Some considered him a fool, others had thought of him a worthless punk who'd never amount to anything more than a waste of breathing space.

There'd only been three people in his life that had thought anything differently of him, as he gripped the receiver tightly in his hand, fingers mere inches from the dial, his mind raced with the possibilities… the thought she might not want to hear from him after all the time that had passed, he wasn't sure if he was ready for that kind of rejection.

He'd given her his heart at a time in his life when he'd doubted he'd ever see tomorrow, but the darkness that had besotted his life disappeared the moment she'd given him her trust, she'd believed in him even when he hadn't been able to believe in himself.

His hand began to shake as he punched the numbers, the crisp September air nipping at his neck, with his free hand he reached up to pull the collar of his leather jacket up, leaning against the concrete wall he bargained with himself, he'd hang up once he heard her voice, he just needed to hear her sweet voice, and recall the laughter behind her brown eyes, the soft touch of her pretty lips… how he missed her.

He prepared to hang up as the phone rang for the sixth time without and answer; the phone was mere inches from the cradle when he heard it…

"Zander?"

Alexis Apartment

"Is that how you greet all your visitors?"

"Only the ones with ulterior motives," Alexis replied sharply, cradling the phone between her neck and ear, "what did I do to deserve the displeasure of your company?"

"You might considersaving the insults for someone more deserving… such as Carly."

"You have a point, but I'm still not sure why you're here."

"If I tell you will it get me invited inside."

"Depends if I like the answer."

"This isn't a social call Alexis, I'm here on business."

Alexis felt her mouth drop open, she quickly shut it, but on the other end of the phone there was a wary Latin with a dislike of redheads with Quartermaine ties, "She's up to something." Sonny warned.

"I'm aware of that, now butt out," Alexis muttered into the phone, and motioned Skye in, "I'll be there in an hour… actually make it an hour and a half."

Skye entered Alexis apartment and casually glanced around the room, taking off her coat, she handed it to Alexis and ran her hand over the back of the couch before sitting down, "nice place, not nearly as crowded as Harbor View towers."

"My Penthouse wasn't crowded." Alexis said, as she placed the phone back on its cradle and deposited Skye's coat over her office chair.

"I wasn't talking about the penthouse, I was talking about the armed guards at every turn." Skye replied, smiling.

Alexis watched as Skye removed her gloves and looked over her shoulder at the pictures on the wall, narrowing her eyes and crossing her legs, she went into legal mode, " just what is it you need my help with?"

Skye cleared her throat, extending her hand to her beck, " excuse me my throat has suddenly gone dry, do you mind?"

Alexis shot her a look and got up off the couch, " of course not, " disappearing into the kitchen, she returned quickly with a bottled water, " here you go, now Skye I'm about to say something, and I need your understanding that I am pregnant, hormonal, and just a tad hungry, so don't hold it against me."

"Of course."

"Cut the crap and get to the point, " Alexis ground out and sat down in a huff, " your cousin was here not twenty minutes ago, and I'm ready to blow."

"So that was Ned's Mercedes I saw pulling away from the building."

"As if you didn't know, " Alexis retorted sarcastically, "you Quartermaine's are like a pack of wolves, when it suits your agenda, and what better way to get back at Sonny than ruining not only his stature, but ruininghis life as well."

Skye got up from the couch and walked around to the back of it, glancing at the pictures displayed, "your right, I do hate Sonny… for what he did to AJ, for what he thinks I stand for, it's in my nature to hate anyone who insults me."

"Well, at least we know where we stand with one another."

"But I hate him most of all, because he's right."

"Excuse me?" Alexis nearly fell off her sofa, she looked long and hard at Skye as she fingered the picture of Alexis and Kristina at Windmere.

"I would give anything to have the kind of relationship you had with your sister."

"You have AJ.

"I have nothing… once he finds out what I've done, he'll turn on me too."

"Skye, what are you talking about?"

"Ned is about to hold a takeover."

"I know, he's trying to oust Jax and Sonny."

"And me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm the one that tipped Jax off."

"Surely Edward and Alan won't let anything happen to your shares."

Skye rolled her eyes, "Alexis this is Ned, he may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he does know his way around a boardroom… besides he holds the biggest bargaining chip."

"Michael."

"He's got Carly right where he wants her, we both know little Michael is like dangling a piece of raw meat in front of Grandfather."

"She's really doing it, " Alexis muttered, " I was sure she'd back down."

"Carly knows she's lost Sonny and even if this hair brained scheme of theirs had of worked, she still knows it's over… so this is second best, because even if you don't end up with Ned, you will still have lost Sonny."

"So she thinks."

"Carly's a fool, but that's never stopped her before, "Skye replied, walking back around to the couch and sitting down, "so will you do it, will you represent me?"

"I still don't understand why you came to me, we've never seen eye to eye on anything Skye and you've made it no secret that you despise me."

"As you to I… listen Alexis we don't have to be friends, but I need someone who at least knows how Ned operates, if I lose those shares at ELQ, I lose everything."

"Aren't you still managing Club 101?"

"I manage it, nothing more, nothing less… I can't lose this."

"You mean Ned can't win."

"I mean Ned can't win."

Alexis got up off the couch, and looked down at Skye, " do you happen to have a dollar?"

Skye opened her clutch and pulled out a fifty, " this is all I have on me."

"That'll do, Skye Quartermaine you've just retained yourself an attorney, now get out so I can get ready."

"Ready? I haven't even told you any of the logistics."

"Let me clarify, ready for my dinner date, and I don't have much time to get myself together before Max picks me up and I have no idea what I'm going to wear… what does a five and half month pregnant woman wear who hasn't been shopping?"

"A trench coat and a smile?"

Alexis made a face, running her hands through her hair, " I have this problem anytime I'm going to have dinner with him."

"Him being Sonny?"

"Yes, and do you have to grimace every time you say his name."

"Sorry, it's a gut reaction."

"No worries… he cringes when he hears yours."

It was Skye's turn to make a face," well… if you'd like my help, I could stick around."

Alexis looked toward the heavens and then back down at Skye, they both jumped in surprise when the doorbell rang, as she opened the door Alexis blew out a sigh of relief, " he really does think of everything doesn't he?"

"Ma'am, if you could sign this?" the deliveryman asked, holding out a clipboard.

"Normally I don't accept extravagant gifts from men, I think it's sexist, but since I'm between a rock and a hard place, I'll give him a break this once," Alexis said as she scrawled her name and took the package, pulling the card from the top of the box, Alexis slid the note out of the envelope, "I don't believe it."

Skye looked on intrigued by Alexis' surprised reaction; acting nonchalantly she tried peeking over her shoulder only to be caught, she smiled sheepishly and backed away, " Sorry."

Alexis waved the card in the air, " I just can't believe her, she didn't need to do this, " laying the card on the table she eyed the large white box laying next to it, " but since she did, I might as well see what's in here."

Skye eyed the note, slipping it off the table as Alexis opened the box before her.

Alexis,

Because I knew you'd be sticking around

And I knew about this night before you did

I took the initiative to purchase this

Little Number…

In classic style, this dress was made for you,

And so was Sonny.

Brenda

Alexis opened the box and gasped, " Wow… do you think I can pull this off?"

Skye watched as Alexis pulled the knee length dress out of the box, " that color is great for your skin tone."

Alexis glanced her way, and then down to the note in Skye's hand, " well, I guess Brenda thought of everything."

Skye looked down at the note and back up again, "Sorry."

"At this point I don't care… my main concern is getting this dress on."

"And Sonny's main concern will be how easy it is to get off."

Alexis shut an eye and glared at Skye, " listen, I agreed to represent you, not share my private life with you."

"In other words you don't need my help, well then I'll see you sometime tomorrow to discuss my case. "Skye said, picking up her gloves from the coffee table and grabbing her coat off the chair before heading to the front door.

"Wait!"

Skye turned, and eyes a panicked Alexis, "what is it?"

"I've never had trouble dressing myself in the past, but I need an objective opinion, and you're about as objective as they get… can you stick around… please?"

Skye smiled, " when you ask like that how can I refuse?"

Quartermaine Study

The tension in the room could've been cut with a knife, Edward glared across the room as he finally registered Carly's presence, "What are you doing here Mrs. Corinthos, killing us with your snideness?"

Carly sneered at Edward and then glanced back toward Jason, " Jase, please just talk to me."

Brenda smiled toward Jax who stood un-amused in the doorway, " Morgan, let Brenda down."

Not taking orders well, it took Brenda's patting Jason on the shoulder to finally get him to put her down, once he did he took Carly's arm and steered her toward the patio, as Brenda straightened her halter top, she smiled sheepishly at Jax, "Hi, I'm surprised to see you here."

"I bet you are."

Brenda raised a brow, " and that means?"

"It means I went to Harbor view towers to pick you up, and I find out you left with Sonny Jr."

"Funny."

"It's not meant to be funny, it's meant to be serious, just what the hell is going on with you two?"

"I'd like to know the answer to that myself?" Carly spat, stomping her foot and sending a deathly glare toward Brenda.

"Didn't we get rid of you yet?" Brenda shot back, and felt Jax's hand on her upper arm, which she wrenched away.

"I'm putting my foot down, I will not have this woman in my house one more minute, who let this cretin in?" Edward bellowed.

"I did."

All eyes turned toward Ned Ashton as he stood in the entryway of the Quartermaine estate, "Carly and Michael are guests of mine, so I expect you to be on your best behavior Grandfather."