Chapter 10

Living room of the Cassadine Compound

Ned and Alexis walk into the room.

Alexis: "Visiting royalty used to love the library." Apparently they have just finished with the tour.

Ned: "It's huge. I don't think that I've ever seen so many books."

Alexis: (teasing) "You're not going to tell me that you used to own the island, now are you?"

Ned: (laughing) "No, and I and doubtful that you have believed me if I said that I did."

He puts his arms around her and kisses her lightly.

Alexis: "You know I used to love the library when I was a kid. I remember that Stefan and I used to spend hours there. We swore that someday we would read very book.

Ned: (smiling) "Such big dreams for a little girl."

Mikkos enters.

Mikkos: "Good afternoon." To Ned. "And how did you enjoy our humble home?"

Alexis: "I would hardly call it humble."

Ned: "I liked it very much, it's huge."

Mikkos: (smiling) "Yes that does come in handy every now and then."

Arguing can be heard in the background, in Greek, and then a haggard Sasha and a security guard walks in still arguing in Greek.

Alexis: (noticing the Sasha's forearm is bleeding) "Are you all right?" The concern is evident in her voice as she makes her way over to where Sasha is standing.

Sasha: "Yeah, I'm fine, just clumsy. I tripped over a rock."

Guard: (to Mikkos) "She was in the ravine again, Mr. Cassadine."

Mikkos: "Sasha, I have told you that it is dangerous there. And look what happened."

Sasha: "It's quiet there, and I like it. And it's just a couple of rocks, what in the world is the big deal about it?"

The guard says something under his breath in Greek.

Sasha: (glaring at the guard) "I'm a klutz okay. I trip all the time, and besides it's just a little blood. It's nothing."

Mikkos: (to the guard) "Thank you Thaao, you may go."

Thaao nods and leaves.

Alexis: (to Sasha) "You know your grandfather is right, the ravine is a dangerous place, and something could happen to you. You could get hurt."

Sasha: (sarcastically) "Too late."

Alexis shakes her head and smiles as memories of her sneaking off to the ravine come flooding back to her and how Stefan once gave her a similar argument.

Mikkos: "And how did you come about Thaao?"

Sasha: "I was leading Seva back to the stables and he saw me and started in Greek about how I shouldn't endanger a life for some peace and quiet."

Ned: "He's right you know."

Sasha: (looking at Ned) "He was talking about my horse; you know Arabians are very rare."

Mikkos smirks.

Alexis: (to Sasha) "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

Alexis and Sasha leave.

Mikkos: (to Ned) "Ned, I have been meaning to speak with you."

Ned looks at him but says nothing. Both men sit down on the couch.

Mikkos: "I realize that you and my daughter have been through a lot over the years, and..."

Ned: "Mikkos, I don't mean to be rude. But where is this line of questioning going?"

Mikkos: "It is obvious by the way that you look at her you are in love with her, and her with you. And I know that I have missed a lot of years with Alexis, and perhaps it's a little late to be playing the overprotective father, but I just want to make sure that you will be there for Alexis when she needs you and now also Sasha."

Ned: "Mikkos, I love Alexis and I'll love Sasha just as much. I will be here for both of them that I can promise you."

Mikkos: (smiling approvingly) "Good."

Sasha's Room

Sasha is sitting on the bed while Alexis is next to her wrapping a bandage on her arm.

Alexis: "There. That will heal in no time."

Sasha: "Thanks." A pause. "So this is what it feels like huh?"

Alexis: "What?"

Sasha: (quietly) "Having a mom."

Alexis looks as though she's about to cry, but instead she hugs Sasha instead.

Alexis: "You'll never have to wonder about that again."

Sasha smiles.

Alexis: (mother mode) "So what's this I hear about you going off for hours and even days?"

Sasha: "It's like a little mini vacation, but not."

Alexis looks confused.

Sasha: "I usually go for long rides after my lessons. Just to think and clear my head."

Alexis: "Why the ravine?"

Sasha: "It's a long ride so usually no one comes and bothers me. Its quite and secluded so I can be alone."

Alexis: "And when you disappear for days?"

Sasha: "That's only after one of Helena's visits. She likes to visits and check up on me every now and then and as you would probably know she's not the most pleasant of people. So I go off into the woods and stay there for a while."

Alexis: (smiling) "I remember when I was young and Helena would yell or scream at me for some stupid reason I used to run to the ravine too."

Sasha: (interested) "Really?"

Alexis: "Yeah. And then my brother would come after and lecture me on the dangerous rocks."

Sasha: "Sounds familiar."

Alexis smiles.

Sasha: (getting up from the bed) "So... What about Ned?"

Alexis: "What about him?"

Sasha: "Are you in love with him?"

Alexis: (a little uncomfortable discussing her love life with her daughter) "Yes..."

Sasha: "Hey, I'm just curious, that's all."

Alexis smiles and they embrace.

Alexis' Room Late Evening.

Ned and Alexis are standing outside on the balcony watching the waves crash onto the beach.

Alexis: "She asked about you."

Ned: "Who? Sasha?"

Alexis: "Yeah."

Ned: "What did she ask?"

Alexis: "She asked if I was in love with you."

Ned: (a little insecure) "And what did you say?"

Alexis puts her arms around his neck and kisses him deeply.

Alexis: "I said yes."

Ned smiles, visible relieved, and kiss her back.

Ned: (breaking the kiss) "You know I really do want to get to know her, maybe I'll ask her out for a ride tomorrow."

Alexis: "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

Ned: "You know what else sounds like a wonderful idea."

Alexis: "What?"

Ned whispers something in Alexis' ear and she laughs and kisses him. And they make their way into her bedroom.