and the Quartermaine's, I don't think they want you anywhere near her."

"What are you trying to say?" he asked, trying to let everything sink in.

"I'm saying that it would be best for everybody involved if you just stayed away from her."

"I won't do it." he objected.

"She's a Cassadine." Alexis repeated. "That should be enough."

"Why are you acting so protective?"

"I've already lost one sister to circumstances out of my control and I refuse to lose another one."

"You and Skye hate each other." Luke pointed out.

"No." Alexis said firmly. "We often have conflicting interests. During the trial I seen her in a completely different light. She put her faith in me to get her off and I failed her. I was befuddled. I do not hate her."

"Then why don't you tell her she's your sister?" Luke asked.

"Because I'm trying to protect her from Helena and the evil curse that is the Cassadine's." she said. "Please, Luke, she can't know, she can't ever know the truth."

"I want to see her."

"Then talk to Alan, Monica and the rest of the Quartermaine's about it." Alexis suggested. "She was released this morning because new evidence came to light, she's staying with her family and being that her Grandmother passed away back in July, she's going to need them to get through Lila's death. She's starting counseling to get her life back on track and the last thing she needs right now is the reappearance of you in her life."

"That was harsh." he commented. "You make me sound like some sort of poison."

"Luke, I love you, you know that. You're a great friend and we've been through a lot together, just try to understand that I'm doing this for Skye. She could fall off the wagon again very easily and she's trying really hard to get her life back together, prison gave her a lot of time to think and right now she needs those who love her to do what's best for her."

"I see." Luke said, softly. "I'll avoid that Quartermaine Mansion like the plague."

"Thanks, Luke."

"No problem." he said. "I'll see you in a few days."

"Bye." Alexis whispered. She took the phone away from her ear and turned it off, placing it on the desk.

Kristina was still playing on the couch, Alexis smiled. "Come on sweetheart, where going to see the Quartermaine's." Kristina got down off the ouch and walked over to her Mother.

There was a soft knock at the door as Alexis picked up her purse and Kristina's diaper bag.. She opened the door to see Ric standing there with a dozen roses in his hand. "I'm sorry."

Alexis took the roses from him. "For what?" she asked, sitting them down on the table.

"For everything." he said, softly. "I've been acting like a complete jerk, always involving Sonny with everything and I'm sorry."

"Ric, do you think we could do this some other time, Kristina and I are heading over to the Quartermaine's." Alexis told him.

"Sure." he agreed. "I'll give you a call."

Alexis smiled. "I'd like that, maybe we could discuss it over dinner."

Ric nodded and flashed her a smile before walking off.

-----

Monica opened the door to the Quartermaine Mansion. "Alexis, how nice to see you and Kristina, please come in."

"Thank you." Alexis responded, making her way through the door. "Is Skye here?"

"Yes." Monica smiled. "She's up in her room resting, today was a tough day for her, Edward told her about Lila."

Alexis nodded. "I'd like to speak to her, would you mind watching Kristina for a little bit?"

"Of course not."

"Kristina, Aunt Monica is going to take you to see the flowers." Alexis told her handing her to Monica.

Kristina looked up at Monica and smiled. "Roses."

"Okay, we'll go see the roses."

Monica and Kristina made their way out and into the garden and Alexis made her way up to Skye's room. She tapped softly on the door before entering. "Skye?"

Skye was sitting on the window seat, looking out into the garden. "Alexis, what are doing here?"

She made her way over to Skye and sat down beside her. "I came to see how you were doing."

Skye continued to gaze out the window. "I'm out of prison." she told her. "Physically, anyway." she added.

"I talked to Luke." Alexis said softly.

Skye looked up and over at her. "Luke." she whispered.

TBC......depending on response.

Please review and tell me what you think!!!!!!