November 22, 1989

Manhattan, NY

Alexis swallowed back a mouthful of bile as her stomach lurched with the slight downward drop before the elevator came to a stop on the twenty eighth floor. Whitter, Whitaker, & Holmes owned the top four floors of the building. The top floor contained the grandiose offices of the name partners, and a few even more opulent conference rooms. The twenty ninth floor was reserved for the senior and managing partners which left everyone else was assembled in somewhat random fashion on the remaining two floors.

Alexis took a shaky deep breath as she stepped off the elevator then made her way past the front receptionist to her alcove suite. She shared both a secretary and a paralegal with fellow associate, Kent Murray, so, when she saw Gladys peering around the corner eagerly, she truly hoped she was looking for Kent.

Unfortunately, such luck was not hers because when Gladys opened her mouth, she informed her that Palmer Cortlandt was holding for her on line three. With another deep breath Alexis made it into her office, took a few more deep breaths, and summoned the strength to pick up the phone.

"Good morning, Mr. Cortlandt. As I explained to your nephew yesterday, the paperwork has been submitted on the holding companies. We are still awaiting SEC approval."

"That is the problem, my dear, we're waiting. I am not a very patient person, so, you tell Mr. Whitter that I switched to your firm because I was assured that you could be both discrete and expedient. Your lack of expediency is causing me to question whether your discretion may also be lacking."

More bile rose up in Alexis's throat. She gulped and then attempted a deep breath. Neither did much for her overwhelming nausea. "Unfortunately, there is a standard timeframe with the SEC for these matters. If we have not received any further response after the holiday then I will follow up with our assigned analyst. Doing anything more would most likely subject the application to further scrutiny which can only delay processing further," Alexis said.

"That's all well and good my dear but every day we wait is one more day that treacherous, traitorous, Chandler maintains control of his company."

Alexis shook her head instinctively but then regretted the quick movement as it made her nausea so much worse. "Well, in this case, Mr. Cortlandt, that is what will just have to happen, at least for the next few days. I'm due in court at eleven so I will have to hang up now. I will get back to you on Monday after I've spoken with our SEC analyst. Should I contact you directly or would you prefer I update your nephew, Will?"

"Contact, Will, I will be at the Wallingford Fox Hunt on Monday," Palmer said and then he finally hung up.

Alexis took a moment to heave a sigh of relief before she opened her desk to obtain the file she needed for the probate hearing. As she laid the file in her briefcase she was overcome with more nausea and could only gasp at the memory the feeling evoked.

December 19, 1979

Alexis Davidovitch looked warily at the soup her suitemate had set down on the table beside her bed. She felt the bile raise up in her throat and was sure she would be sick if she attempted even a sip. Perhaps she could distract Celia by admiring whatever little trinket she had brought her and then she might leave feeling like she had done her civic duty of befriending the outcast.

Yet, when Alexis pulled the box out of the paper bag and realized what it was she was aghast, ashamed, and afraid. "What is this?" she asked desperately.

Celia's face was without emotion. "It is a pregnancy test. You can do it tomorrow when you first get up."

Alexis gasped. "You think I am pregnant?" she asked.

"Well, Alex, you have to admit that you have all of the classic symptoms," Celia said.

She had taken Celia's blasted pregnancy test the next day. Then she had lied and claimed that it was negative. Celia had looked like she hadn't believed her but she hadn't confronted her lie. She had merely wished Alexis a happy holiday and caught a ride to the train station with Holly's cousin, Basil. She was on her way to Port Charles where her parents were meeting her to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the family.

Alexis had arranged to stay at school during intersession. As an international student she had been allowed and honestly looked forward to the solitude and peace that afforded her. By the time classes resumed Alexis had been well into her second trimester and the morning sickness had abated a bit. Unfortunately, exhaustion had replaced it.

January 15, 1980

Alexis Davis struggled to put one foot in front of the other and make her way across the courtyard to her afternoon English class in Armitage Hall. Although she was no longer vomiting up every bite she was more exhausted than she had ever been in her life. Getting out of bed in the morning was a struggle, cramming into even her altered uniform was more than snugly uncomfortable, and the walk across campus seemed impossible. When she finally reached the top of the steps at Armitage Hall, Alexis stumbled, flailed a bit to try to catch herself but then felt someone reach out to steady her. She turned to see her roommate, Celia Quartermaine.

Celia guided through the door, over to a bench in the lobby, and helped her sit down. Alexis struggled to quiet her breathing as Celia undid the toggles and removed her coat. Celia frowned a bit and laid the dorsum of her hand against Alexis's forehead.

"You're burning up Alexis, you should go to the infirmary."

"I'm fine! I just lost my balance for a minute there. We should get to class," Alexis protested.

"I spoke with the headmistress and we're both being excused from afternoon classes. I've been instructed to bring you to the infirmary," Celia said.

"No!"

"You aren't well, Alexis. I know the pregnancy test was positive. It spilled out of the trash when I was cleaning up. I was trying to give you your privacy but I can't just let you bury your head in the sand and not get the medical care you need. Come on, let me help you to the infirmary," Celia said.

Alexis felt trapped and honestly she dreaded the walk all the way back across campus. Perhaps Celia sensed that because before Alexis knew what was happening Celia had summoned the infirmary nurse with a stretcher and she was being laid down and then carried across campus.

Alexis had spent two days lying in bed in the infirmary. She was afraid to admit how nice it had been to be able to just rest and how much more comfortable the loose infirmary gown was than her constricting clothes. Mikkos had been summoned and Alexis had heard the infirmary nurse explain that in addition to being five plus months pregnant she was also severely anemic with a raging urinary tract infection. Even if Briarton Griggs Academy had been willing to accommodate a pregnant student, which they were not, she had told Mikkos that Alexis would require at least one month of bedrest to regain her strength. She had recommended a discrete private clinic and assured him she would make all of the arrangements to have Alexis transferred there. Mikkos had stayed to see that Alexis was moved to the clinic and then left almost as abruptly as he had arrived. He hadn't spoken to her but Alexis could tell he was disappointed.

She had spent almost four months at the clinic. Or at least she knew that almost four months had elapsed between when she left Briarton Griggs and when the car came to collect her to bring her back to Greece for the summer. She had very little recollection of the events that had transpired during those four months. The doctor prescribed something to help her rest. She had vague memories being very overheated, a nurse applying cool compresses, horrible cramps in her abdomen. She had no recollection of the baby, perhaps it was better that way. She was told that the baby was going to a good home. It was really for the best. Alexis hadn't been sure anything was for the best but she had just gone along and accepted.

Now ten years later, Alexis was afraid there was going to be another baby. She also feared she was no more ready for a baby than she had been at sixteen. But she was no longer sixteen and the child she was starting to accept was not the result of gang rape. Perhaps both factors would make things different. Alexis could only hope.