Chapter 23
Alexis started toward the door when she felt Cameron's hand on her arm stopping her.
"Alexis, let me handle this. We don't know when we're going to be called to the courthouse and I don't think it's a good idea for you to meet the judge after having had it out with Ashton. Please, let me deal with him now and you can have him later if you still think it's necessary."
Knowing he was right, Alexis nodded once.
"I'll stay out of it as much as I can, but if he goes too far Cameron, don't get in my way. After all, it is my daughter we're fighting for."
"I understand, angel. And I'll support your decision all the way."
She reached up and touched his cheek softly with a hint of teasing in her eye.
"I don't know how I got so lucky with you. Just think, I have my own built in support system right in the middle of my living room." As she walked toward her bedroom he heard her mumble in disbelief as she shook her head back and forth, "Imagine that."
He chuckled and waited until she was out of the room before going to open the door. As he opened it, he had to step back quickly to keep the door from slamming into him. Settling an amused expression on his face he leaned back against the closed door and taunted Ned.
"Looking for someone, Ashton?"
"Where's Alexis?"
"She's currently unavailable."
"She damn well better be available to me if she ever wants to see her daughter again."
Cameron ignored the threat and hoped Alexis would do the same instinctively knowing she was only out of eyesight, but well within range to hear everything that was said. Straightening and moving closer to Ned, he gazed at the man with condescension.
"Such the spoiled little rich kid. What's wrong. Ned? Afraid your upright, above reproach family won't hold up to the scrutiny of a judge who can't be bought? You know you amaze me, Ned. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were prone to indulge in self-martyring delusional fantasies. As it is, I think you've just chosen to disregard the fact that you've virtually stolen a child from her mother just to satisfy your own warped ideas of what's morally right and wrong; or maybe you've just decided to use the child to avenge yourself for the losses you think you've suffered at the hands of the mother. You've had any number of opportunities to aide Alexis in spending more time with her daughter, but instead you keep allowing all sorts of barriers to be placed between them by anyone who has a grudge against Alexis."
"I've done nothing except protect my daughter from her psycho mother."
"You're daughter, Ned? Not a good idea to use that one on me. It's lost all credibility among those who actually know the truth."
"So, she told you."
"Yes, but it would only have been a matter of time before you let the cat out of the bag yourself."
"I would never discuss my child's paternity with you."
"And why would you since I have never met your daughter. But, your actions regarding Alexis and her daughter speak volumes. And if you don't mind, I have a question for you. When did you decide to ignore what you know of Alexis to begin this little campaign to destroy her?"
"What the hell are you talking about? I've always cared about Alexis. She knows that."
"She knows nothing of the kind, Ned. Let's take a look at just a small part of what you've actually accomplished over the last year to debilitate a woman you professed to care about. For starters… considering the history you have with Alexis, you choose to believe without question, that she would murder someone under the guise of an alternate personality proving that you've never had a clue who she was to begin with. You made no effort whatsoever to support her when you thought she was mentally incapacitated. You've threatened and bullied her to force her to yield to your machinations. You've ignored her requests about the care of her child, forcing her to take drastic measures just to catch brief glimpses of the one person in her life that has truly belonged to her. You put yourself into a precarious situation, which allowed your family to strip you of custody of the child… a child that she placed into your arms trusting you to do right by her. You allow a woman with a definite personal agenda to influence your decisions regarding the child at the express request of the mother to keep the child away from said woman. At every turn you have proven to this child's mother that you care nothing about her or her concerns regarding a child that has never belonged to you."
"You don't have the right to discuss Alexis with me, Lewis. You've proven yourself to be just as irresponsible as she has."
As Ned attempted to bypass him on his way to find Alexis, Cameron stepped in front of him.
"Ned, to get to Alexis, you will have to go through me and I'm not finished with you by any stretch of the imagination. Take one more step outside of this living room I will stop you by any means necessary."
"You're threatening me?"
"I'll do whatever it takes to protect Alexis. Given what I've heard regarding your history with her, it amazes me that you don't share the same feeling. What did she do that was so appalling that would cause you to turn on her so completely?"
"I'm just trying to protect my daughter…"
"Again with your daughter, Ned?"
Both men turned hearing her cold measured voice at the door leading to her bedroom.
"Why don't we settle this once and for all. Kristina is my daughter and her father is Sonny Corinthos… a fact that you seem incapable of grasping. Why is that, Ned? It's just you, me and Cameron now… Why don't you explain to me why you have such difficulty in understanding the concept that my daughter has never belonged to you? You thrust yourself into a situation that was none of your business, and I have done nothing but pay the price for it ever since. Granted I went along with you because it seemed the only way out at the time, but ever since then you have forced yourself on me in ways that have abused, manipulated, played upon and just about destroyed our friendship. Why Ned?"
"What the HELL are you talking about? I've done nothing but try to clean up the mess you made when you decided to jump into bed with that criminal."
A red haze of anger infused Alexis causing her blood pressure to rise dramatically. Taking a step closer to him, her voice grew colder and sharper, slicing the air with every word she spoke.
"You never could resist dictating to me how I should live my life and with whom I should call friend. You pushed your way into every aspect of my life and made it impossible for us to maintain any kind of a normal relationship. So thank you, Ned. Thank you so very much for saving butting into my business and claiming my daughter as your own. You might find it interesting to know that I have nothing but regret at having allowed you anywhere near me since this whole farce began. For years I have sat back and allowed you to spew your self-indulgent views on me… well I'm done. You did yourself proud this time. It has been such a rewarding experience working with you on this recent endeavor. Who else could I have worked so closely with and obtained such stunning results? I mean what does it really matter that the only person who ever truly belonged to me was stripped from me at birth and has yet to spend one night in her own bed with her own mother. In fact, I think that's what happens to be causing you the most problem. I am Kristina's mother. It is my right to decide what is allowed where she is concerned and that is just something you're not comfortable with on any level. You couldn't hang on to your 5 or is it 6 wives, your own daughter is outside your realm of influence, you couldn't hang on to me or my sister and now that you seem to be losing control of the situation where my daughter is concerned you think you have the right to force yourself into my home as though you are entitled to be here. You're afraid of losing your hold on my daughter and you can't handle it so you come here. What? To make Alexis suffer a little more. Is that it, Ned? Is that why you've barged into my home unwanted and uninvited. What absolute audacity you show in coming here and throwing your weight around as if you owned me. Did you ever really know me at all Ned, or were you just lonely and wanted to play house for a while with someone?"
She had him and she knew it. It didn't take much for Ned to know when he was bested, and to find himself being put in his place by Alexis… he crumbled reverting back to his safe little world of threat and innuendo.
"You're not going to get away with this, Alexis. I lost everything when I claimed your daughter to keep her safe from Corinthos. Everything!"
"Who asked you to, Ned? I am not and never have been a gate you had to keep. I trusted you to take care of my daughter. But, you are so tied to that dysfunctional group of misfits you call a family, that my daughter has become a bargaining chip, a prize of sorts between all of you. She deserves better than that. She deserves better than what you've been able to vicariously provide for her. And here's a rhetorical question for you. Just how safe has my daughter been since she's been with you?"
She turned and started to leave the room and stopped looking back with contempt at the man who once held her heart.
"Not because it will make any difference or change my views in any way, I actually don't care to hear your answer, but maybe you should consider another question before your head hits the pillow tonight, Ned Ashton. How does one lose their way to such an extent that he goes from someone like my beautiful sister to the likes of that filth you've hooked up with?"
"Skye loves Kristina. Whatever she has done, she's done it to protect Kristina."
Alexis glanced at Cameron and nodded toward Ned.
"Cameron, I believe Ned was just leaving?"
He couldn't help the smile that crossed his face as he started toward Ned.
"I'' be happy to escort Mr. Ashton out."
"I mean it Alexis. You won't get away with this."
She smiled indulgently as she hopefully delivered a last parting shot.
"Once the dust settles Ned, maybe I'll call you and we can set up a visitation schedule for you to visit my daughter… but, then again… maybe not."
"We'll see what Sonny boy has to say about all this, Alexis. How do you feel about that?"
Cameron took hold of Ned's arm and ducked quickly to avoid the fist headed toward his jaw. Twisting expertly he shoved Ned against the door holding his arm painfully behind his back. Lifting up an inch more he received the yelp of pain he was looking for.
"Don't go threatening to take an action that you're not prepared to follow through with. There will be consequences not only to you but to your family as well. If you haven't noticed Ned, we're prepared this time and as I said before, I will take whatever action I have to in order for Alexis to bring Kristina home and away from that fright house you call a home. I would advise you not to risk the welfare of Edward or Lila. I won't hesitate to take Edward down with the information I have and you know what that will do to your grandmother. Keep pushing Ned, and I'll see that your family suffers as much as you've made Alexis suffer."
Cameron caught sight of Alexis moving toward him out of the corner of his eye. Refusing to let go of Ned for fear of him causing any more damage, he waited to see what she wanted.
Alexis drew to a standstill close enough for Ned whose head was being held tightly against the door, to see her face. Her voice carried a harder, colder, more menacing tone.
"You threaten the safety of a child you profess to care about just because things are not going your way, Ned? Do you not see why it is so vital for my daughter to be removed from your care? As you once said to me, I don't care how you feel anymore. I will do whatever it takes to cut you out of my daughter's life. And lest you have become so full of yourself to remember a very important piece of information… I was always a Cassadine first. Be careful, Ned. Be very careful."
At his silence, she looked at Cameron and nodded once letting him know she was through with the whole mess.
Cameron pulled him roughly away from the door opened it then shoved Ned into the hall slamming the door after him.
"There you go, angel. Trash all taken care of. Now I need to make a quick call."
Turning toward her desk he picked up the phone and raced through the numbers as she stepped up beside him knowing exactly what he was doing. It was what she would do had he not been there.
"Gail, Cameron here. Is there anything you can do to prevent Ned from taking off with Kristina before all of this is resolved?"
"Can you get it done pretty quick… like within the next half hour?"
"Yeah, he just left here and the boy is not happy. I wouldn't put it past him to try and take off."
Alexis stepped closer and wrapped her arm around Cameron's waist while he finished the call. She lay her head against his shoulder and as his arm fell to rest across her shoulders he pulled her closer and continued his conversation with Gail.
"I would imagine Scott has been running his mouth. It's the only way I know of that Ashton could have known what we were up to so soon… that is unless you have any ideas…. Your right, she could very well have been the culprit. If that's the case… can it work to our advantage?"
He let his hand slide to the middle of Alexis' back as he concentrated on his conversation with Gail, and idly moved his hand up and down her back in a gesture of support and comfort in case she was getting worried or impatient. His next thought caused him to look down at her for a moment before taking the plunge into an area he knew he should probably steer clear of considering the highly disciplined control oriented woman standing beside him.
"Gail, if I yell in the next minute or two just ignore it, but I have a question that may not sit too well with the object of your latest case…. I doubt that very seriously. She tends to frown on people sticking their nose into her business, but I'm going to stick my neck out here and hope for the best. Is there a way for a new DNA test to be done proving that Ned has no rights where the child is concerned and have those results sealed as a way of taking him completely out of the picture? We need a way of deterring him from further attempts to threaten Alexis with information that could cause damage to both mother and daughter."
Alexis moved away from him and settled herself on the sofa refusing to look at him. He couldn't tell if she was angry or not by the mask she settled firmly in place. Gail's response took the wind from his lungs.
"She did?" Cameron cut his eyes toward Alexis. "No, she didn't impart that bit of news to me. Was Lee successful? Yeah, I'll let her know. Thanks Gail and we'll wait for your call. Bye."
He looked up from cradling the phone just in time to see her hide a smile behind her hand.
"You called Gail yesterday afternoon, Alexis?"
"Yes. I thought it was high time I began to take care of a few things myself… you know, start acting like a mother with rights who is capable of making intelligent decisions. After I talked with Gail I spoke to Lee. I find it quite ironic that Scott's parents are helping me get my daughter back. Quite ironic! Was he able to get the order signed?"
"Yes, he filed it just a few minutes ago and a copy of it and the penalties surrounding the disclosure of certain information is currently on its way to Mr. Ned Ashton. It should reach the mansion just about the time he does, as well as a court order keeping him from leaving town with a certain bright-eyed beauty you seem to be quite taken with."
Taking a seat beside her he reached out and tweaked her nose causing her to laugh gently.
"It seems that old adage 'great minds think alike' actually does have some merit after all."
"It would seem so."
*******************
Twenty-four hours later, Alexis found herself standing in front of Cameron's office door about to knock when it suddenly opened causing her to step back. The question on his face caused her to grin sheepishly.
"I've never been any good at waiting when it comes to my daughter."
He leaned against the doorjamb and returned her smile.
"Now there's something I never would have imagined you to willingly confess."
Reaching for her, he took her hand into his own and guided her into his office closing the door behind them. Motioning toward the couch he followed her and sat down beside her.
"It's getting to you, isn't it Alexis?"
"Yeah. I keep waiting for something bad to happen. You know, Ned leaving town with Kristina, Judge Marks siding with Ned, all my hopes flying out the window. You get the picture."
"Yes, I get the picture. But, as it happens, I was just on my way to see you."
"You were?"
"Yes. I thought you might like to take a ride with me down to the courthouse."
His heart jumped at the expectation on her face and then clutched at the hint of fear that leapt into her eyes. She was so afraid to let go and allow hope to have its way.
"The court… Is it… Did he…"
Cameron moved closer and put his arm around Alexis and took hold of her hand with his other.
"Yes… The courthouse. Yes… it's time. And yes… Marks wants to see us. Are you ready, Alexis? Got all your 'i's' dotted; 't's' crossed?"
She began to tremble underneath his arm and he pulled her closer wrapping her within the comfort of his arms.
"It's okay, Alexis. This is just the next step. This just means we are one step closer to bringing Kristina home."
"I'm so scared, Cameron. What if it doesn't… I mean what if he… I can't even say it."
"You don't need to say it, angel because it doesn't matter. All you have to do is tell the truth and don't leave out any of the details no matter how damning they may sound to you. Just be yourself and tell him the truth. If he can see what I see, then we'll walk away with the jackpot. Just give him the real Alexis Davis, mother… woman… attorney at law. Just let him see the you that I see."
"And if that's not enough?"
"It will be, sweetness. You are more than enough for any man under any circumstance. And since I'm speaking from experience you have no choice but to believe me. Now, put on some of that determination and courage and let's go take that next step together."