Chapter 3

Sensing that he was being watched, Cameron slowly opened his eyes staring at the ceiling; his brief respite leaving him a little disoriented. As the last vestiges of sleep passed he remembered where he was and why. He rolled his head sideways and looked toward Alexis. He smiled as it registered why he awoke with the feeling of being watched. Alexis was awake and was in fact watching him while he slept. He barely heard her whisper, but knew exactly what she was asking.

"Why?"

Alexis was not used to being catered to and certainly not unless there was some sort of repayment expected.

"Why not?" He asked.

He watched as tears slowly formed and fell one by one down her cheeks and he returned her question with a heart saddened by what he was seeing.

Leaning towards her, he whispered his own concern. "Your turn. Why?"

He waited for her answer, knowing that this time she wouldn't hold back.

"It's been a long time since I felt like someone actually 'liked' me… enough to do something just for me… who cared enough to do something like this for me… Why did you do it, Cameron? Is there something you want… something you need help with?"

He shook his head as he struggled to contain the anger her words caused to erupt in him. For her to feel the need to question why someone would want to do something just for her… just because they wanted to… it sent a raging inferno through him. Forcing himself to bring his emotions under some semblance of control he reached for her and caught her hand in his and gently smiled.

"I don't want anything but to see you relax and enjoy yourself for a change. If I can chase the demons away for just a little while then I will have achieved the goal I set for myself tonight. I just wanted to do something for you, Alexis. And just for your information… I'm not through yet."

A small almost reluctant smile found its way past her insecurities.

"Cameron you've done enough… I don't know if I'll ever be able to get off this couch. You've effectively turned my body into a heap of mush."

"Well then, I've almost achieved the full effect. But, aren't you just a little hungry by now? It is getting a little late, you know."

Pulling her hand from his, he watched her lift her arms above her head and stretch languorously until she groaned from the strain on her muscles. Bringing her arms back down she wiped the tears from her eyes and again smiled, this time with a bit of expectancy.

"Do I take it that you are now going to feed me?"

He chuckled at her willingness to allow him to continue to 'take care' of her then lifted her feet from his lap so he could stand then replaced them on the couch moving the pillows out of her way. He started toward the kitchen, but stopped just long enough to place a kiss on top of her head before he left in search of an evening meal fit for a princess who was not allowed to move from the sofa her servant had placed her on.

"I have a veritable feast waiting for you that would entertain the most discerning of palates and you don't have to worry about picking up a fork, knife or spoon. Everything has been prepared in such a way as to abolish any kind of exertion pertaining to getting said libation from plate to mouth. How's that for thinking ahead?"

"Finger food?"

"Exclusively."

"No exertion, hmmm?"

"Right, no exertion."

"Cameron?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you have a straw that's long enough to reach from the table to my mouth?"

Moving slowly toward the kitchen as they bantered back and forth Cameron suddenly stopped and looked back at Alexis as a look of confusion passed across his face.

"Excuse me…"

"A straw… you know… to drink with."

"From the table to your….?" As realization of what she was getting at sank in, Cameron laughed.

"Ok smart ass… a little exertion. You will at least have to pick up your wineglass with your hand in order to take a drink. Will that be too much of a strain? I mean I would definitely be willing to help you quench whatever thirst you may have… if you prefer."

He threw a lascivious grin back at her as he turned to continue toward the kitchen. He glanced back once to see the effect of his remarks and laughed again at the blush across her cheeks that could clearly be seen even in candlelight from ten paces away.

Returning with an array of carefully prepared items, he balanced the tray in one hand while picking up his basket of 'goodies' with the other to move it temporarily out of the way. He wasn't finished with it yet and upon hearing Alexis clear her throat he looked back at her to find her again eyeing his basket. Raising an eyebrow in stern reprimand he let her know his basket was still off limits. Setting the tray down he picked up one of the three cloth napkins from the side of the tray and spread it across her lap. Picking up a second napkin he unfolded it from the corner then refolded it once so that when he put it in her hand there was enough length and flexibility that she could obtain it's full use with one hand. Moving around to the end of the sofa, he again placed his hands underneath her and gently lifted her into a more comfortable position for eating purposes. He heard a sound suspiciously close to laughter and inquired as to the reason for her mirth.

"Are you laughing at me, Alexis?"

Her chin was tucked nice and comfortable against her chest in an effort to hide her amusement as she answered.

"No, Cameron. That is not something I would ever do. I mean look at all of this. Look at everything you're doing for me… and I don't even have to sit up by myself. Laugh at you? Never."

He could tell she was having a rather difficult time holding her laughter in and he stepped back around the sofa to stand in front of her. His eyes held quite a bit of mischief in them as he looked down at her.

"Ready for me to feed my little princess?"

His question caught her off guard and the intimacy of such an idea caused her to choke on the gasp that exploded from her lungs. She sputtered a couple of times and raised the refolded napkin up to cover her mouth. Just as she covered her mouth she realized that the napkin was in fact positioned just right in her hand to take care of most anything she needed. The import of Cameron's level of care for her hit her like a ton of bricks. From the moment he picked her up from the mansion to the moment she now faced, he had effectively taken her mind away from anything that could cause her distress. The only time her peace was interrupted was during her sleep when 'the nightmare' jerked her awake again… just as it did most nights. Reaching out she took hold of his hand and absently began moving her fingers through. Moments passed as she fought the visions of the nightmare and in the midst of the anguish it caused she felt the warmth of Cameron's hand and looked over to find the gentle softness of his hand completely covering hers. She tightened her fingers around his then gently pulled him down to sit beside her. Looking up her gaze met the concern of his and she whispered her fears to him.

"I can't stop it."

"What Alexis? Can't stop what?"

"The dream. Someone is always taking her away from me. In my dreams I've never held her… never kissed her… all I hear is her crying and screaming my name. I know it doesn't make sense that a baby can talk… but that's what happens in my dreams. My baby is calling me and I can't reach her. I can't get to her. I'm losing her, Cameron and there's not a damn thing I can do about it."

He listened to her pour out her heart and as she began to sob her grief he pulled her into his arms and began to rock her again whispering softly to her. He couldn't help the feeling that came over him in that moment. As he felt her trembling in his arms, Cameron knew in his heart that he had failed her just as much as Ned had and probably even more. He made her a promise that she wouldn't lose her daughter and she did. He promised her he would help her get her daughter back, but Kristina was still estranged from her mother. He should have done something by now to put an end to this nightmare for her, but instead his cryptic responses were always "you have to follow court orders", "it's just six months", or the nauseating "be patient". He caused her to suffer just as much as the rest of them with his unwillingness to listen to her cares and concerns. No wonder she seemed to be an island. He helped place her on that sandbar out in the ocean all alone.

Pulling her away from him, he placed his hands on either side of her face and forced her to look up at him.

"I'm sorry, Alexis. I'm sorry I haven't lived up to the promises I made to you. I'm sorry I haven't done more to help you get Kristina back. But that ends right now. Starting tomorrow we get down to business and figure this thing out. But, for now I want you to eat. We're just going to sit here and enjoy this little feast I've laid out and maybe we'll talk a little along the way. Let it go for now, Alexis. I don't feel right about asking you to trust me as I haven't really lived up to the promises I've made to you in the past, but on my honor that changes as of right now."

Cameron reached back and lifted her plate and lay it on her lap. Picking up a finger sandwich he offered it to her and waited.

He knew that in accepting the offering from him Alexis would also once again be putting her trust in him and his hand shook a bit at the responsibility he was taking on. He watched her study him for a moment and finally her hands slowly rose and wrapped around his to quiet his uncontrollable tremble. She then leaned forward and took a small bite of the sandwich he offered. With that one action from Alexis, Cameron knew that she was not only trusting him, but she was also putting her faith in him. Alexis was stepping out on what must seem a small fragile limb and he knew there was a wealth of fear running rampant inside of her at that moment. He prayed for the strength and wisdom to do whatever was necessary to give back to Alexis what she desired most in the world. Her daughter.