Awe man, I wish Alexis was my mom so I could have my own wing of a castle! Lol. Okay, this is unedited because I have to head out.

Chapter 16- Natasha's Reign

The plan was for everyone to get a few hours sleep and for the sewer people to shower and change before Julian and Alexis would organize the army and the builders, and Alexis would also give an update to her plans for their new society.

Scout wanted to bunk with Willow, at least for the time being, and Danny was going to share a room… or chamber… with Leo, which made it almost like old times, until the rest of the people had their own homes. Sam would share a room with Kristina between Scout/Willow's room and Danny/Leo's room. Across the hall TJ, Molly, and Lexie had a room next to Nikolas, Ava, Avery, and Nikky, with Lucas and Spencer sharing in the next room. Nikolas had found Spencer locked in a cage on the grounds. As far as Danny knew, no one had informed him yet about the codicil and the fact that he and Nikolas aren't the true heirs. At the end of the hallway, Alexis and Julian had the great chamber. Alexis had mentioned wanting Sam, Lucas, Nikolas, Kristina, and Molly, and Leo once he's of age, to each have their own wing once the rest of the residents were dispersed. Danny wasn't sure if his mom and her siblings would want that, but it was his grandma's attempts at keeping her family together.

Danny couldn't sleep and made his way to the lower north-west wing to check on Jake. He was propped up in a four-poster bed, with a dressing around his throat and connected to IVs and machines, listening to Cameron tell him about the rest of the battle. Jason stood with his arm around Elizabeth as Cam talked.

"And Curtis is trying to convince Trina to have a mind-mapping procedure done," Cam said. "We still can't get the internet or wi-fi, but apparently Dr. Maddox can still do the procedures offline."

"Hey…" Danny walked in. "How are you feeling?"

Jake frowned.

"Well, the good news is that Jake survived." Elizabeth gave Jake's shoulder a soft squeeze. "And that's someone we're all grateful for. But he's going to be on a feeding tube, and we don't know yet if he's going to be able to speak again and he's not going to try until his throat heals." She stroked his hair. "But we're hoping for the best."

"Apparently your great-grandmother kept a bunch of hospital equipment on hand," Cameron said. "I remember Spencer telling me and Emma that once actually."

"Well, that's good," Danny said. "We'll need it."

"Danny," Jason said. "I just wanted to say you did good last night. All of you boys did, and it's something to be proud of." He patted Cameron's back.

Danny smiled a little and nodded. "Well, Grandma's going to explain her plan soon and I want to be there. I'm glad you're okay, Jake."

"I'll come with you," Cam offered. "I want to help with anything and everything."

GHGHGH

Danny joined Drew and Sam in the crowded ballroom as they waited for Alexis and Julian to arrive.

"How's Willow and Scout?" Danny asked.

"They're still sleeping," Sam said. "I didn't want to wake them. Nikolas said Spencer's still sleeping too, and so are Lexie and Nikky. How are you doing, buddy?"

Danny shrugged. "I'm just glad we're all safe and that Jake's going to be all right."

"I feel so much better." Julian walked in wearing a suit and ran his hand through his now short hair.

"You don't feel awkward wearing Valentin and Nina's clothes?" Alexis groaned, straightening Nina's pink blouse and holding a folder with her other hand.

"I'm just glad to be out of the same clothes I've been wearing for three years," Leo mumbled, his long hair chopped off and clean. "Even if I have to wear one of Spencer's old buttoned-up shirts, at least it's not tight and covered with my own B.O.."

"Everyone, can I have your attention, please?" Alexis called out and the voices died down. "Okay, so like I said yesterday we're going to focus on the army, healing the injured, restoring minds, and building homes, as well as building a hospital or a clinic. I don't want to make this into a dictatorship, but until those things are organized, I will be assigning jobs. After that you'll have more choice in what you want to do. As long as it's legal that is…" She looked over at Jason who shifted awkwardly. "We'll build other things eventually, such as a police station, school, and places of business, but I think new homes and a hospital is our priority. Dr. Maddox has already starting a procedure on Michael Corinthos right now and has another one scheduled today. He says he can handle doing two per day. Any former doctors or nurses will be stationed here at Wyndemere until we have a clinic built to heal those who were injured during battle. Any former police officers, WSB agents, mob enforcers…" she cleared her throat. "Will be drafted to Julian's army for the time being."

Julian nudged her. "You mean Natasha's Army."

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Yes, Natasha's Army… I have assigned some of you to kitchen duty temporarily to make sure we're all fed. And some of you will be watching the children. Now, unfortunately, we were unable to escape with all of the children. We only have a count of less than twenty children under twelve, and even less teenagers. So, when we build the school it will be a two-room schoolhouse. And we're reverting back to 18 as the age of an adult."

Danny groaned.

"As for currency," Alexis continued. "The Cassadines have money hidden away that only the family has access to right now. But we will be distributing it as we start building this society and everyone starts working. We're also going to need some farmers and seamstresses, so we'll have money and clothes once we run out here at Wyndemere. So, I have papers and pens. I'll need you to write down your name, the job you'd like to apply for, your children's names and what grade they'll be in, and those you plan to live with. There will need to be a minimum of five per household due to limited space on the island. It's up to you if you choose to live with extended family or friends or partners. Please have this returned by tomorrow so we can organize everything."

Alexis passed some papers to TJ and Leo to hand out.

"Well, I want to be a seamstress," Kristina said. "I've always been interested in fashion."

Alexis smiled.

"You kids don't need to work," Julian said. "You're the princes and princesses, you can just stay at the castle and be pampered all day."

"Uh, no…" Alexis cut in. "I didn't raise them that way. I would however love it if you all lived here at the castle and had your own wing."

Sam, Kristina, Molly, and Lucas all exchanged a look.

"Like I just told everyone, there's limited space on the island and lots of room here," Alexis said. "And the castle is so big you'll still have your own space."

"She does have a point," Lucas said.

Sam sighed. "Maybe build homes for everyone else and we'll think about it in the meantime? Depends what the kids want to."

Danny shrugged. "I don't really care. Might be nice to be close to Leo again. I mean, we were all separated for three years."

"Well, I was talking to Monica," Drew said. "She wants Jason and I to live with her, Ned, Brooklyn, Michael, and Wiley. And she said the kids are welcome anytime. I'm hoping things might change in the future, but I know it won't happen right away."

Sam nodded. "Okay, Mom, we'll stay here until we figure things out."

"I said, I'm not going to live with you!" Josslyn drew Danny's attention.

"Josslyn, you belong with me," Carly insisted. "After losing Morgan and Sonny, we need to stay together. You, me, Michael, Jonah, Avery, Donna, and your grandmother."

"No, I've finally seen the truth… you are a control freak," Josslyn said. "I used to think it was nice that Jason did all those things for us through the years, but now I see the truth… he was your slave and you kept him from Cam and Jake."

"That's not true." Carly crossed her arms. "Jason is my best friend and he would do anything for me. It's other people who are controlling him right now! It's their fault his priorities have changed, and he probably won't live with us."

"And everything Morgan said... You and Sonny were the reason he was depressed."

"That was not our fault."

Josslyn threw her hands in the air. "I'm done. Dad said Alexis invited him to live at Wyndemere to be close to Willow. He wants me to stay here too and that's what I'm going to do. And you kept Avery from Ava all these years, that's not fair! I just feel bad for Donna who's going to have to put up with you!" She darted out of the room.

"Josslyn!" Carly called after her. Then she turned to Alexis. "Now you're stealing Josslyn!?"

Alexis cleared her throat. "Carly… perhaps you should get a procedure done with Andre—"

"I am not mind-mapped!" Carly set her hands on her hips. "And you know what? I think it is completely ridiculous that you of all people are in charge. You're the control freak and this society is doomed to have you as it's leader!" She zoomed out of the ballroom.

Alexis' face paled and she lowered her gaze.

"Don't listen to her, Grandma," Danny said. "We're lucky to have you as our leader."