A/N: Hey all! Hope your all enjoying the story! Just one thing: I know at the beginning I wrote that Nicholas was Stefan's son.. So forget that.. I have changed that so Nicholas is still Stavros' son.. Just like in the show it was just better for writing purposes.... Thanks!! And keeping enjoying!!!

Chapter 17
Cassadine Compound

Living Room

Mikkos, Alexis, and Stefan all sit at one of the ornate tables.

Stefan: "I just can't seen to wrap my mind around it. My father and my niece, both alive."

Mikkos: "Your sister was also shocked by the concept." He smiles at Alexis.

Stefan: "And how does Ashton fit into all this?"

Alexis: "He came here with me when he saw Sasha with Helena."

Stefan: (suddenly interested) "Have the two of you reconciled?"

Alexis: "I really don't see how that's any of your business Stefan."

Stefan: "Alexis, you have just found out that your daughter is alive and well. Do you really want her subjected to a family like the Quartermaines?"

Alexis: "One again Stefan, its non of your business. And plus, Sasha likes Ned."

Stefan is about to respond but Mikkos beats him to it.

Mikkos: "As do I my son. And your sister is correct these affairs are non of your concern."

The Beach

Ned is still holding Sasha tightly and she has calmed down significantly.

Sasha pulls out of Ned's grasp and walks further down the beach and sits down to face the water. Ned follows her and sits beside her.

Ned: "I wonder why he never said anything. How could he have done that to you?"

Sasha: (thinking and then realizing why) "The heir."

Ned: (confused) "What?"

Sasha: "The heir… Helena's other grandchild. She never would let the opportunity slip by to compare him to me and make him more superior.. Oh, what was his name?"

Ned : "Nicholas."

Sasha: "That was it."

Ned: "He's Stavros' son."

Sasha: (looking up suddenly interested) "Who?"

Ned: "You really don't know your family tree.. Do you?"

Sash shakes her head "no."

Ned: (explaining) "Mikkos and Helena had two sons. One was Stefan, and the elder one was Stavros."

Sasha: (understanding) "So I was considered a threat to Nicholas' inheritance because I was also a grandchild of Mikkos Cassadine. But why would Stefan care?"

Ned: "Stavros died when Nicholas was very young and Stefan raised him as his own."

Sasha: "So Stefan was protecting Nicholas' claim to the family fortune and that's why he never said anything about me…"

Ned: "I think you've got it."

Sasha: "That bastard! I can't believe I have to go in there and act like I don't know any of this."

Ned: "Why don't you just confront him with this information?"

Sasha: "What would that accomplish? Absolutely nothing except that my mother and grandfather would be furious with him, but other then that, it wouldn't help matters to tell anyone."

Ned: "You could always blackmail him?"

Sasha: "What do you mean."

Ned: "Well like you said, if you tell your mother no good can come from it for Stefan. So when you need something from your uncle, you could use this information to get it."

Sasha: "You don't like my uncle.. Do you?"

Ned: "No, not at all."

Sasha: "Why not?"

Ned: (trying to avoid the subject) "I think we've done enough Stefan bashing for today."

Ned tries to get up but Sasha pulls him back onto the sand.

Sasha: "No way! I told you my deep dark secret, and now you tell me yours."

Ned: "Really?? I don't recall you telling me your real deep dark secret."

Sasha: "We are not talking about that!!!! Now, why do you hate Stefan?"

Ned: (sighing) "I really liked your mother, for a long time and Stefan hated that. He hated the fact that your mother was giving someone else attention, except him."

Sasha: "So he came between the two of you."

Ned: "More then once.. And it won't happen again."