A/N: Last chapter...so I made it kinda long (long is actually an understatement imagine like 3 chapters worth of interactions with all your favs) to prepare you for the Epilogue...Yea I wrote one..Hard to believe huh?

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"No, I want to play Barbie's Zander."

Zander smiled at his little sister even as he watched the light of fire in her eye he was instantly reminded of their mother who was fighting for all of them at this moment. Luke had called awhile ago and given all of them an update on what was going on and about the return of Mikkos to set order in the Cassadine Empire.

He had taken the moment to bond with his sisters who were quickly becoming the center of his world. Molly was still too young to know who he was and what he signified in her life but each time he picked her up she didn't cry so he felt that he was making progress on that end. Kristina however was another story, she reminded him so much of Alexis that at times he forgot to breathe while watching her. She was so quick to pass judgment and scrutinize a person that he had to remind himself that she was only seven years old.

"Of course Kristina, we can play whatever you want."

Pleased that he at least was obedient she turned to her toy box when the door opened and Kristina Sr. stuck her head in the door, "Am I interrupting?"

Zander looked at her and said, "What happened? Why are you so happy?"

Kristina closed the door behind her as she sat down on the floor next to her nephew, "I'm happy because everything is turning out for the good. Stefan told me that Mikkos is going to get Alexis and put an end to their reign of terror. I'm just glad that if feels like this nightmare is finally coming to an end."

Zander nodded but stared at her, "I'm glad that Mikkos decided to show himself even if it was only for a short amount of time to save Mom. Now, I may not have known you my whole life but I'm starting to catch on to your moods and there's something else. You are obviously happy about Alexis which I can't blame but there's something else here, you are happy about something else."

Kristina felt a blush suffuse her face as she looked to her niece, "So what are we playing Kristina?"

Kristina turned around and fixed her aunt with a glance, "I'm playing Barbie's with Zander but I don't have all of my toys. You can share a doll with Zander if you want."

Kristina felt put out, she had been the one to play dolls with her niece in the time that they had been locked up in this safe house and now she was bonding with her brother who was slowly taking her place. No, she amended to herself, this is how it should be, how it always should've been. She started to get up when Zander tugged on her arm, "What's going on with you?"

Kristina sat down as she realized that trying to fight the happiness she felt was inevitable, "Jason and I are a couple."

Zander nodded, "Do I need to give him the talk?"

Kristina looked at him in question, "The talk? What talk?"

Zander exhaled in exasperation, "The talk. The if you screw over my aunt, I'll kill you talk." Zander was interrupted by his speech by Kristina shoving a doll into his hand and sitting down with a smile.

Molly was sitting on the floor next to him watching them play happily and ever once in awhile reaching for something to stick in her mouth which Zander was keeping a close eye on.

Kristina took her youngest niece in her arms and said, "I'll leave you two to your Barbie's and I'll let Jason know to expect that talk once you're finished playing dolls."

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"Carly." Carly turned around at met Jason's eyes with a smile of her own, "I know what you are going to say but just let me say that I'm happy for you and while Kristina may not be my first choice if she cares about you then I only wish you the best."

Jason smiled, "I knew you would support me. I'm happy about this Carly, I swear I am."

Carly nodded even as she felt her heart shattering, "I've not been a good person in my life Jason. I've been selfish and I've been self-centered and everything I've done comes with a price. A price that I'm learning is high but I do know that after watching everything Alexis has been willing to do then I don't have any other choice, I have to change. I know it's not going to happen overnight or even the course of a couple of weeks but I need to change. I have two boys who demand a mother who acts like she has a grain of sense. I need to be something for them and something for myself, it's the only way."

Jason pulled her into a hug, "I'm proud of you Carly."

Carly detached herself quickly, "So what's the game plan for today?"

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Alexis watched as Helena writhed on the floor in agony and she turned to her father in disgust, "Really couldn't you muffle her screams or something?"

Stavros still had the knife trained on her and he knew that he didn't have to let Mikkos know that he was firm in his objective. Mikkos dropped the gun from training on him as Stavros laughed in what he considered to be victory.

"You won't risk your precious bastard getting hurt will you? You just want to ensure that she's alive and well so she can carry on the family name isn't that right Dad?"

Mikkos smirked and said, "Actually it has more to do with the gun that's trained on the back of your head by my son, Stefan. It's actually a silencer so even if he shoots you point blank in the back of the skull, you won't have another chance to hurt Alexis or any of my family ever again and the only thing I'll have to worry about is the mess."

Mikkos reached down and dragged Helena to his side with a grimace, "Dear wife, the years have not been kind to you. Are you still keeping company with your lovers or should I say hired help? I hope so because there's no way that you could pay anyone I know to touch you. Come dear wife, I think it's about time we discuss our future."

Alexis watched as Mikkos disappeared through the door and instead of feeling sadness that her father was leaving her life, she felt relief. He was a part of her past, a bad part, a sad part and a part that she didn't want to have to live if he was alive and in her life.

She turned to Luke and Stefan and scowled in mock anger, "It took you long enough. The SOB actually cut me."

Stefan walked over and pulled her into his arms as he started cursing and kissing at the same time. "How could you be so stupid? Didn't you know that I wouldn't allow anything to happen to my nephew? Why did you have to come here and put everybody's heart in their throat with worry? When will you ever 1earn Alexis?"

Alexis sighed as she rested against her brother's chest for the first time since learning he was alive without fear and reveled in the feeling, "I missed you so much Stefan."

Stefan pulled back, "We have to go to the hospital. Spencer, I trust it you will take care of my dear brother."

Luke had his gun trained on Stavros's head and said, "Go on and darling," He directed the sentiment towards Alexis who met his eyes with a question, "I'm glad your okay but if you ever screw with a plan of mine again, I'm kicking your ass pregnant or not."

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"What do you mean she's in the hospital? No, I'm coming there now, no Cassadine I don't want to hear an excuse Alexis needs me and besides she owes me after everything she's put me through these last couple of hours…."

He started to continue the conversation when Kristina snatched the phone out of his hand and talked to her brother Stefan quietly for about three minutes and then said, "Don't worry Stefan. I'll keep him here just bring her back here safely, we are all waiting on bated breath to yellug her."

After hanging up the phone she went into the kitchen and opened up the refrigerator door and started searching for what could she use to make a celebratory dinner. The door closed in front of her and she looked at Sonny in question, "What's the problem? Alexis is fine, the bad guys are caught and for the most part life can go back to normal."

Sonny crossed his arms and said, "With you in our lives Kristina, nothing can ever be normal. So I heard you cheated on me last night."

Kristina started blushing as she met his eyes, "Actually I didn't when I heard Mikkos was going to get Alexis I had a lawyer start working on the annulment papers. We should be free in the next week or so."

Sonny smirked, "You don't waste anytime do you?"

Kristina opened the refrigerator again and reached for the vegetable bin and pulled out what she could find that was useful and said, "Look, I'm not rushing into things but I know that you were worried when you got married to me and besides it would be too weird. Could you imagine me trying to explain to my niece, that for a limited time that she was not only my niece but also my stepdaughter? That's just weird not to mention that I don't want to marry a man that's busy pining after my sister it's just disturbing."

Sonny rolled his eyes as he pulled her into his arms, "God, I missed you Kristina. The simple way you have of making everything seems so much easier to deal with."

Kristina pulled back and said, "So are you mad that I didn't let you go to the hospital? I know that you want to be by Alexis's side but right now she needs Stefan. They were there for each other through everything and that's a bond that you and I don't share with them and I thought it would be nice for them to use this time to reconnect. They have been apart for a lot of years."

Sonny scowled, "I guess your right. Now about this whole Jason thing…," Kristina sighed, "Not you too, listen hubby I married you but that doesn't mean I have to listen to you. Jason and I are just dating, we made love and if it turns out that we are each other's soul mates then great but if it turns out that we would be just better off as a friend then that's fine too but whatever it is I just want to enjoy it. I want to enjoy it without my husband and nephew threatening to give Jason the 'talk'."

Sonny smiled, "The talk? What talk?"

Kristina waved her hand as she started chopping onions, "You know the talk, if you hurt my aunt/wife/sister-in law I'll castrate you blah, blah, blah!"

Sonny reached for the knife as he started helping her chop vegetables and said, "I really like that kid, he's turning out more and more like me each day. But I still have one final question for you, Kristina and it's an important one."

Kristina stopped mid-chop and looked at him in question, "So what's the question?"

Sonny motioned to the phone, "Earlier, you told Stefan that you were waiting on bated breath for the return of Alexis and I quote to 'yellug' her. What the hell does that mean?"

Kristina smiled, "It's a cross between a yell and hug. We are going to be super pissed that she traded her life for Zander's that we are going to yellug her, torn between yelling and hugging."

Sonny stopped chopping and kissed her on the forehead, "I love you sis."

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Stefan waited on bated breath as the nurse came out of the room holding Alexis's hand that now had a bandage wrapped around her neck but for the most part looked fine. He looked to her for confirmation who nodded, "She's fine you don't need to worry. It was a superficial wound and it didn't go very deep."

Alexis grimaced as she was handed over to Stefan who scowled as he stared at her, "Do you know how dangerous what you did was?"

Alexis held onto her brother's hand as he led her over to the couch in front of the elevators and exhaled as she sat down, "My son Stefan? Really the only option you had was to send in my son Zander? Zander who has been through as much as I have with all of the crazy Cassadines was your only option. You decide to send him in to deal with the psychopath of Stavros, what was going through your heads?"

Stefan scowled as he pulled her into his arms, "We had a greater objective, to protect you. You were the most important piece of this puzzle and my nephew was never in any grave danger, not with his uncle and Luke looking out for him. The moment we noticed something different in his heartbeat or Stavros touched him we would have swarmed Wyndemere and taking him out without thinking twice."

Alexis touched her brother's face softly, "I know you would protect him with your life but that isn't what I was worrying about. I was worrying about while you were checking out his vital signs and everything Stavros was spewing his venom out to my son with his words. They can be just as deadly as a knife or a bullet. He told Zander that he should've been dead, and even after everything that he went through to be born and whoever his father may be it still has to hurt that the man who caused you birth wished you had never lived to see light. I didn't want Zander to have to go through that."

Stefan comforted his sister who had started crying softly, "Sshh…Alexis I promise you that everything will be okay. Mikkos who I'm still shocked is alive, has taken Helena into his custody and even though I'm not a fan of murder, well at least murder that can still be traced it's all she deserves."

Alexis exhaled against his cheek, "Do you know that I still feel guilt that this world won't have anymore Helena Cassadine's to deal with? Don't get me wrong, I know that after everything she deserves to be murdered but I still can't help thinking that the best place for her is in a maximum security prison where she can serve out the hell she wreaked on everyone's lives."

Stefan shook his head, "That won't work, she has escaped jails before. She has escaped death before; she needs to be put down like a dog. I hate to tell you that because she is my mother but she has done nothing but bad since the day she was born and she deserves the ultimate price for her dealings, death."

Alexis nodded at the wisdom in his words, "And Stavros? What's going to happen to him?"

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Kristina looked up from mixing the ingredients in the bowl as Carly entered the kitchen. She smiled at her softly when Carly turned to Emily and said, "Do you think you can leave us alone for a moment? I need to talk to Kristina."

Emily nodded and walked away as Kristina stopped mixing and turned to Carly and said, "So, what's up?"

Carly sat down at looked at her, "I don't like you and it's not because you are Alexis's sister or anything, it actually has more to do with the fact that you are too nice. If you are going to be with Jason you will need to learn to be more cutthroat."

Kristina nodded, "You mean like the Cassadine family? People who rape, pillage, exterminate qualities like that Carly?"

Carly smirked, "Good point, I just want to tell you that Jason is a good guy."

Kristina sat down, "I know that he's a good guy but the question is do you know he's a good guy?"

Carly looked at her in confusion, "Of course, I know he's a good guy. I love him like no one else, he's my best friend."

Kristina sighed, "Then why are you just friends with him? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I don't like Jason and hope that we have a real relationship but even if we don't work out why do you hold yourself back from him? You claim he's a good guy, you claim he's your best friend but you still flirt with Sonny or look at other men."

Carly exhaled sharply, "Look, I just came here to tell you that if you hurt Jason, I'll kill you, I didn't really come here for a therapy session."

Kristina shrugged, "Well, then I hear your advice and I'll take it under advisement but only if you listen to mine. Jason is a great guy and I'm not going to pass up the chance to be with him but you should let him know that you love him."

Carly stood up and pushed the chair back in, "I would but I hurt Jason too much, I think when you love someone as much as I loved, love Jason you are so scared that you will make a misstep that you end up sabotaging yourself before you even begin. I know that it's not right, but it's what happened in our case."

Kristina walked back to the bowl, "Why don't you help me finish make dinner?"

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Stavros struggled against his restraints as Luke trained the gun on the center of his head with a smirk on his face. "You know Cassadine; I've been waiting for this moment for along time."

Stavros smirked, "And the only way that you could accomplish this grand tete was by teaming up with my deceased father and incompetent brother not to mention the mother of my firstborn. Bravo, you must be so proud."

Luke leaned back in his chair not rising to his taunts, "You know that I am? I helped save the Cassadine Empire and as funny as that sounds I'm pleased about it. For along time I always wanted to destroy anything Cassadine and then I met someone named Alexis Davis, she was a beautiful woman wrapped in a shroud of mystery and intrigue. I started peeling away the layers and I noticed that she was surrounded by secrets and not nice ones. She asked me to help her kill your mother, the bane of her existence and that's the first time that we became allies."

Stavros looked at him with an intrigued raised eyebrow to which Luke chuckled, "Yea we tried to extinguish the hag of your mother but unfortunately Stefan's fiancée got caught in the way. Why am I telling you all of this you may wonder? You won't be alive to tell anyone anyway so I figure it's okay don't you."

Stavros growled, "It's not over Spencer. Even if you shoot me dead, I'll still live on and my legacy will live on forever."

Luke laughed shortly, "In whom? The next generation of Cassadine's is already taking steps to ensure that the mistakes of the past aren't relived. Nikolas is happily married to Emily. Zander apart from who his father was had made a name for himself, a good name. Not to mention Kristina who's the exact opposite of what you would define a Cassadine, fun, happy and full of hope and peace."

Stavros looked at him in disgust, "You forget the most important piece, the one who is really the one who will continue this feud in my death, Stefan. He may only be my half brother but he hates you with a passion that knows no bounds."

Luke nodded, "That may be true, but he loves his sister more and for the sake of peace within the family will let this feud die here with you and Helena."

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Nikolas looked up from stroking Emily's hair and watching her sleep at the sound of someone clearing their throat. He was met with the eyes of his half-brother, Zander.

Zander hadn't spared a glance for Emily yet, instead training his eyes solely on Nikolas. Nikolas knew what he wanted and was not sure if he was prepared to give it to him.

He closed the door behind him as he followed Zander out of the room. Zander opened the front door and stood outside as he waited for Nikolas to follow which he did but at a slower pace hesitant to follow until he knew what for.

Zander stared out into the darkness of night silent for a couple of moments before he cleared his throat and started to speak, "When I found out that Mikkos Cassadine was my grandfather, I didn't care too much because he was just another name that meant nothing to me. He had been no one to me my whole life so I didn't know how to even think about his relationship in my life. When I found out that Nikolas Cassadine was my half-brother I felt rage, after all this time I finally had a family, a heritage and a brother who was alive and it wasn't my fault. But to my surprise, my brother is the man that stole the woman I love away from me," he paused as Nikolas looked at him helplessly and Zander shrugged, "I know, I know that you don't choose who you love and I'm not taking you to task for that I'm just stating the facts. When I found out that Alexis Davis was my mother, I wept. I don't cry at anything unless it moves me, but finding out that, that extraordinary woman was my mother made me cry. She fought for me Nikolas; she always fought for me against everyone and to the surprise of everyone including Sonny. She went up against the man she loved for me."

Nikolas nodded, "I remember how distraught Ned was that she was even defending you after you had kidnapped Emily."

Zander sighed, "I'm not telling you my life story and how I felt when I found out the truth for your pity. I want you to know its okay its okay that you and Emily are together. I'm never going to forgive you or even like you but its okay."

Nikolas exhaled softly, "I appreciate that Zander. I know how hard it must be for you..,"

Zander cut him off, "You have no clue how hard this is for me so please don't try to empathize with what is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I'm doing this for one reason and one reason only, my mother. I know without a doubt she loves me, and that if she wanted to spare me pain she would cut herself off from you and Emily just to make sure I was okay but I don't want that for her. She deserves to have her family whole and happy and together. It's the least she deserves after everything she's been through."

Nikolas looked down, "Zander, you're my brother and I can't leave it like this between us. I know that you hate me for what happened with Emily but we need to be more than enemies."

Zander scowled as he turned around and met him face to face, "She had cancer man and I married her. She was the love of my life and you want me to forget that, she's pregnant with your child. A child, I dreamed of having with her one day, isn't it enough that I don't mind that you are together. I'm asking you to please, leave this alone Nikolas. Sometimes you can fix all wounds, maybe one day I'll be ready. Maybe one day, we'll even be friends, but not right now. For now, just let it be enough that I can be around you for my mother's sake."

Nikolas opened his mouth to protest but Zander looked at him with tears brimming in his eyelids, "Please."

Nikolas nodded and exhaled softly as he turned into the house with a heavy heart.

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"I want you to know, I hate her." Jason looked up from watching the boys play in the backyard to hear Carly come up beside him.

Jason grimaced, "Do I even need to ask who?"

Carly swiped at him and smiled, "I'm joking but I do hate her. She's perfect for you, she understands you, she loves being with you and she's nice. All the qualities that I'm not, so I hate her because I like her."

Jason grinned, "Okay so I guess I have your blessing then?"

Carly shrugged, "For what it's worth?"

Jason pulled her into a hug, "It's always worth something to me."

Carly pulled back as she looked into his eyes, "Did I ever apologize for what I did to you?"

Jason scowled as he went back to watching the boys play on the swing, "It's in the past Carly. Leave it there."

Carly looked down sadly, "I can't Jase and I think it's one of the reasons, I haven't been able to move on. I still feel so guilty for everything I put you through, right when we were finally getting to be the place that I always wanted us to be. I need you to know that I love you…."

Jason looked up at her shocked, "Carly," Carly interrupted him, "Let me get this out otherwise I'll never be able to finish this. I love you but I know that I don't deserve you so I'm okay with watching you with someone else. After all the sacrifices, I put you through making you put your own friendships and relationships behind your loyalty to me; I can't ask you for anything else. Just promise me something okay."

Jason looked at the tears that were slowly running down her face as he started to gently wipe the tears away, "What do you need me to promise Carly?"

Carly looked down at their hands that had suddenly become joined during their conversation and said, "Promise me, I won't lose my best friend. All the times that I was jealous of who you were with or what you were willing to do had to do with my fear that I would lose you, my unconditional best friend who's been there for me during all of my moments, if I don't lose that then I can let you be happy with anyone, and anyplace. Actually I kinda prefer Kristina now since I broke her in and all."

Jason pulled her into his arms, "Friends forever Carly, I promise you."
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"Dinner's done." Kristina called out and watched in shock as people came pouring in from every crevice in the house. Alexis and Stefan hadn't arrived yet but she knew it wouldn't be long as she watched everyone pour in the kitchen she noticed that everyone was present minus her hubby. She directed Carly to take over as their tentative friendship continued without a hitch.

She knew that she had followed her advice and told Jason of her love and she was happy. Carly had some bad qualities but overall she loved fiercely and it was a quality that Kristina would admit she admired in her.

She opened the front door to see Sonny staring down the dark road, "She's coming you know. She's coming home to you and she's going to be fine. You are going to have your happily ever after with her children and yours."

Sonny smiled as he turned to her, "How did you know I was worrying about that?"

Kristina shrugged, "Wives are supposed to know about that, speaking of," she paused and pulled off the ring and dropped it into his palm, "I spoke to Ric who was more than happy to help me through this annulment. I think he likes me, what do you think?"

Sonny rolled his eyes, "What about Jason?"

Kristina laughed softly, "Joke Sonny. You know those like what came first the chicken or the egg?"

Sonny scowled, "That's not a joke it's one of the most sought after answers that historians want."

Kristina grimaced, "Sonny, you are too literal, you and Alexis are perfect for each other."

Sonny sighed as he leaned against the door, "I hope so because I love her Kristina. I don't want to lose her."

Kristina shrugged, "Then don't. Start today, start afresh and make sure all the mistakes of the past aren't repeated. Love her; love her unconditionally like she always loved you. Make her believe that she's the only woman in your life and then you can be happy."

Sonny met her eyes, "You make it sound so easy but it's not Kristina. It's complicated, it's very complicated. I love her and I'm mad at her, she puts her family and her children above her own health and that of our child, I don't know how to live with that. Carly, god Carly always was worried more about me than anything and while some of the times, I didn't agree with it, I could handle it because it ultimately only affected me. But this fighting for her children's lives with no regards to her own is something that I wasn't prepared for and I don't know how to handle."

Kristina laughed, "So are you saying that Carly never fought for her children?"

Sonny groaned, "No, I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that when the chips were down, she always fought for me and not for herself. I want Alexis to do the same…,"

Kristina interrupted him, "Why because it's easier for you? You can handle a woman who will fight for you but you can't handle a woman who will fight for her children and her family?"

Sonny looked at the scowl that had come into Kristina's eyes, "I didn't mean to make you mad I was just expressing my feelings."

Kristina laughed, "I'm not mad, I'm not the one that has to live with you for the rest of her life, that's Alexis. But you should know by now that the women that you married are strong-willed and they will do what they are going to do you have to decide what its worth to you. Do you want to be alone with no strong willed woman who tries to break you or do you want to fight with a strong willed woman by your side fighting with you for the common goal of happiness of your family?"

Kristina leaned up and kissed Sonny on the cheek, "Dinner's ready. Come in when you're hungry."

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Zander walked outside and looked at Sonny sipping out of a can and said, "Kristina's looking for you."

Sonny turned around and smiled, "I told her that I would be out here for awhile. What does she need?"

Zander shook his head, "Your daughter Kristina. She wants to know where her father is because she wants him to read her a bedtime story."

Sonny laughed, "We are going to have to come up with nicknames for the two Kristina's otherwise we are going to constantly get them mixed up. Isn't that wild?"

Zander nodded, "Yea it is, my sister and aunt alive and well."

Sonny pointed at him with a smile, "I didn't get to tell you but I wanted to know that I'm proud of you. You put your family first and were willing to sacrifice yourself for their wellbeing and that is a good thing."

Zander shrugged as he felt the flush of pride rush through him as the fatherly figure in his life, gave him his approval. "It's my mom there's nothing else I could've done."

Sonny smiled, "I love your mother you know. I know after everything you've seen me do you could doubt it but I do, I love your mother and I don't want to live my life without her."

Zander nodded with a smile, "That's good. That's good I didn't want to have to give you the same talk that I gave Jason."

Sonny chuckled, "So you did give him the talk after all? Nice."

Zander rolled his eyes, "She's a special woman, I don't want her hurt. I know that with the crazy trilogy that was you, Carly and Jason there wasn't really room for another person and that's why when my mother tried to come in she was kicked out without another thought."

Sonny grimaced, "I wouldn't say it like that."

Zander turned to him with a smirk, "I think it was just like that and I don't want it to happen to my aunt. If she loves Jason, then she loves Jason and she shouldn't have to fight Carly and you for that like my mom did. My mom was different though, she was always in with you but she couldn't fight the unit that Carly and Jason made, I hope there won't be any problems with that in the future."

Sonny chortled, "Hey I'm supposed to be the father figure here not you."

Zander smiled at that, "Do you want to be the father figure in this story? I'm not going anywhere Sonny; I just found my mother, my sisters an aunt and uncle. I'm here to stay so if it's going to be a problem, I need to know now."

Sonny pulled Zander to him, "I would like to be the father figure if you'll accept that you can't always follow my example because I'm not really the best one to follow at all times."

Zander laughed as Sonny pulled him in for a hug, "Deal."

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"You do know that they are probably waiting on us and its not nice to sit in the car keeping them waiting."

Alexis scowled at her brother in anger, "I know that but you also know that I love you dearly so I'm asking you to butt out."

Stefan groaned, "It's really not a good time for you to show how much American culture has influenced your vocabulary."

Alexis leaned over and kissed Stefan on the cheek, "I love you, so don't ever leave me again. Okay?"

Stefan pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the head, "I love you too Alexis and I'm sorry. I'm sorry you were put in the middle of this horrible feud with the Spencer's. I'm sorry for all the havoc that my brother and Helena brought down on you."

Alexis laid on his chest listening to his heartbeat, "Do you know as a girl this is the only thing that would get me to sleep through the night? I would be fearful of Helena during the day but I wasn't as scared because there was always light and she couldn't scare me as bad in the light but in the darkness of night, I couldn't go to sleep until I heard your heartbeat. If I concentrated I could shut out all the other voices in my mind until my ears only focused on the sound of your breathing."

Stefan felt the tears well in his eyes, "Alexis…," Alexis leaned up and looked into his eyes, "I love you Stefan and I don't want to be separated from you again. Ever again. I'm finally back where I belong and I have my children by my side and my sister and you. Please don't ever forget how necessary you are to me. You are my brother, the only one whose been privy to everything I went through, I can't live without you."

Alexis laid back down, "And I'm scared. I love this family so much, I want this family to remain united so much that I don't want to walk through that door. I don't want to see the fear or the disunity in their faces."

Stefan pulled her face up to his, "Alexis, why would you see that?"

Alexis sighed, "Zander is my son and Nikolas loves the woman he loves. It feels like the story can be repeated. I know that Zander and Nikolas aren't you and Stavros but I'm still worried. Emily was just as nice as Laura was and look what happened there."

Stefan held her against him tightly grateful that he finally got to the root of her insecurities, "That won't happen because we will be with them Alexis. Every step of the way, guiding them and loving them. They won't have a chance to steer their lives along a wrong path because we won't let them."

Alexis looked up at him with tears brimming in her eyes, "Do you promise?"

Stefan nodded as he pulled her into his chest, "I promise you Alexis. I promise."

Alexis groaned as she pulled away, "Okay, let's face the firing squad then."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"I don't want vegetables," Michael voiced his complaint at no one in particular but Kristina was the one who smiled and said, "Vegetables are good, my mom said so."

Michael looked like he was about to protest but Carly cleared her throat and said, "Kristina's mom is right; vegetables are good for you Michael so eat up. I can't have you staying that size, now can I?"

Sonny smiled at Carly over the table and said, "Mom's right Mikey, vegetables are good for you."

Kristina stood up as she moved to the refrigerator to pull out more tea and turned to put it back on the table when Jason came up behind her and kissed her on the lips, "I got it babe."

Jason smiled as he turned to the table and handed the pitcher to Nikolas who was hovering over Emily making sure she ate well. She had been so upset with the events of the last couple of weeks that she had lost weight and Kristina had warned her that it wasn't good for her or the child that she was carrying.

Zander sat on the other side of Kristina ensuring that his nieces were eating and happy not really paying attention to the conversation but responding when he was asked a direct question. Sonny cleared his throat quietly and Zander looked up and smiled at him softly, "Good job."

Zander shrugged as he looked down at his plate. In their talks outside the subject of Nikolas and Emily came up and Sonny had advised him that it was better if he stuck to his sisters for the remainder of their time in the safe house to avoid any confrontations.

Kristina grinned happily at her brother, "Zander, can we play dolls again tomorrow?"

Zander nodded as Jason came behind him and leaned down and whispered in his ear, "You know that talk we had earlier about you hurting me if I hurt your aunt? Doesn't hold much water when you're talking about playing dolls with your sister."

Jason clapped him on the back and then sat back down next to Kristina who reached in for a kiss as she passed him the rolls.

The door opened and time stopped. Alexis and Stefan crossed the threshold of the house and chaos broke loose as everyone rose to greet the people who had been missing from their family.

Review Please

So this chapter has alot of interaction with everyone except for our beloved Sexis...who I kinda wrote the story for
in the first place but I wanted to set up the relationships so when you read the epilogue you can understand where they
all are emotionally! Thanks for coming with me on the journey... :)