Mixed Feelings

Author: Cate

Summary: Jaxis, set during the "Mixed Marrieds" storyline. Some fudging of the timeline with regards to Kristina's birth, and some demonizing of Ned. Have I mentioned yet that there's Jaxis?

Rating: PG, but subject to change.

Disclaimer: I'm in no way affiliated with ABCD or the turds who write this show for a living, nor am I making any money off of this, so please don't sue the Cate.

Author's Note: See that sexy purple button down there? It's lonely. It wants you to click on it and leave me a review. Don't disappoint the sexy purple button.

"So what time are we meeting tonight?"

"Eight or so, if that's all right with you and Chloe. Jax has some business thing he needs to take care of, and he doesn't think he'll be out until then."

"Yeah, sure, that should be fine."

"Good."

Ned emerged from the bathroom, impatiently fingering the buttons on his clean, white shirt. Alexis, already dressed in a simple blue top and a skirt just high enough to be called short, grinned as she watched him for a moment before moving deftly to the rescue, fastening his remaining buttons and even tying his tie for him. He kissed her lightly by way of a 'thank you,' and just as she was tempted to undo what she had just done, there was a knock at the door that connected their hotel suite to the one Jax and Chloe were in.

"Well, isn't this a shock," said Jax devilishly when Alexis opened the door. He smiled at her, then as he looked to Ned his grin became mischeivous. "You actually got her up before lunch."

"Jax," Chloe chided, as the subject of his ridicule let out a laugh.

"Oh, well if you don't need me up until noon, that means I have four and a half hours left. Perhaps I should go back to bed..." Alexis proposed, her brown eyes twinkling.

"No!" came a chorus of three voices.

Alexis shrugged. "It was only a suggestion."

Chloe stuck up for her best friend. "Hey, it was Alexis' suggestion that we take this little trip in the first place, so maybe we should listen to her more often... But that doesn't mean that I'm forsaking my last morning at a spa just to sleep all day, sorry, honey."

"That's all right," Alexis intoned with an exaggerated sigh and a roll of her eyes.

"Before we do anything else, are we all finished packing?" Ned asked. Everyone nodded in assent, so he continued with, "Okay, well we need to check out by eleven, so that gives us four hours. What can we do at a spa in the next four hours?" he asked Alexis.

"If you say anything beginning with the word 'mud,' I'm divorcing you," Jax joked.

"Aw, well, there goes my plans for our morning," she teased him back. "How about a nice sauna, instead? Chloe and I can gossip, you and Ned can... sit there and glare at each other, or something..."

Jax opened his mouth to reply, but Chloe beat him to the punch. "Why don't we each get a personal massage, and then meet for brunch before we leave?"

"That sounds like a good idea," Ned responded quickly. Jax and Alexis agreed, and the four friends filed out of the room.

-x-

The morning passed quickly, and soon it was time to check out. The couples enjoyed a relaxed brunch together before going their seperate ways - Ned and Chloe in a limo straight back to Port Charles; Jax and Alexis on a plane to Manhattan.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jax asked just after takeoff, when he saw his wife was half asleep on the couch.

Alexis nodded. "I'm fine, just tired."

Jax sat down next to her, stroking her chestnuthair while she used his khaki-cladleg as a pillow. "I've got a couple of meetings and I don't know how long they'll run, so if you want to I can tell the pilot to just take you home and then come back for me."

"That's okay," she said, shaking her head. "I had planned on dropping in on some of my friends from my old law firm. Just call me when you're finished and we'll meet somewhere."

"All right," he said, "If you're up to it."

She nodded, then closed her eyes, unable to force them open any longer. He watched her, his own blue eyes filled with worry, for the remainder of their short flight, but as soon as they were landed she picked up her head, straightened her clothes, and appeared to be just fine. "So," she said as they exited the plane, "Call me when you get done?"

"Will do, wife," he replied, kissing her on the cheek before they departed in seperate limos. She gave him a quick smile as she closed her door, and his gaze lingured on her car's fading tail lights for a moment before he climbed into his own vehicle and set off.