Chapter 9 Greece Main room of the "Cassadine Compound." Next Morning

Sasha is seen sleeping somewhat peacefully on the couch wrapped up in her quilt.

Mikkos comes down the stairs and notices Sasha right away.

Mikkos: (to himself quietly) "Not again."

He walks over to her and gently rocks her awake, a motion he has obviously done before.

Mikkos: "Wake up Czarina."

Sasha: (groggily) "Grandfather?"

Mikkos: "Good morning. You have had another nightmare I take it?"

Sasha: (still half asleep but quickly becoming more lucid) "Yes..."

Mikkos: (concerned) "Are you all right?"

Sasha: (getting up and collecting her bedding) "Aren't I always?" a pause. "Look grandfather, I am not a child anymore, I am fine, just leave it alone and don't worry."

Mikkos: "I do worry Sasha. Perhaps if you tell your mother about them. She used to have such nightmares at your age, she could help..."

Sasha: (cutting in) "No Grandfather! I really don't want her to know. You were here last night, you heard her. How she was worried that Helena raised me and what she might have done to me. I don't want her to worry anymore. Can we just leave it alone?"

Mikkos: (sighing) "As you wish Czarina." Changing the subject. "Will you be joining us for breakfast this morning?"

Sasha: "No I don't think so. I'm going for a ride. I'll be back later."

Guestroom (Alexis' Quarters)

Ned and Alexis lay wrapped up in each others arms with her head on his chest and his arms tightly wrapped around her.

The sun shines through the curtains of the room and Ned is stirred awake and smiles as he looks down at Alexis. Alexis stirs slightly and buries her head further into his chest. He smiles and smoothes her hair. She wakes up slowing and looks at him.

Ned: "Good morning."

Alexis: "Good morning." a pause. "Did we really make love last night or was that just a dream?"

Ned: (Laughing) "No, us making love last night was real. And I've missed it."

Alexis: (smiling) "Me too."

She kisses him quickly on the lips and tries to maneuver out of bed but is halted when Ned grabs her and pulls her back on top of him.

Ned: (huskily) "And where do you think your going?"

Alexis: "I was going to shower and go down to breakfast." coyly. "Why? Did you have other plans?"

Ned: "As a matter of fact I did. The way I see it is that since your wonderful daughter had her tutoring lessons cancelled she is probably taking the opportunity to sleep in. So I was planning on spending the morning making love to you."

He rolls them both over till Alexis is completely under him.

Alexis: "What an enticing idea."

They kiss deeply and spend the morning getting lost in each other.

Main Room of the "Cassadine Compound." Even later that morning.

Mikkos is sitting alone at the table eating his breakfast and reading a Russian newspaper. Ned and Alexis walk down the stairs, dressed, showered and holding hands.

Alexis: "Good morning Mikkos."

Mikkos: (putting down the paper and standing) "Good morning Alexis." He kisses her on the cheek and holds out his hand to Ned. "Good morning Ned."

Ned: (taking his hand) "Mikkos."

They all sit down at the table.

Alexis: (to Mikkos) "Is Sasha up yet?"

Mikkos: "She awoke early and went for a ride."

Alexis: (Disappointed) "Oh..."

Ned takes her hand.

Mikkos notices and his eyes show a flicker of approval.

Mikkos: "Do not worry Alexis. Sasha disappears around the island on a daily bases. She usually goes after her tutoring sessions but today I believe she wanted and early start to spend the rest of the day with you. I assume she will be back sometime this afternoon."

Ned: "Where does she go?"

Mikkos: "I actually do not know. From what I understand the horse is very tired on her return." To Alexis. "Remember when you and Stefan used to disappear for hours, or even days at a time."

Alexis: "I remember." To Ned. "We used to take the horses and go as far as we could. We used to pretend we were free to do whatever we wanted without interference."

Ned smiles.

Mikkos: "When I first came back to the island, I didn't even know I had a granddaughter. Sasha was gone for 4 days. It reminded me of you and Stefan."

Ned: (amazed) "4 days."

Mikkos: "Yes. The staff tells me that Helena drops in every now and then to see Sasha and check on her and her studies. Usually after one of Helena's visits she would take off for a number of days." He looks at Alexis. "That's when I first knew there was no doubt she was your daughter." Alexis smiles.

Alexis: (to Ned) "So since we have the morning free, would you like a tour of the house after breakfast?"

Ned: "I would love one."

The grounds of the Cassadine Island. Later that afternoon. A very large ravine in the middle of the woods, very remote and very secluded. Huge rocks are seen everywhere and it looks very dangerous if one where to fall anywhere. A black Arabian horse is seen, out of the ravine, tied up to a tree.

Sasha is sitting in the ravine laying back and her head resting on a rock. She is apparently relaxing. She has her glasses on and is reading one of her comic books. She stops reading for a moment and looks at her watch. Noticing the time she gets up and starts to make her way back to the horse. She doesn't notice one of the rocks and trips over it and falls to the ground.