Chapter 13

"Get ready" Julian whispered at Jerry "Once we go in Valentine is going to come at us fast and hard." Jerry turned and took in the man who was trying to give Alexis all that she deserved. Something that Jerry had not been willing to do even though he had loved her and still did. Alexis was one of the greatest women he had ever met. He had been there when her body and the people around her had tried to destroy her. The tenacity with which she fought for her daughters as her life was slowly deteriorating, the cancer ravaging her body and her psycho husband threatening to take her daughters away from her. She had fought it all and had won. She had more fight in her than he would ever have and he loved and admired that about her and hell would freeze over before he allowed Valentine to be the one to take her down.

"Whatever happens" Jerry paused waiting for the other man to turn around. "She gets out alive." Julian nodded. Knowing deep in his soul that he would rather die rescuing Alexis than leave her at the mercy of Valentine. All his life he had felt an emptiness that this beautiful, loving, generous women had managed to fill in his life. She gave him the strength to give up the life that he had thought for so long that he wanted. He had thought that he wanted power and control but with Alexis he gave it all up. He wonder if she would ever truly realize just how much power she truly had over him.

Both men turned back to there mission, cocked their guns and moved further into the house.

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Valentine looked down at the live video feed that was showing him the four people that had come to try and take what was his and he would never give up. Natasha was everything that he wanted and she would realize soon enough that this was what she wanted also. He had promised not kill her family if she came with him willingly but that was before they had been stupid enough to come after him. As far as he was concerned they had forfeited the protection Alexis had secured for them the moment they landed on the island. He now realized that he would have to dispose of them if he was going to make Natasha his. He had to take away any hope that she had that they would come looking for her.

"I want them eliminated swiftly." Valentine order his men who were quick to leave his presence to carry out his orders.

He quickly looked back at the screens showing the progress of Natasha's would be saviors. He looked at the man named Julian. The man who had captured Natasha's heart as a child and had come back to reclaim her again. But he wouldn't allow it, Natasha was meant for him and he would have her even if he had to kill every last person who that had any meaning to her to get what he wanted.

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Julian looked around the corner and spotted two men standing guard. He pointed his finger at Jerry indicating that he should take the one on the left and he would take the one on the right. The two men silently counted down to three. The two men, having years of experience, stepped out as one and shot the two men guarding the door before they even had a chance to react. Julian walked over to the two men and kicked away their guns before reaching down to make sure they were dead. Once satisfied he stepped over the two men and kicked the door open, his weapon extended and at the ready. Jerry came in behind him covering his back as they moved as one looking for any other hidden dangers.

"Julian we are going to have to split up. " Jerry said as he looked down the two hallways leading in opposite directions.

Julian hated to split up as it left them more vulnerable and if they found Alexis and she was hurt there would be no back up to help carry her out. But the house was too big and if they stayed together the chances of getting caught or killed before they found her were not in their favor.

Julian looked at the man trying to decipher what he was actually thinking but all he could see was honest to goodness worry . He nodded his acknowledgement before putting his trust in the man. "If you find her just get out and get her to safety." Julian said before heading to the right not daring to say anything more to the psychopath that was also truly in love with Alexis. He did not understand this man; who had done so many horrible things including kidnapping Alexis, while her daughters were dying from the poison he had put in the Port Charles water, but he did understand why he was willing to put his life on the line to save her. Jerry may not know how to properly love Alexis but he would come through for her, because in his own way Jerry did love her.

Julian moved away as quickly as he could, staying close to the wall he went down the hall opening up every door hoping against hope that Alexis would be in one of them. He finally reached the end and tried opening the door which was locked unlike the others. Julian felt relief and fear at what he would find on the other side of the door. He didn't hesitate as he reared back and kicked the door open. As soon as he felt the door splinter open he simultaneously felt the blast of a fire ball knock him on his back.

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Alexis moaned as she finally came out of the stupor that she was in. She opened her eyes and saw what she assumed was another hallucination from the drugs that she had been given. She couldn't hear Stefan and she was pretty sure that sometime during the night they had taken him away leaving her alone in the damp cell. Whatever they were giving her was making her feel nauseous and she was pretty sure that sometime during the night she had developed a fever as chills kept making their way up and down her back. She hadn't been provided with a blanket so she did her best to gather herself in a ball.

She licked her lips trying to wet them when she suddenly felt a warm, small hand on her cheek causing to snap her eyes open and stare into the eyes of the little boy she had thought she had hallucinated. He laid beside her cooing and seeming perfectly content to play with his little feet.

"Hi Sweet Pea" she said softly. He smiled so sweetly at her causing her heart to melt. He extended his little hand and tried to grab at her hair causing Alexis to laugh softly and kiss his little hand as she held it away from her hair.

"I didn't think you would still be here Sweet Pea" she said making her voice sound cheerful for his benefit as he stared at her with wide, curious eyes. She couldn't help wondering who this child was.

When the little boy began to fuss Alexis sat up slowly even though it hurt like hell and lifted him into her arms. She turned toward where his bassinet and bag where laying and she saw the phone sitting in the middle of the bassinet. She felt a lump in her throat as she remember what she had heard moments before she had once again been put under. She looked down at the little boy wriggling around starting to whimper, unhappy at having to wait. She felt bile raise in her throat and held her fist to her mouth. Unable to keep the panic that was raising in her she set the baby down on the bed not wanting to hold him. She knew it was wrong but she couldn't see past the fact that this little, beautiful, innocent baby was the product of something so disgusting and vile.

Alexis paced back and forth wanting to put the baby and all that he meant out of her mind. Hoping that he along with the nightmare she was in would all disappear. She covered her ears as tears continued to flow. Alexis felt torn as she heard his whimpers became angry and he starting truly wailing in displeasure.

Unable to bare to hear the boy in such displeasure she walked back over to the bed and picked him up along with the bottle and cradled him in her arm as she paced around the small cell. She looked down and was amazed by the warmth and love that she felt for him. "What's your name little one?" she cooed at the baby as he grew silent satisfied and comfortable once his needs were met. She couldn't help the tears that fell as she began to talk to him. "None of this is your fault and even if that animal created you using his and my DNA without my consent I will love you." she whispered to him as she held him tightly. She knew no matter how he came to be she could not hold it against him as it would make her no better than Helena. The child whether hers or not, whether created with consent or not, was an innocent child who deserved to be loved and protected.

Alexis's resolve to escape grew as she started to imagine what kind of hell Valentine had planned for the little boy in her arms. She looked down again and she felt her stomach clench at the violation of her body. When Valentine had been able to steal her eggs was something she couldn't get out of her head. He had been locked up for years and he had only recently found her so it had to have been recently but she couldn't think of a time when she hadn't been extremely cautious with her private medical information. Knowing the sick lengths the Cassadines where capable of she hadn't put this past them. But to actually see the product of what they had done to her made her swallow hard as she fought to keep the bile from raising.

She looked into the babies as he looked up at her and Alexis felt tears flow at the love she felt for him. No matter how he had come to be he was hers and she would love him like all her other children. As if he could sense her decision to love him unconditionally he gave her a big, gummy smile that managed to make Alexis heart stop at the image that flashed before her. She knew it was impossible no matter how much she wished it to be but she could almost swear that his big brown eyes and small sweet smile reminded her of Julian.

"Get a grip Alexis" she snapped even as she cradled the baby to her trying to keep from startling him. She needed to stop hoping for something that wasn't there. She kept pacing trying to get some of her nerves out of her system. She could feel herself starting to hyperventilate and the last thing she wanted to do was fall unconscious.

"I tell you what Sweet Pea" she started rambling " These Cassadines think they can do and say whatever they want with no consequences" she bounced the baby to sooth him as he began to whimper when Alexis accidently jostled his bottle. "I know what your thinking, we are Cassadines too so what does that say about us." Alexis made a quick pivot to avoid the bed when she almost ran into it. " But you would be wrong and I will tell you why, in family tree we have the good Cassadines too. You, Mommy, Sam, Kristina, Molly, Nicholas, Spencer and depending on the Circumstances your Uncle Stefan we are reasonable sane and always try to make the right decision" When the baby cooed she looked down at him and gave him a soft peck on his forehead. "And then we have the crazy, sadistic, psychotic side which Valentine would be at the top of the list followed by Helena and Stavros." When the baby scowled at the list of name she chuckled at him. "I know they are bad but don't worry baby. We will get out of here. Cause you haven't met Julian and as much I would love for him to just take our family and forget about me. I know he won't. He will come for us and take us away from here."

As she started thinking about the man she loved she felt herself start calming down and lowered herself onto the bed. "I promise you baby, Julian will come for me and you and he will keep us safe and I promise baby he will love you as if you were his own" she trailed off at the thought of how he would hurt for her but he would put it aside to love this child that was half hers. and that is the part they would think about not of who else had a part in creating him. "Sweet Pea when you meet him you will love him as much as I do. I promise you baby you will never meet a man more gentle, loving, selfless and brave than Julian." She paused as she felt the baby grip on the bottle loosen. She lifted him over her shoulder to burp him and buried her face into his soft neck breathing in his sweet smell as she cried silent tears as she finally let the fear of what having this baby would mean. It would make it twice as hard to nearly impossible to escape with an infant. She cried as for the first time since being brought to Cassadine Mansion she felt all hope leave her.

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Damien sat in the steps listening to the words of encouragement that Alexis cooed to the baby. He didn't know if the words were for the baby's benefit or for her but for whoever it was he was happy to hear her happy for a few minutes. He felt like a louse for what he was about to do but he had no choice his family was in danger too and no matter how he felt about this situation he couldn't risk putting his family in danger. He continue to do what he had to convincing himself that Valentine would not truly hurt her. Since the last time he had been in the cell it was becoming more difficult to convince himself that she would actually be safe.

He thought of his wife Odette and his two children and wonder what they would think of him if they ever found out that he had been a part of this. He didn't get to see them often because the Cassadines like to keep there thugs, Damien no longer had any illusions that he was anything but a common killer, close but he often wonder what his family would think if they ever found out.

He heard her laugh as she talked about the man that Valentine was planning on eliminating. She loved him and had so much hope and trust that he would save her. He started getting up as he heard her dissolve into tears wanting to gave her the peace that unconsciousness brought with it. He tapped the injection so that it was prepped when he went into the cell. He slowly unlocked the door trying to make as little noise as possible. He couldn't see her face as it was buried in the baby's neck but he could see as her shoulders rise up and down as she tried to keep her tears at bay. He made it as far as the bed before she sensed him.

His felt like a louse as she looked up at him with her big brown eyes brimming with tears.

"Please don't do this" she pleaded.

"I'm sorry Ms. Cassadine" he grabbed her arm and pushed the fluid in. Immediately he could see her start losing consciousness and he gently laid her down on the bed as he took the baby out of her arms so that he was safely ensconced in the bassinet.

"No your not" she muttered even as he felt the full heat of her anger in her eyes before she blessedly closed them.

Damien pulled away and called for the other guards so that Valentine's next phase could be put in motion.