A/N: This is very short, but I expect to have another chapter up later today, or tomorrow. Thanks for the reviews, you rock!

"Oh, hi." Alexis is sitting on the loveseat when I return with a pot of tea. "I wasn't expecting you to be done so soon."

"Kristina was half asleep when I arrived, she was snoring two pages later."

"So she still doesn't know the ending, huh?"

"Nope." Alexis pours us both a cup, she lays a slice of lemon on the saucer and hands it to me. Just the way I like it. She fixes her own, a slice of lemon, half a teaspoon of sugar.

"Nikolas looked happy tonight." I offer.

"Yes." Alexis agrees.

I think of saying something about the party, how nervous Nikolas seemed, even something snide about the new nanny, instead I say "Are they my fault…your nightmares?"

Alexis closes her eyes. She is perfectly still. And I wait.

"No." Finally, she says quietly, yet firmly.

"You can tell me if it is…maybe having me here is too stressful…we fight…"

"Sam." Alexis' breathing is shallow. "I'm sorry I lied this morning…technically I wasn't, I don't have nightmares…I have night terrors, they are a little different."

"It sure seemed like a nightmare to me." I argue.

"There are several differences, but you aren't the cause. I've had them forever, or so I've been told. I, I don't remember them Sam. I never have. The only clue about them is I'll wake up in the morning just as tired as I was the night before. I've been told it's a coping mechanism. They are more a nuisance for those around me than anything. Poor Ric, they can really be hell on him."

"It sounded like someone was attacking you…"

"More tea?"

"No. You sounded like you were fighting for your life."

"Uh, huh. Cookie?"

"Stop it."

"Consider it stopped." Alexis sighs.

"You've never tried to figure them out?" I press.

"What's to figure out? Sam, I have no recollection of the dreams, they don't bother me."

"If they don't 'bother' you, then why are you embarrassed by them?"

"Knee-jerk reaction. Sorry." She looks toward my bedroom. "Your suitcase is still next to your bed."

"Yeah…"

"It looks pretty empty."

"I told you I was staying."

"You told me you were staying for John." She corrects.

"Is that a problem?"

"No…I'm glad Nikolas was able to convince you. I want the two of you to be close."

"But…" I fill in.

"I wish you were staying because you wanted to."

"I want to, but I've never been one to stay in one place long, so I'm not going to promise anything. I think that Nikolas could use a big sister around…"

"You are NOT his SISTER." Alexis interrupts.

I'm taken aback. "I know…I just…"

"You are cousins."

"I know, I just meant…Alexis what's wrong?" She's risen from the couch, is pacing rapidly, and barely breathing.

"Nothing…nothing is wrong." She lies.

"You could have fooled me."

She stops, "I have an early meeting, I'm going to check on Nikolas and head to bed."

"Okay." I rise and look into her eyes, deciding not to press her any further. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Sam. Thank you for your concern, I really do appreciate it."