Chapter 16

As soon as Alexis heard the first notes begin to play, she recognized the music as belonging to the aria that her mother had been practicing the night that Helena had come into their home and killed her. She felt the helplessness that had engulfed her night threatening to overtake her once more. She felt as her tormented mind once again attempted to repress reality.

She had done it as a child when her mother had been murdered by Helena. Her father had made her live under the same roof as the women who she had watch murder her mother. She had hidden "Natasha" from the world protecting the scared little from processing what had happened to her mother. It wasn't until years later that she had been able to remember some, but not all, of the terrible memories of that night.

She had also done it as a teenager when she had protected "Alexandria Davidovich" from the pain of having her little girl ripped out of her arms. Alexis had gone back to boarding school and continued to live her life as if neither her daughter or Julian had ever existed or meant anything to her. To this day she still didn't fully remember her past with Julian but the deep feelings she had for him in the past were still there, stronger than ever.

She continued to listen as the aria turned dark and low as if capturing all of the fear and pain that Alexis felt at the moment, the pain piercing through her as she thought of her daughters and now son, who was just a little baby. She would never see them again and she knew the pain they would go through when they finally came to terms with the fact that their mother was gone forever. She hurt for her daughters, who would always carry with them the final moments of their mother's life as she did. The last thing she wanted was for the last memory her daughters had of her to be of a madman dragging her away from them after hunting her down like an animal.

And then there was Julian, after so many years of feeling alone she had finally found a man that loved, respected and valued her above all others, putting her needs before everything and everyone else. And he had once again been taken away from her. She could only imagine the pleasure Valentine had taken in torturing him and finally killing him.

She focused her thoughts on her children, happy and alive, refusing to let her mind shut down and repress her loved ones once again, she refused to give Valentine that power. She would not forget the happiness and love her family had given her, she would cherish every moment she had been able to have with her family and she would use that love to get through the nightmare she was in. She took a deep breath, calming her heart rate and breathing as she continued to listened to her mother's voice bringing one beautiful memory of her family after another.

As if sensing her new resolve she felt Valentine's gaze on her and immediately started picking at the food in front of her. She tried to swallow a piece of asparagus but the lump in her throat made it impossible for her to swallow. He had already warned her once that if she didn't eat he would ask Philip to force feed her. So she just kept chewing hoping that he wouldn't notice that she wasn't actually eating any of the food on her plate.

Gratefully the aria soon finished and a male singer took up where her mother had stopped. She was concentrating so hard on just chewing and swallowing that she jumped when Valentine started speaking to her. "Did you enjoy holding the child"? Alexis was so startled by the question and the tone he used that she lost her grip on the spoon she was holding, dropping it loudly on her plate. "What did you feel when you held him Natasha. Were you able to see the similarities between father and son." he spit out with enough venom causing Alexis to recoil in fear once more. Alexis had not expected this anger from him, she had expected him to be gloating about the child that had been born from his and her DNA.

"Va..len..ti..ne" she stuttered, afraid of what was next.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice" he accused immediately, not letting her finish.

"Valentine, I don't know what your talking about" Alexis yelled, confused by the direction the conversation was going.

"Don't lie to me Natasha." he spit as he rounded the table to get closer to her. She tried to push back as he leaned into her but that just made Philip tighten his hold on her keeping her down in her chair.

"Larry bring me the child." Valentine ordered as he continued to stare at her.

She saw as Larry rushed into the dining room with her little boy squirming and crying at the way he was being held. Spurred by the terrified cries of her little boy she tried to push out of the chair but it was impossible to get any leverage with the way Philip had his big meaty hands on her shoulders, pressing her down into the chair "Valentine" she shouted "Please don't hurt the baby."

"Why Natasha" he screamed, turning beet red as spittle flew from his mouth, any illusion of control now gone.

"I don't know what your talking about, please the child is innocent. You brought him to me and said he was mine and yours. Why are you hurting him" she yelled at him as she continued struggling to free herself from Philip's hold.

"Don't lie to me Natasha" He shouted, the vein in his neck popping out as he yelled.

"I'm not lying" she watched in horror as he grabbed her son by his tiny throat squeezing tightly. Her mother's instincts kicked in as she jerked her head back connecting with Philip's nose solidly, as Philip grabbed for his nose she was able to lunge at Valentine. She grabbed desperately at the hand that was wrapped around the baby's neck, causing Valentine to toss the baby to Larry once again before turning to her. She watch in horror as her baby flew through the air only to be caught at the last second by a quick moving Larry. She saw Valentine turn back to her just as Philip's strong arms once again wrapped themselves around her keeping her from continuing her assault on Valentine.

"Are you going sit there and tell me you don't recognize that this child is yours and that bastards" he screamed as he pulled her away from Philip grabbing a hand full of her hair, thrusting her in the baby's directions so that she could take in the baby's features. The baby was turning beet red and was having trouble breathing as he kept screaming at the top of his lungs afraid and in pain. His little legs and hands flailing as Larry tried to calm him down unsure of what Valentine wanted him to do with the baby.

"What" she gasped, the shock of what she was hearing causing her to seize her struggling for a second, as she attempted to assimilate what he had just said, the child was hers and Julian's baby. She didn't have much time to rejoice as she heard her baby cry out again as Valentine once again reached for his tiny throat. She jerk her head back trying to hit Philip again, Philip not wanting to get hit again loosen his hold just enough, for Alexis to take advantage of the moment and stomp on his foot and then managed to rear her elbow back and hit him in the stomach hard enough to knock the breath out of him. Not giving him a chance to retaliate she turned and kneed him in the groin hard enough that he fell to the ground with a grunt. She once again reached for her baby forcing Valentine to remove his hand from child's neck so that he could physically block her from reaching her baby.

"Hold her damn it" Valentine shouted. Larry, not sure what to do, dropped the baby as he reached for Alexis. Alexis lunged for the baby, catching him before he hit the floor. She cradled him to her placing tiny kisses all over his little, angry face as she tried to calm him down. Philip, finally having gotten off the floor, came up behind her just as Larry stepped in front of her yanking the baby away. She had no choice but to let go as he violently grabbed at her baby. As she handed the baby over, Philip pulled her roughly towards him causing her to loose her balance and fall to the floor. As she tried to get up Valentine walked over to where she laid and bent over her forcing her to stay down.

"What did you think" he yelled into her face, his hand grabbing painfully at her chin so that she was forced to look at him. "That I was going to let you raise that bastard." she could feel his hot breath burn against her as he spewed his hate. "You were suppose to be mine and only mine and now I will destroy everyone and everything that reminds you of your past life. I will go after your other children and their fathers. I will kill them all."

"No Valentine" she begged trying to find a way to not follow through with his threat. "Please, I..." she stopped struggling as she came to the realization of what she had to do. "I will..." she whispered knowing what she had to do to save her baby and the rest of her family. It would take all the courage she had in her to follow through with her plan but for her family she would do anything. "I will accept you as my husband." She let her body relax and braced herself for what she had to do as she reached up to cup his face. "And I will never speak of the past again. My life will begin today with you and there will only ever be you" she said as she leaned in to kiss him. She forced herself not to flinch as her lips touched his and it took every last ounce of control she had not to cringe as he grabbed her, pulling her tighter to him, his mouth rough on hers. She struggled to breath as he angled his lips over hers to kiss her more deeply. She felt disgusted and violated but the thought of protecting her daughters, and if Valentine wasn't lying, protecting Julian's and her son kept her from pushing him off of her. When she thought she would pass out, from the lack of air, he finally pulled away from her; his hand still holding her head close.

"Do not think you can play me for a fool Natasha, but I am willing to let you prove to me how much you love me. It is on you if your family lives or dies but know this, one mistake, one hesitation and I will kill them all and it won't be gentle or quick" he said menacingly.

"What about the child" she gasped in pain as he tugged her head back baring her neck to him.

"What shall we do about him" he taunted. Valentine looked between the baby and Alexis. It took everything in her not to turn towards the baby, less he think she was concerned for her little boy.

"Valentine, we don't need a reminder of my past here with us" she said with false cheerfulness "Send him back to Port Charles. Sam" she didn't say Julian, not knowing if he was dead or alive, but also not wanting to remind him that the baby was Julian's "will raise him" she held her breath as he once again looked between the boy and her.

"Philip" he shouted ignoring her suggestion.

"Yes, sir" the man was once again at Alexis's side ready to do the biding of a psychopath.

"Get everything ready. There will be a wedding tonight" he looked around until his eyes once again focused on Alexis " My love come" he held a hand, which Alexis grabbed without hesitation; desperate for him to believe that she was committed to their relationship. She needed him to believe that she felt nothing for the little boy, who was still laying in the bassinet, crying in loud fearful wails. She wanted nothing more than to run to him, hold him in her arms and comfort him; but she knew if she did that it would just lead to his death followed by the deaths of her daughters and then Julian's, if he wasn't already dead. She would do all of Valentine's bidding to keep her family safe even if meant her soul would die long before her body mercifully did. All that matter was keeping her family safe.

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Julian stood at the top of the stairs hiding behind a wall as he watch what was happening to Alexis. It was all Julian could do to stop himself from running down to where that animal was mauling her. He couldn't hear what was being said but he saw the way her whole demeanor had changed when Valentine grabbed the little boy, Alexis and his little boy. Instead of fighting him she'd became docile and Julian knew in that moment that she had decided to do whatever needed to be done to save their baby.

As Valentine finally pulled away from Alexis he saw him turn and barked out orders to his men. As the guards left to do Valentine's bidding, Julian counted only three guards remaining to guard Alexis and their baby. Julian noticed that the guard, who had been holding Alexis down, was the one walking up the stairs in their direction. Julian wanted nothing more than to take his sweet time in punishing the SOB but he wouldn't let his lust for revenge hurt his family so instead he quickly gestured to Sam and Jax to step back and out of sight.

As soon as the man was past Julian, he step up behind him and put him in a choke hold, the man struggled but Julian's fury at what the man had done to Alexis made it easy for him to snap the man's neck. Jax hurried towards Julian helping him drag the dead man into a room so that no one would be the wiser.

Julian turned to Sam, unwilling to wait any longer. "Sam you stay up here. Make sure we have no uninvited guests. Jax, I will distract Valentine, if you have a clear shot take it, we kill him it will create the chaos we need to get Alexis and the baby out of here.." Julian cocked his gun and watched as the other two did the same. If Sam and Jax where aware that he was making himself a target to make sure Alexis and his son were safe neither said anything.

Sam turned her back to the two men and Jax position himself at the top of the stairs dropping to one knee as Julian silently started down the steps. His hope was that he would be able to get Alexis's attention so that she knew what to expect and keep herself out of the line of fire but Julian was prepared for a blood bath and his sole intent was to make sure Alexis and his children made it out of there unhurt.

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Damien was disgusted at what he was witnessing and disgusted even more with himself for allowing it to happen. He thought he could do this to protect his family but what about Ms. Cassadine and the little one? What about her family?

Damien had seen what Valentine had done to women before; forcing them into his bed, raping them, permanently scarring them both physically and mentally. Damien had been forced to clean up after many of Valentine's 'conquests' as he referred to them and he did not want the same thing to happen to Ms. Cassadine.

He saw as Valentine pull Ms. Cassadine up to the small deck where the minister of peace was waiting to perform the ceremony. He would have to get rid of Valentine first, without him the others would hesitate, giving him enough time to take them out, he hoped. Damien took a deep breath and counted to three, reached behind his back, felt the cold grip of the handle of his gun feeling as it fit perfectly into his hand, slowly pulled it out, took a breath, aimed and fired.

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Valentine licked has lips as he could still taste the sweetness that was Natasha, he had waited for so long to have her and now the moment was but seconds away. He would have to control himself, he didn't want his lust for her to get the better of him like it had with other women he had lured into his bed. No, he wanted Natasha by his side forever.

Valentine looked at his bride to be. She was prefect, he thought and who better to marry the perfect woman but the perfect man. As the minister started to speak, reciting the words that would bind them together for eternity, he thought of how he would enjoy finally making Natasha his mentally, spiritually and physically. He was so entrenched in his fantasy that he hesitated when he heard, then felt the unexpected graze of a bullet against his temple.

Surprised, he reached up and wiped at the blood that was dripping from his temple. He looked towards the direction of where he heard the shots fired from, but was not able to see anything but heard as two more shots were fired, and to his greater dismay he was able to make out someone shouting for Alexis. Furious that his plans were interrupted he roughly grabbed Alexis's arm and started running toward the back corridors of the mansion.

Alexis simultaneously heard the shots and her name being called out. She turned and was able to catch a glimpse of Julian running down the stairs. Before she could react she felt herself being pulled roughly away as Valentine grabbed her arm and started pulling her deeper into the mansion. "Valentine, stop my baby" she pulled back trying to go back to where her baby was. All she could think of was that a stray bullet could hit her baby before Julian was able to save him. She struggled with Valentine, as he kept dragging her further into the mansion, but he was too strong and she was unable to pull away. Not knowing how else to make him stop she went limp, dropping to the floor, forcing him to stop.

"Damn you, get up" he shouted as he pointed his gun at her. "I will kill you Natasha, before I let him have you, I will kill you". He aim his gun between her eyes waiting for her to give in and get up.

But now that Alexis knew her baby was safe with Julian she was unwilling to go any further with Valentine. She remained where she was, willing to die if it meant that her family would no longer be a target. She knew it was a risk she was taking but she was unwilling to make it easy on Valentine. If he was intent on taking her with him he would have to physically carry or drag her out.

Valentine's eyes darken in anger at her defiance. He leaned over her, pushing the gun painfully between her eyes.

Unwilling to show him any fear she kept her eyes open staring into the eyes of man who had caused her so much pain. The sound of Valentine cocking his gun sounded like thunder in her ears, and she felt as the blood drained from her face her thundering heart threatening to burst out of her chest.

"I love you Natasha" Valentine yelled. "I would have given you everything" he cried as he caressed her cheek. She looked in his eyes and saw that the madness he had tried to control was now in full display. She knew it was now or never. Using all the strength she had left, she grabbed at the hand holding the gun, lifted up on her knees and used her body to push the gun up and away from between her eyes.

Valentine growled in frustration, shooting blindly missing her head going off close to he ear. Alexis felt a painful ringing in her ear, causing her to loosed her balance as well as her grip on the gun. She reached blindly for Valentine, causing him to loose his balance and fall on her. As he fell the gun was knocked out of his hand. Alexis tried to scramble out from under him and reach the gun, but he was too heavy, she was pinned under him until he was able to regain full control of the gun. When he finally manage to stand again, he bent down and pulled her by the hair until she was in a standing position right in front of him once again the gun pointed at her.

She didn't give him the satisfaction of showing him any fear she just stared ahead as the barrel of the gun was pushed against her forehead.

"Now you die" he said with no emotion.

***I rewrote this chapter several times cause I couldn't quite get the tone right. I hope you like it. So excited for March 24!***