Chapter 10

"Alexis? Angel, it's time to get up. Come on sleepy head. You have an appointment to keep."

She was dreaming… Fingers floating across every inch of her… silky sensual fingers teasing her body… warm and tender… soft hands melting her skin… reaching in to soothingly caress her heart… Suddenly a shock of cool air chasing the warmth away… hands leaving the planes of her body… leaving her screaming her want… her need… 'No don't stop, don't go… please don't go… Cameron'.

"Alexis, I'm just a man. You can't touch me like that and not expect me to respond in a similar manner."

Her eyes slammed open to find herself staring at the wall on the opposite side of her bed. She lay there a moment trying to put the scattered pieces of her memory together and found herself facing a dilemma of sorts. The problem was she couldn't account for certain parts of her body. She was finding it hard in the groggy aftermath of sleep to determine just exactly why she seemed to missing a hand. However, she was well aware of what the deep resonant melodic voice in her ear was doing to her senses. As the effects of sleep continued to recede she became aware of the up and down movement of her arm and an intense heat racing toward her heart. Familiar heat… heat that could only be generated by one source. CAMERON! Her head whipped around to find him leaning over her and her errant hand hidden inside the top of his shirt following the rise and fall of his chest. Snatching her hand away from him she heard the distinctive sound of a button popping off his shirt and the blush that stole across her face could have melted the 'Titanic' iceberg on sight.

"Oh no… Cameron. I… I'm sorry. I didn't… it… it was a dream."

She continued to sputter apologies until the full realization hit her that she was in her bedroom, in bed, the sun pouring in the window boasting a new day… and Cameron was standing beside her.

"Where… How… You…"

"No, Alexis you slept in your bed all alone. I was quite the gentleman for your information. Much more so last night than this morning however, given what you just put me through. But, never fear my abilities to tame the beast in favor of the gentleman are legendary. You faded on me last night, so I finished up and then carried you to bed. No muss, no fuss. But, you fell asleep before I got the answer to my last question. I guess we are just going to have to repeat the whole process now."

He chuckled at her speechlessness. A mountain of emotions were having their way within her eyes as well as on her expressive face; and to know that she had been dreaming about him very nicely completed the whole experience for him.

"How do you feel?"

"Disoriented."

"That's to be expected given how far I had to pull you from wonderland."

"That's enough, Cameron. I am not responsible for dreams that could occur given how much you had your hands all over me last…"

The moment she realized what she was saying Cameron laughed outright at the adorably embarrassed beautiful creature shifting uneasily in front of him.

"You can leave anytime now, Cameron."

"Actually I can't. We have some business to take care of this morning and you have about an hour to prepare for your daughters arrival."

He didn't have time to move out of her way before he found his backside hitting the floor as she leaped out of bed pushing him aside racing toward the door. He lay there for a moment laughing as she changed courses and headed for the closet and halfway there changed her mind again to head back toward the doorway. Just as she changed her mind again he reached up and caught the hem of her pajama bottoms.

"If you don't stop you are going to find yourself minus a certain important piece of apparel, Alexis."

As she reached for the elastic band of her pajama bottoms she glared at him, "What in the hell are you doing? I don't have time for your antics this morning. My daughter is coming. Now let go."

Letting go of her pajamas he lunged for her hand as he rose from the floor preventing her from running again.

"Calm down, Alexis. I knew you needed to sleep as long as possible so I've taken care of everything that I could think of to make things easier this morning. All you have to do is take a quick shower and dress. I'll have a cup of coffee waiting for you when you come out. Everything is going to be just fine, so calm down angel."

Her fingers rose to press against her lips in an effort to contain her emotional gratitude. Stepping closer to her he placed his hands on either side of her face and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. Pulling back he winked at her.

"No thanks, necessary. I'd do it for any bum I came across on the streets. Now go. I have a few more things to take care of."

The smile she left him with paled the sunlight and he breathed deeply to settle the craving that gnawed at the pit of his stomach.

Half and hour later she joined him on the sofa to wait. He was glad they had a few minutes to talk before the court representative arrived and Ned followed with Kristina. Turning a little to face her he lay his arm on the back of the sofa and began to explain to her what was actually going to take place in a few minutes.

"While you were napping last night I placed a call to a couple of colleagues of mine at the hospital. They will both be arriving any minute now. However, only one of them will stay during the visit."

"What are you telling me, Cameron? What have you done?"

"Just leveled the playing field a little. You and I both know that Judge Farmer is in the Quartermaine's pocket. There is someone else who knows it as well."

At that moment there came a knock at the door and Cameron lay a calming hand on Alexis' shoulder as the sound startled her enough to cause her to jump. Reaching up he caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"I'm asking you to trust me, Alexis. Trust that right now my goal is the same as yours… to bring Kristina home."

"Alright, Cameron."

"Good, now stay put and let me answer the door."

She watched him walk to the door and just as he opened it she stood. It was the only thing she could do to calm the intense fear that was threatening to overtake her. She watched him step back and invite his colleagues in. The gentleman who entered her apartment was a total stranger to her, but she knew the woman. She was also very familiar with her son and Alexis froze. The woman approaching her held her hand out in greeting, but Alexis was so stunned that her usually impeccable manners abandoned her. She stood motionless staring… wondering… dreading… hoping… praying that Cameron knew what he was doing.

"Good Morning, Alexis. I'm not sure if we've ever had an opportunity to be formally introduced, but if not my name is Gail Baldwin and I'm here to help you obtain custody of your daughter."

"You… you're… how do you know? Your son will never allow…"

"My son can be an arrogant pompous ass… and absolutely wrong on occasion."

"I'm a little confused about what is going on here. My friend over there has not seen fit to enlighten me regarding his plans for this morning."

"It's very simple, Alexis. I'll take over with the explanation, but first you and I need to find somewhere to wait until after your daughter arrives."

"We can wait in my bedroom."

She looked toward Cameron and found his steady eyes on her. He walked closer and placed his hands on her arms as she whispered.

"Do you know what's going on inside me right now?"

"Yes and I'm sorry I didn't prepare you more, but Gail will tell you what is going on and I think once you know everything all those little doubts and fears you have running rampant inside you will take a hike somewhere."

"I honestly hope you're right, because right now if my daughter were in my arms sensing what is going on inside me right now, I'd have to make short work of you buddy."

He laughed gently and leaned forward enough to place a kiss on her forehead.

"Now go on. I don't want to take any chances on Ned seeing the two of you."

Cameron watched the women leave the room and then offered his not so professional friend a seat on the sofa where they sat down to wait for Ned to show up with the prize.

Arriving in the bedroom, Alexis found that Cameron had made her bed for her and she smiled before turning to offer Gail the only chair in the room. She took a deep breath and gave her full attention to the woman who was looking at her with compassion as she began to speak.

"The gentleman I arrived with is not the court representative, I am. The only reason he is here is to make sure that Ned does not get suspicious about what is really going on today. Once Ned leaves he will leave as well and return just before Ned arrives back to pick up Kristina."

"I have to admit… I'm a little anxious about all of this."

"With good reason. So let's just get right down to business and ease your mind a bit. Cameron called me last night to ask me who would likely be called to appear here this morning if the Judge requesting the service were Judge Farmer. Given my past dealings with that particular Judge I shared a bit with Cameron and the more we talked the more I decided to step in and take the call myself. After the last run-in I had with her I petitioned the court to be put on the list of representatives used in cases such as this. The only time I step in is when Farmer looks like she's on the take again. So Lee and I went to the courthouse this morning and did a little switching around and here I am. You see there is a little nickname that our friend Farmer has acquired in the back rooms of the courthouse. She's known as the 'bartering' Judge… meaning she's up for sale to the highest bidder and sadly so is my son it seems. If Scott starts meddling, Lee will step in and deal with him. So… what we are going to do today is sit back and let a mother have some time with her daughter without the prying eyes of anyone who wishes to come between them. How does that sound?"

"You're just going to leave me with my daughter… alone?"

"I trust Cameron to know what is best for both mother and daughter given his personal interest in the case. I trust his opinion of you. And I also have a few things to discuss with him regarding your case. So he and I are going to sit in the dining room while you spend some quality time with your daughter."

Alexis couldn't believe it… her heart was pounding… and her ears were ringing. 'My daughter… with me… just the two of us. Her head bent down to hide the tears of happiness and she felt Gail's hand fall on hers.

"Alexis, I know all about your case. Everything. You've made mistakes… but you've never compromised your love for your daughter. Your only concern has been for her safety and you've done everything you can do to that end. There is nothing more you can do without jeopardizing your case. Your hands are tied; mine aren't. Let me do my job."

"I… I don't know what to say."

"For starters you can say good morning to your daughter."

She turned instantly at the sound of his voice in the doorway and there she was. Her beautiful baby girl. Rising slowly she blinked a couple of times to make sure she was actually seeing her daughter in his arms. She took the few steps that brought her within reach and arms that were too often empty of life were suddenly filled and her heart began the age-old rhythm that only a mother is blessed with. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She breathed in the essence of her first born and her soul laid down its sword and rested.