Chapter 2
Morning arrived much too soon for Alexis, but the cries of her daughter woke her from an exhausted sleep. Sitting up she stretched and looked down at Kristina beside her. Placing her hand on the child's back she patted her back a few times before leaning down to whisper to her.
"Good morning, sunshine. I'll bet you're hungry. Well, lucky for you this room has a microwave in it. We'd really be in trouble if it didn't. Give me just a minute and we'll get you fed, changed and washed up. We're just going to take our time and be vacationers this morning. What do you say about that?"
Her daughter cooed her response and Alexis chuckled before getting out of bed to retrieve the bag carrying the powdered milk that would soon settle her daughter's hunger pangs. She continued to talk to Kristina as she moved about the room measuring the powder into a bottle then adding the right amount of water and finally heating it just enough to get rid of its chill.
Settling back down onto the bed, she picked her daughter up and began to feed her. A small tiny hand came up to wrap around a stray finger and Alexis' heart soared. This was the first time since her daughter was born that she truly felt at peace. They were finally all alone… together. She couldn't help the tears of relief that slowly made their way down her cheeks. She had won the battle… not as she would have liked, but she refused to feel bad about the way she left Port Charles. She remembered her last words to Ned.
"I'll do what I have to… to get my daughter back!"
Ned simply sat there and stared at her until Skye appeared spewing her malicious venom. Alexis knew in that moment that in order to be with her daughter all the rules of right and wrong would have to be tossed aside. And why not? No one was following the rules any more. So, Alexis figured it was high time for her to join the rest of them and finally do what she needed to in order to have her daughter back where she belonged.
Leaning her head back against the headboard of the bed she let the events of the past few days play out in her mind. After leaving Ned, she went home to study her options. Taking out pen and her legal pad she began jotting down all of the options that were available to her and then the pros and cons of each option. No matter how many options there were, one fact always remained regardless of the choices she was left with; there would always be a question mark following her daughter around... either one of custody or of safety. Her daughter deserved a better life than she was left with. And Alexis was going to see to it that Kristina grew up loved and in a loving, encouraging safe atmosphere. In order for that to happen there was only one option left to her.
She went to Wyndemere to see Stephan. They talked for an hour as Alexis argued, cajoled and finally stated emphatically that she was leaving and taking Kristina with her. Stephan was given the opportunity to either help or say good-bye with the understanding that he would probably never see them again. Alexis smiled remembering the look of frustration that settled on Stephan's face. He was just about to make his move on Ned when Alexis called telling him to wait until she talked to him. His love for her did not stop him from trying to manipulate her into a position of owing him. Dealing with Ned would have put Alexis right where he wanted her. But, after sitting down with her and listening to her relate the events of the past couple of years he knew he couldn't hold her any longer. She had been through enough and deserved a chance to build a life somewhere else. She needed to start over just as he had tried to before being called back Port Charles.
So the two of them together stole onto the Quartermaine estate before sunrise two days before and with the help of a very loving and warmhearted employee walked away with Kristina and then headed straight for the airport. Before leaving the estate, Alexis pulled Alice into the tightest hug she could muster. Letting go she reached down and placed a folded scrap of paper in the big woman's hand.
"If you ever want to leave this place and come stay with Kristina and I, call my brother. He will help you reach me. Thank you for all that you did for us, Alice. I will be forever indebted to you for the love and care you showed my daughter."
Alice leaned over and placed a kiss on Kristina's head then stood back up with tears in her eyes.
"Don't you be surprised if you find me on your doorstep in a week or so. I don't like it here and with this little one leaving it's going to get even worse."
"Just find a pay phone somewhere and call him, he will know what to do. I would love to have you with us and I know Kristina would as well. You more than anyone in this house deserve to watch her grow up and be a part of her life."
Alexis smiled remembering how Alice looked Stephan up and down then drew herself up erect and finally addressed him.
"Don't have to think about it anymore. We'll wait a few weeks until Miss Alexis gets where she's going and things quiet down here some then you set it up for me to go take care of them."
And that was that. Kristina was going to have her very own full time nanny and Alexis would have a friend. Looking back down at her daughter, Alexis smiled.
"We're going to do just fine, my beautiful little girl. You know, I was a little worried about striking out alone again. It was different the first time because I was alone, but now I have you and you probably already know that your mother is domestically challenged. It's going to be so good to have Alice with us. So, all we have to do is get through the next couple of weeks and then Alice will be here. But, first things first. We have to find us a home and get settled then I think it would be a good idea to try and build some sort of legal practice here."
Kristina's eyes began to slowly close as Alexis talked quietly to her. They were both still suffering from their two days of travel so as Kristina drifted off, Alexis soon followed.
Mother and daughter awoke an hour later and Alexis got up full of energy and ready to get started trying to locate a home for the two of them; one that would soon be a home for Alice as well.
"Come on, angel. We have a lot to do today, but first we have to settle with the hotel manager and maybe he can help us find a real estate agency."
Alexis did her best in showering both herself and Kristina together as she refused to leave Kristina on the bed unattended. She laughed fully at the sounds of laughter and excitement coming from her daughter as the water gently pummeled them. Alexis held Kristina close rocking back and forth under the spray as she rejoiced at the feel of her daughter in her arms. Never in all the years of her life had she ever felt as completely fulfilled as a woman than she did standing in the shower that morning holding her daughter in her arms; feeling tiny arms wrap themselves around her neck pulling her closer as unrestrained laughter filled her ears. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as Alexis closed her eyes and reveled in the pureness of the moment.
"I love you with all of my heart, Kristina. It's going to be you and me from now on. We'll conquer the world together and build ourselves a good life. You and me, baby girl; just you and me." She smiled gently before adding… "and of course Alice."