Chapter 12 Later that day.

Alexis and Mikkos sit on one of the balcony's overlooking the ocean.

Alexis: "Thank you Mikkos."

Mikkos: "For what?"

Alexis: "For letting me be with my daughter."

Mikkos: "She's a wonderful child."

Alexis: "Yes, she is."

They both look out onto the beach and see Sasha sitting in the sand watching the waves.

She is completely lost in thought when Ned comes up and sits next to her in the sand.

Ned: "Hi."

Sasha: (taking her eyes off the ocean) "Hi."

Mikkos and Alexis watch them from the balcony, both lost in their own thoughts.

Alexis: "Mikkos, will you tell me about my mother."

Mikkos: "Kristen?"

Alexis nods.

Mikkos: "Your mother... Kristen... She was incredible. When I first saw her I fell in love with her. I loved her very much. She had an untamed spirit. She was beautiful, she was intelligent, and she loved you with all that was in her."

Alexis: "I miss her. I mean I don't really even remember her, but I still miss her."

Mikkos: "I know. I know my daughter. And I am so sorry about what happened to her."

He puts his arm around her and holds her close.

Ned and Sasha sit on the beach; they are now both watching the waves.

Ned: (breaking the silence) "Can I ask you something?"

Sasha: "Can I stop you?"

Ned: "No."

Sasha: "Well at least you're honest. Go ahead."

Ned: "What did your grandmother do to you?"

Sasha: (uncomfortable) "What do you mean?"

Ned: "I went to see you this morning and I saw you taking something and after you left..."

Sasha: (pissed) "Wait... lets rewind a second. You went in my room, and through my things? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Ned: (defensively) "I was worried about you."

Sasha: "No. You were curious, there's a difference. You haven't known me long enough to be worried about me."

Ned: "Nightmares, hallucinations... That's way past curious Sasha, that's into worry territory."

Sasha: "Have you told my mother?"

Ned: "No."

Sasha: "Will you?"

Ned: (seeing the fear in her eyes about the prospect) "No... but you should talk about what happened."

Sasha: "Listen, Ned, I really don't mean to be rude, but it's really none of your business what my past history with Helena is."

Ned: "Just, if you ever need someone to talk to... I want to try to help."

Sasha: "Ned, if this is some attempt to bond with me so that you can get on my mothers good side, then drop it. I really don't need your fake sympathy."

Ned: "This is not some lame attempt Sasha. I want to be your friend, I really do. I am just opening up the option to you, if you ever want to talk, about anything; I want you to know that you can come to me."

Sasha: (barely audible) "Thanks."

Ned: (smiling) "Anytime."

Sasha: "So you won't tell my mom?"

Ned: "No, don't worry."

Sasha: "Thank you. Okay, now it's my turn. Can I ask you something?"

Ned: "Okay."

Sasha: "Do you love my mother?"

Ned: (smiling) "Yes I do."

Sasha: (fishing) "How long have you known her?"

Ned: "A while. You're a curious kid, aren't you?"

Sasha: (smiling) "My best friend is a horse, what do you expect." More serious. "My grandfather told me about my mother and her life on the island. Apparently Helena isn't the most maternal of people."

Ned smirks.

Sasha: (continuing) "And she's been through a lot. So I'm glad that she has someone to love her, like you."

Ned: "Thanks."

Sasha: "Yeah, well, you seem like a nice enough guy..."

Ned laughs.

Ned: "What's its name?"

Sasha: "What?"

Ned: "Your horse."

Sasha: "Oh... Seva."

Ned nods.

Sasha: (shyly) "Do... do you want to see him?"

Ned: (smiling at how shy she is being) "I would love to."

The two get up from the sand and make their way to the stables.

Alexis' head is resting on Mikkos' shoulder and his arm is around her. They both notice that Sasha and Ned got up.

Alexis: "I wonder where their off to."

Mikkos: (noticing the direction in which they are headed) "Probably the stables." A pause. "This... Ned Ashton... Do you love him?"

Alexis: "Yes. Why do you ask?"

Mikkos: "I just don't want Sasha to bond with someone if they will not be a constant staple in her life."

Alexis: "Don't worry Mikkos, Ned will be."

The Cassadine Stables

Sasha walks over to a black Arabian and starts to stroke it.

Sasha: (to Ned) "This is Seva."

Ned: "He's beautiful. Your best friend huh?"

Sasha: "Yeah."

Ned: "When did you start riding?"

Sasha: (thinking back) "When I was 8... No... 7, I think." A pause. "Ned, when you said you've known my mother for a while, how long of a while did you mean?"

Ned: (knowing where this line of questioning is going) "I've known your mother for a while, but not that long of a while. I would be proud and honored to be your father Sasha, but I'm not if that's what you're asking."

Sasha: (her face falls) "Oh... Okay, I was just wondering."

Ned: "You haven't asked Alexis who your father is?"

Sasha: "No... do you know?

Ned: "No, but I did ask her and she didn't tell me. Why don't you just ask her?"

Sasha: "I don't know. I mean if she loved him, or if the circumstances leading to my birth were happy memories then she would have told me... right?" Ned nods. "So it'll probably resurface bad memories for her, and I don't want to do that to her."

Ned: "Sasha, you such a wonderful kid to want to spare your mother this pain that the revelation of your father might bring. But you do have a right to know."

Sasha: "I know."

Ned puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder and she turns around and hugs him. Ned is surprised for a moment but then hugs her back.

Alexis walks in, sees them and smiles.

Alexis: "Hey you two."

Ned and Sasha let go of each other.

Sasha: "Hey mom."

Alexis: "What are you guys up to today?"

Ned: "Well I was about to ask is Sasha wanted to go for a ride."

Sasha: "Yeah, that would be great." To Alexis. "Will you come?"

Alexis: "Of course."