Chapter 27
Cameron gazed down at Alexis lying on her bed. He reached down to pull the bedspread over her feet and turned to go back to the living room when something caught his eye. She was holding something in her hand. Looking he shook his head with sadness at the phone he saw clutched to her breast. Leaving her with whatever comfort she could hold onto he turned and made his way back to the living room. It had been a difficult task to get her to lie down for a while and try to rest. She was so worried that she would miss the call from the judge. His promise to stay awake and next to the phone on her desk was the only way he finally coaxed her to lay down for a while.
He jumped at the sound of a knock on the door. Fearing another knock might waken Alexis he raced to open it and stopped dead in his tracks at the sight before him. Speechless he stepped aside as Gail Baldwin stepped through the door carrying the most beautiful child he had seen in a long time. Finally finding his voice he questioned her.
"What happened?"
"Well Cameron, it's all over and I think this beautiful little girl would like to see her mommy."
Placing the baby carrier down in the center of the desk, Gail turned and looked around the room.
"Where's Alexis?"
"She's taking a nap. It's been pretty rough on her."
"I can't even imagine what she's been through. But, there are a couple of things I need to go over with her while I'm here."
Standing beside Kristina, he eyed Gail a moment, then nodded reluctantly, wary of what she was bringing in on top of Alexis along with her baby girl.
"Nothing happens until I get this little girl into her mother's arms. If you would care to wait a few minutes… there is coffee in the kitchen. Help yourself."
Cameron reached down and gently picked up Kristina cradling her to his chest then turned and walked out of the room. He carried her as if she were the most precious baby in the world and grinned with the knowledge that he'd swear to it if anyone had the temerity to question him. Entering Alexis' bedroom he knelt beside the bed and removed the phone from her hand. She wouldn't be needing it after all. When she began to stir he whispered.
"Alexis…"
Gently placing Kristina on the bed beside her he took hold of the hand that previously held the phone and placed it around her daughter.
"Alexis angel, wake up. There's someone here who wants to see you."
Her eyes fluttered open and met his gaze with groggy curiosity. She frowned with confusion as the fragrance of a baby reached her senses and suddenly felt a movement beneath her hand. Looking down her eyes widened at the sight of her baby girl lying next to her. A look of panic suddenly filled her eyes as she looked up at him.
"Am I dreaming?"
"No sweetheart, this time you're not dreaming. Little Kristina is finally home."
Alexis sat up bringing the child to her breast and wrapped her arms around the bundle as tears of happiness coursed down her cheeks. Words could not express the joy that raced through her. Her arms were filled once again with the purest love known to every mother; and her smile was radiant enough to light every corner of the world. He stood up kissed the top of her head then leaned down to kiss Kristina's.
"I'm going to leave you girls to enjoy your reunion together for a while."
She looked up as he stepped back.
"Don't leave, Cameron."
He reached out and traced his finger down her cheek.
"Like I said, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I'm just leaving you two alone to spend some time together."
Her eyes were drawn back to her child before he ever left the room. It was as it should be. Mother reunited with child… the world was once again balanced. Just as he left the room he heard her whisper…
"Hello, my angel. You're home, baby girl. You're finally home and no one is ever going to take you away from me again."
He found Gail waiting patiently on the sofa with a cup of coffee and joined her leaning back against the cushions with a sigh of relief.
"Sounds like you've had a rough day, Cameron."
"A rough day, night, week, month. But, we're good now. Kristina's home. Care to tell me how you did it. I thought Judge Marks was supposed to call."
Gail leaned back and took a sip of coffee with a smile of ironic pleasure.
"Actually, Kristina finally coming home is all due to the actions of Ned Ashton."
"Ashton? When he left here yesterday he was not in a very giving mood."
"Nor was he very smart when the judge called him in this morning."
Cameron was trying not to become agitated with Gail for her cryptic responses.
"OK Gail, just tell me what happened. Please don't make me pull it from you piece by piece."
She laughed gently and reached over to squeeze his upper arm companionably.
"Alright Cameron, I apologize for being less than direct. I received a call from the judge around eight last night and he informed me that he would be calling Ned in first thing this morning to talk to him just as he did Alexis and he asked that I join them. It seems Judge Marks was having a bit of trouble coming to terms with some of the actions the Quartermaine's have indulged in since the birth of the child. Ned arrived this morning with Kristina. He also had Skye tagging along behind him."
"You're kidding me, Gail. Surely he wouldn't be so ignorant."
"Yes, he would."
Cameron stood quickly turning to find Alexis walking into the room cradling Kristina with a smile that Cameron couldn't ever remember seeing on her face and eyes so clear and dazzling it left him breathless. She was filled with contentment and pure joy. His heart leaped toward her and hands that wanted to hold her found themselves instead holding tight to the inner lining of his pockets.
"I thought you'd be sitting in a rocker by now, rocking Angel, Jr. to sleep."
Chuckling she looked up at him with stars in her eyes and winked.
"Oh we'll get there, but I happened to hear you talking to someone and I wanted to know who I owed my devotion to for the rest of my life."
She turned to Gail and sat down beside her.
"Is it my understanding that you brought my daughter home?"
Gail reached over and lifted the fingers of Kristina's little hand letting them curl around her own.
"I couldn't resist, this little girl just wouldn't be satisfied until she was in her mother's arms again."
Alexis reached for Gail pulling her into a hug careful to keep her daughter from getting pinched between them.
"Thank you, Gail. It doesn't seem enough. With a library of words at my disposal, I'm only left with two. How can I ever thank you?"
Leaning back Gail smiled.
"Oh you'll get your chance, but first let me finish the story. You're right, Alexis. Ned was ignorant enough to bring Skye with him this morning."
Alexis interrupted.
"Or maybe his ego reached such epic proportions that he figured he was safe in whatever he chose to do?"
"I believe that would definitely be a more appropriate description of the man that walked into the judge's chambers this morning. I was informed last night that Judge Marks had already made his decision regarding custody. But, he wanted to ask Ned a few questions just to make sure he made the right decision."
Alexis stared at Gail in shock.
"He made his decision last night?"
"Actually his decision was made within 5 minutes of our leaving his chambers yesterday afternoon. With you being willing to be as honest as you were, your obvious passion toward doing anything to protect your child and seeing how much you would sacrifice for the child made quite an impression on him. And then there was the impression Cameron made on him."
"Cameron?" Alexis questioned with awe.
Her eyes met his as they both tried to make sense of it. His blood seemed to stop at the mention of his name.
"What did I do?"
"It seems that Judge Marks was also quite impressed with how you continued to stand by Alexis through the days, months and questionable antics of a desperate woman."
All three laughed nodding their heads in total agreement then Gail continued.
"When Skye walked in and plopped herself down in the chair across from Judge Marks he asked her who she was and what part did she play in the custody issue. Ned began to speak for her and the judge shut him up."
**Scene in Judge Marks Chambers Earlier**
"Mr. Ashton, I believe my question was directed at your companion. Please do not presume to think you are in charge of this session. My court, my office, my rules… now sit down and stay quiet until I ask you a direct question. Now, by all accounts of the reports I have read, I believe you would be Skye Quartermaine; am I correct?"
"Well yes, you are absolutely correct."
"So answer my question. Why are you here and what do you have to do with this custody hearing?"
Batting her eyes in an attempt to be provocative, Skye leaned toward the judge allowing her blouse to shift enough to give the judge a show.
"Well, I'm here to support my friend and take care of this precious little girl while you two talk."
"Miss Quartermaine, I will ask you once to sit back and hide yourself. I am not impressed with your obvious attempt to display your assets nor does it help your 'friend' for you to boldly walk in here as if you were the Queen of England or something. You have no business in my office this morning and as I didn't ask for your presence, I'll politely ask you to leave."
Ned stood indignantly and before he could open his mouth…
"Mr. Ashton, why you would presume to bring your 'friend' to this meeting gives credence to my already questionable belief regarding your moral ethics. Don't upset me any further."
Ned sat back down and lifted the baby carrier from the floor and handed it to Skye.
"Take her outside until I'm finished here, please."
"The baby stays, Mr. Ashton."
"Your honor, I don't think it's a good idea to subject my daughter to these proceedings."
Judge Marks looked directly at Skye without answering Ned.
"Miss Quartermaine, why are you still here?"
The judge waited impatiently until the door closed behind an obviously irritated Skye, then turned his attention to Ned.
"For the record, Mr. Ashton. I am fully aware of who the father of this child is, so now that we have established your complete lack of rights to this child let's get down to the business of discussing why you believe you should retain custody of her."
"I offered Alexis an opportunity to save herself and her daughter from the dangerous world of a criminal. She took it and allowed me to claim Kristina as my daughter."
"So, you take advantage of a woman who is totally distraught and lay claim to a child that is fathered by a man you despise."
"THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED."
"Mr. Ashton, you will not raise your voice to me again… is that clear?"
"So, I'm supposed to just sit here while you take the word of a deranged woman and take my daughter away from me?"
"Absolutely not. All you are required to do is sit there and answer the questions I pose to you without falsifying your statements. Now, explain to me how you lost custody of this child to Edward Quartermaine."
"Judge Farmer decided that my actions on the night in question were not conducive to the safety of my child. When in fact, I did nothing to endanger my daughter. A fire started in my gatehouse, but my daughter was not in the house. There was never any danger to my daughter."
Marks lifted a few of the pages in the file in front of him perusing a few documents then looked back at Ned.
"So, Edward Quartermaine, Alan Quartermaine and Alan Quartermaine, Jr decided to set you up. They stage a scene on the docks with…", he lifted the page again and peered closer hiding the hint of a smile, "a woman by the name of Faith Roscoe… who I believe is heavily involved in the mob while your gatehouse burns all in an effort to perpetrate a fraud against the legal system."
Ned shifted uncomfortably as his arrogance began to slowly slip away as the judge continued.
"Then the child is kidnapped right out from under your nose by…" lifting the pages of the file again he grinned wider, "ah yes, here it is. By Skye Quartermaine and Alan Quartermaine, Jr. in an attempt to gain favor with Edward Quartermaine."
"THAT'S NOT TRUE… I'm sorry, your honor. Alexis kidnapped my daughter and holed up in Cameron Lewis' cabin for days while I worried myself sick."
"Hmmmm… is that right? You mean Alexis, the mother of the child in question, tracked down who stole the child with help from a couple of friends then rewarded herself by spending a few hours with the child before attempting to return her."
"She ran again."
"Why?"
"Because she heard grandfather threatening to take Kristina away from her perm…" Ned realized too late what his answer sounded like and in an effort to undo the damage dug himself a deeper grave. "I don't have any control over what my grandfather says."
Marks smiled.
"I see."
Ned knew his attempts to protect his family were seriously threatening his bid for sole custody of Kristina so he changed tactics.
"Look, I may not be the most honorable or ethical man that ever lived, but I didn't cross the boundaries of a court order and I've never killed anyone in cold blood. Can Alexis say the same thing?"
"Is that what she did? I thought it was self-defense."
"That's what she says."
"And you don't agree?"
"How would I know… I wasn't there."
Thumbing through the pages of the file, Marks swiveled around in his chair so Ned couldn't see his face. He was having fun and it wouldn't be ethical to laugh outright as the man across from him squirmed around like he was sitting on a hot poker.
"Hmmm… maybe I should take another look at this. Tell me, how long have you known Miss Davis?"
"A few years."
"Have you ever known her to lose her temper and become violent?"
"That doesn't mean she's incapable of doing it. She's a Cassadine."
Judge Marks closed the file turned back around and leaned forward resting his crossed arms on his desk. He was through… he had heard enough.
"Are you so desperate to hold onto a child that doesn't belong to you that you would deliberately malign the name of a decent respectable woman… and one you thought enough of at one time to marry?"
Ned's eyes narrowed as he stared at the judge.
"Your mind was made up before I ever walked in here, wasn't it?"
"Actually it was. I just needed your help to make sure I had made the right decision. You might could have changed it though if you had walked in here with nothing but the purest of intentions regarding the child. But, you've not once offered me any insight as to how you feel about the child, what you could offer her to make her life easier or what you would do to protect her from the insaneness of the household you live in. You have not paid one moments attention to that child since you walked into my office. All you've done is consistently try to disparage the child's mother at every turn and mangle the truths and facts of the events surrounding this case. And to have the audacity to bring Miss Quartermaine with you… Mr. Ashton, you just single-handedly threw away your chance to regain custody of the child."
Judge Marks turned his focus to Gail Baldwin who sat quietly in the corner of the office witnessing the entire session.
"Dr. Baldwin, will you take custody of the child until we can deliver her to her mother."
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS."
"Mr. Ashton, take your seat. I'm not finished with you yet."
When Ned hesitated…
"NOW"
The booming voice forced Ned back into his chair fixing a resentful stare on the judge. At Kristina's cry of fright he reached for her and found Gail had already taken her out of his reach. He turned back to the judge with hate filling his eyes as the man began to speak again.
"Now, for the rest of this mess. I have here a copy of the medical records of the child's parents as well as the child's birth certificate. These files will be shredded and new ones will be created to correctly reflect the owner of the father's medical history. As for the birth certificate, your name will not remain, but instead be replaced with 'Not Available'. If at any time you threaten the peace of either Miss Alexis Davis or her daughter, Kristina Davis with information that you are privy to, you will be taken into custody and jailed. In addition to your indictment, Edward, Alan and Alan Quartermaine, Jr. will be arrested as well for their part in the fraud perpetrated against the court. Furthermore, a restraining order has been filed on behalf of Miss Davis to keep you from pulling another stunt like you did yesterday. If the time comes that she wishes to rescind that order… so be it. But, it will remain at her discretion."
"You can't take my daughter from me, Judge Marks. She's all I have."
Judge Marks looked sadly at Ned.
"I sincerely hope your real daughter never has the occasion to hear those words come out of your mouth. Go home, Mr. Ashton. Go home and take stock of your life. Try building one that you can be proud of… that your own daughter can someday be proud of. It's not too late for you to redeem the man you were intended to be."
As Ned turned and slowly walked out the office, Judge Marks overheard Skye's screech.
"Where's Kristina? You didn't let them take her from me, did you?"
"Shut up, Skye."
"YOU DID. You let them take her. Don't tell me that bitch is going to get my princess back?'
"THAT'S ENOUGH. SHUT UP AND GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME."
Judge Marks grinned and dusted his hands off then chuckled.
"Now for my dessert regarding this whole mess."
**Back At Alexis' Apartment**
"So Ned threw away his chance to keep Kristina?"
"Lock, stock and barrel."
Alexis sat back rocking her daughter with a sad smile on her face. Cameron feared she was relenting where Ashton was concerned.
"What are you thinking, Alexis?"
"Just that he missed his chance to be part of something that could have forever changed his life. We could have worked it out if he hadn't been so weak where his family was concerned or so adamantly opposed to allowing me a mother's rights regarding my daughter."
Gail chuckled beside her.
"Men should know better than to try and get between a mother and her child. Right, Dr. Lewis?"
"Absolutely."
The three grownups laughed and Alexis laughed harder at the sound of her daughter's attempt to join in the fun. A determined knock at the door quieted them all except Gail. Laying her hand on Alexis' shoulder and motioning Cameron to stay where he was she stood.
"I'll get that. I'm expecting someone to join me here."
Walking to the door she cracked it open and peeked out then grinned opening it wide enough to allow Judge Marks to enter.
Alexis fumbled trying to hang onto her daughter and stand at the same time and Cameron understanding her dilemma reached to help her up and they faced the judge together.
"Miss Davis, Dr. Lewis. I see we are in the midst of a family reunion."
Alexis walked toward him shifting Kristina to her shoulder a smile lighting her face at the opportunity to thank him for his ruling.
"I don't know how to thank you, Judge Marks. You've given me my heart back and I can't tell you how much it means to me."
"Well, you might want to rethink that once I've had my say, Miss Davis. Please return to your seat. We need to talk. Dr. Baldwin, you will act as witness to this gathering… and if you will tend to the child while we settle the rest of this. Dr. Lewis if you would pull a chair in for me from the dining area, I would appreciate it."
Cameron retrieved a dining room chair and placed it facing the sofa then sat down beside Alexis wrapping his arm around her to hopefully still the edginess they were both feeling. He looked at her to find her eyes on him, questioning him as though he knew what was going on. He shrugged and turned back to the judge pulling her closer to him.
"Now, Miss Davis. I understand that you have suffered a great deal with the loss of your daughter, but that does not make up for the laws that you have broken on behalf of your daughter. So, we are going to settle up now for those indiscretions."
Pulling a thick envelope from his coat he opened it and pulled out several documents and handed the top one to her.
"First, your license to practice law has been reinstated."
He handed her another document.
"Second, there is a restraining order in place to keep Ned Ashton from coming within 100 feet of you or your daughter. That is your order to rescind when you feel it appropriate."
He handed her another document.
"Third, as punishment for your illegal activities your practice will be restricted to the cares and concerns of children for the next 5 years. You will use your considerable legal acumen in the defense of the rights of children rather than criminal justice."
The last document he handed to Cameron.
"And you don't get off scott free either, Dr. Lewis. Your practice for the next five years will also be restricted to the cares and concerns of children."
Cameron looked back at Alexis who was staring at the documents in her hand. She looked up and stammered.
"I… I… I don't know… I'm not very familiar with…"
"Miss Davis, you have one month to bone up on family and custodial law. And I fully expect you to put forth as much loyalty and dedication toward the care of our children as you did the rights of our local 'bad boy'. With that said, you and I will never again mention his name or make reference to him in any way. He is irrelevant to our association now. Gail and I have done our best to stop whatever abuse we have come across since I took over family court. It hasn't been enough. We need help. Our children are suffering at the hands of parents who cater to their own interests regardless of the needs of the child. It has to stop. Miss Davis, your dedication to the cause of your daughter has impressed me very much. I want that same dedication directed toward our children who are abused, neglected and sometimes die at the hands of people too stupid to realize that they are the future and should be treated as such. So, I have you both for the next five years."
Standing he grabbed the lapels of his coat and leaned back with an air of judicial superiority.
"Do either of you have anything to say before I take my leave?"
Alexis stood up firmly and took one step toward him crossing her arms in front of her.
"I'll give you the best I've got for five years and I'll add another five to it if you'll give me the next six months to spend with my daughter before beginning my service to your court. That six months would of course include the time I need to acquaint myself with family law."
Judge Marks laughed in spite of himself and reached to shake hands with her.
"Miss Davis, it is going to be a delight working with you. Take your six months and I'll accept the addition of two and a half more years on top of the five."
Turning to Cameron he continued.
"She's a real pistol, isn't she?"
"You have no idea, Your Honor. No idea."
"Well, good luck to the both of you and I'll see you soon."
He walked to the door then turned to approach Gail who was holding Kristina. He lay a soft kiss on the top of the child's head.
"You're a lucky little lady, Kristina."
He turned and walked out leaving 2 jaws hanging wide open and a smile on the face of a child who gurgled happily.
Gail walked toward Alexis and placed Kristina back in her arms then reached for her purse.
"I apologize for not warning you sooner, but he requested I keep silent. He's been angling for the family court seat ever since a child lost his life due to his son drinking and driving one night about 5 years ago. You probably remember reading about it in the paper."
Alexis looked at Gail as it finally dawned on her what she was witnessing in the courtroom in the past where Marks was concerned.
"That's why he was so tough. His son spent a few years in prison because of that incident. I never put it together until just now. Marks must have been devastated."
"Things didn't start improving for him until he took over family court. He's doing something to make up for his son's indiscretion and at the same time he's been learning at lot about the precarious position our children are in now."
Gail took a step closer to Alexis and became even more serious.
"We need your help, Alexis. For every child we manage to save, there are 50 more out there that need saving. It's time someone stood up and said enough. That's what the judge and I are doing."
Alexis leaned forward and hugged Gail.
"Well, you just give me a little time with my daughter and then we'll get busy. I've learned quite a bit over the last several months about children and desperate parents. You'll have the best that I can give you and then some."
"Thank you, Alexis. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to working with you. Now you three enjoy your evening and I'm going to get out of your way."
Alexis and Cameron followed her to the door. Cameron was the first to speak.
"Well it looks like you and I are going to be working closer than ever, Gail. I think I like the idea. But, five years?"
He grinned as Alexis interrupted.
"Uh… no that would be seven and a half years. You're going to be serving the same sentence I agreed to, smarty."
Cameron grinned and look back at Gail.
"Excuse me… my mistake. Seven and a half years."
Gail laughed at them, kissed Kristina on her head and made a quick exit not wishing to intrude on their family time any further. As the door shut behind her Alexis and Cameron turned to face each other suddenly at a loss for words.