One of the many problems a district attorney ran into was buying into a story when there was nothing to go on but face value. Alexis had been lied to plenty, she bet, but then she hadn't ever believed in anyone's innocence. It was just easier to handle if she didn't get emotionally involved. When they caught Logan and Courtney, she would not be handling that case. If they got to trial, she thought wickedly.

She was almost never wrong when it came to determining whether or not a person was innocent or guilty. It took patience and a stack of evidence on each side to see which one was the strongest. She couldn't just come out and ask if they were lying because then she might prevent them from slipping up on their own. That was usually the best part. The only problem was she had nothing else to do with her time but wonder and wait and prod gently.

Alexis was not oblivious to her future stepdaughter's mood the previous night. She had been a step up from down in the dumps and Alexis had just assumed she was missing her friends and teachers in Paris. After a brief discussion, she had discarded that theory. She wasn't full of stories she wanted to share; in fact, she was more closemouthed than she had been before she left Port Charles the first time. That's what had clued Alexis in. If she wasn't missing the general staff of the school or her roommates, she was missing a boy.

The biggest obstacle in finding out more information than she currently knew was that Georgie had gotten to be a good liar during her short stay away. Alexis could no longer tell immediately if she was hiding something. Did Maxie know? That was a possibility, she assumed, because she was worried the older sibling didn't know which would go to spark her curiosity, as well as her dread, about why Georgie was so hell-bent on no one knowing his identity.

Alexis tried to think of anyone Georgie might have mentioned during their phone conversations, or even from last night, but no one stood out. Was it possible she had had some sordid affair with one of her professors? Alexis skimmed over the brochure Georgie had originally brought home for her and Mac to see and saw that all four teachers were female. Scratch that. The professor angle was more Maxie's style anyway.

Oh Maxie, Alexis inwardly moaned. Mac was under enough stress. He didn't need to wonder what his twenty-two year old daughter was doing with a man twice her age. She didn't want to think about it. Of course, she had never had the pleasure or displeasure of meeting Ric Lansing, but that didn't make the situation any more rational. Maxie was always trying to one-up everyone, take their expectations of her and burn them away. She was a shock-and-awe kind of woman and that was what had Alexis worried. Right there and then, Alexis decided to put Kristina up in a castle and not let her out until she, her mother, felt she was ready to experience the act of dating.

"The Commissioner doesn't need to know that I'm checking up on his daughters." Alexis told the young man in her office. "And if you could keep it to yourself that I was here today that would help out a great deal." She wasn't supposed to be working, but to hell with it. She wasn't returning to the hospital and it's not like bed rest would get her well. If this was all the time she had left, she was going to use it to the best of her ability.

"Not a problem Ms. Davis." Harper nodded smoothly. It would be a good distraction, relatively simple and something he could easily use Sam's help with. In fact, it would probably be best to get the information the former district attorney sought by enlisting Sam. He had learned long ago girl talk led to all sorts of secrets spilling out. And if Sam's work made him look brilliant in the face of his superiors? Even better. Such a reputation would only help with his and Sam's plan in the long run.

"This has to be completely confidential. I don't care if the mayor himself comes to you. You don't know anything. Of course," She pushed her chair back and stood up slowly, "I would do this myself, but I'm a little less able to—" She didn't continue for fear that she would burst into tears again. No reason to look incompetent in front of the rookie.

"Understood ma'am. We've never even met." He decided not to comment on the tears he saw pooling in her eyes. Alexis Davis reminded him on some level of Samantha. Anything that could be construed as weakness had to be avoided at all costs.

"Whatever information you come across, I'd like to know about it." Alexis added handing him a piece of paper. "This is my cell. I don't want you to call here at the office, especially since I'm on strict orders not to be here."

"I'll program it into my own cell and burn the paper." He promised her.

"We'll discuss payment later." Alexis gripped the side of the desk without meaning to. When she saw that he had noticed and was about to comment, she held up her hand.

"Of course."

Opening the door to follow him out, she muttered an expletive. "My stepdaughter is on her way over to see me. Make sure she doesn't see you." To further orchestrate her point, she lightly shoved him behind her and met Georgie in the middle of the station. "Well, I didn't expect to see you here. Did I forget about a lunch or something?"

"No." Georgie smiled brightly. The truth was she had just met up with Steven for coffee, telling her father she was on her way to see Alexis at the hospital. This was about keeping her lies as close to the truth as possible.

Alexis glanced down at her watch quickly. "It's eleven in the morning."

"And you usually grab a quick something around then so you can work uninterrupted while everyone else is eating." Georgie smirked. "You and Dad really need to not discuss everything in the hallway."

Alexis laughed and reveled in how good it felt. "You haven't...have you seen your father?"

"Briefly at home. He was on his way here so if you don't want to get caught...."

"Get caught? Georgie, I am not afraid of your father."

"But I'm afraid of the fight and the making up afterwards. Please? For my sake? Can we just go to lunch?"

Alexis forced a smile. "Sure. Let's get out of here. You never know when those crazy mobsters might come sailing through the doors."

Walking through the double doors into the parking lot, Georgie led Alexis towards her own Mini Cooper. Opening the door, she allowed Alexis to get in before settling herself into the driver's seat herself. "Any requests or suggestions?"

"Something French." Alexis teased.

"And here I was hoping you would choose something American."

"Did you bring anything back I would like?"

Steven, Georgie thought to herself. You will love Steven. "I found the greatest book about Marie Antoinette."

*****

"You know, when you said you would treat for lunch, I did think it would be someplace where we don't already eat for free." Georgie pointed out as the waiter left their table to put in their orders. She didn't even have to look at the menu to know what she wanted at The Outback; she knew every item backwards and forwards.

Not that she was complaining. As much as she loved Paris, she had missed her family's old restaurant dearly. Glancing around the oak filled room, she smiled as the familiar decorations crossed her eyes. The framed pictures of high school teams gone by. The wooden oar her father had insisted on hanging above the bar. Steven.

She nearly spit out the water she had just taken a sip of when Steven's tall frame again crossed her eyes. What was he doing here? Georgie tried to replay their every conversation of Port Charles back in her mind. Had he ever mentioned The Outback? Had she? Did he see her? Would he see her? Was Alexis noticing this incredible freak out she was having right this second? Was this what a heart attack felt like?

"What's the matter?" Alexis turned around so fast she should have gotten whiplash. There was a handsome looking man standing by the bar. She recognized him from the Spencers' party, but his name escaped her.

"Nothing. Nothing. I thought I saw a mouse." Georgie lied quickly turning back around to face Alexis.

"Georgie, who do I look like?" Alexis gave her a "get real" look. "Do you know him?"

"Know who?" If she could just play dumb for a little longer...maybe Steven would get his order and leave.

"Alright, have it your way." Alexis ignored the look of horror that danced across Georgie's face as she got up from their table and walked over to the familiar man. "Excuse me?"

Steven almost stumbled right over the bar. "H—Hello." He stammered.

"I don't mean to bother you, but didn't I see you at Luke and Laura Spencer's anniversary party last night?" Alexis inquired.

Steven nodded, not entirely trusting his voice. "That's right. I came with my sister, Elizabeth."

Georgie managed to find her feet and race over to where Alexis was interrogating Steven. "Alexis. Our…our salads are here."

"Just a minute, Georgie. I was just talking to this nice young man." Alexis swatted the air as she tried to remember his name.

"Alexis you really don't need to bother Steven." Georgie protested. "He came here to eat not be interrogated."

"Oh I don't mind, Georgie." Steven countered through a rather large smile. "I've been wanting to meet your family for a while." He was going to pay for it later he knew, but that just meant he had to have a lot of fun with it right now.

"Steven. That's right. Steven Webber. It is nice to finally meet you." Alexis held out her hand for him to shake. He reciprocated, his eyes never leaving Georgie's.

"Great. Now we all know each other." Georgie forced a laugh through her lips.

"Join us, won't you? I want to hear everything. Georgie's father was very worried about her going to another country without knowing anyone." Alexis informed Steven.

"I don't want to interrupt your lunch—" Steven tried, noticing the deer-in-the-headlights look Georgie was giving him.

"Yeah, he doesn't want to interrupt Alexis."

"Nonsense. You are more than welcome. Right Georgie?" Before either could say another word, Alexis added, "Georgie's been so quiet about her trip, I wonder if she didn't just lie and trade in her ticket for upstate New York."

"Alexis don't be ridiculous." Georgie laughed.

"It seems Georgie doesn't want me to." Steven feigned hurt, but he was smiling inside.

"Then I guess it's a good thing majority rules, huh?" Alexis smirked.

"Yeah. Sorry about that Steven. We'll let you eat in peace now."

"Actually..." Steven picked up his half-full drink. "Would you mind if I joined you?"

He was dead. It was that simple. First it was an annulment and then he was dead. Georgie tried to telepathically convince him this was not a good idea, but felt her eyes widen in horror as Alexis motioned for Steven to sit down.

"Oh good, our salads are here." Alexis took a quick drink of her iced tea and then a bite of her Caesar salad. "Start with the day you met."

Why had she never noticed the grain of the wood before now? Georgie wondered as she stared at the table. Was this punishment for keeping so many secrets from her family? The guilt she was feeling was overwhelming her. She should have told her dad and Alexis way before now. She couldn't ask Steven to sit there and lie for her, nor could she sit there and lie right in front of him. There was a reason Maxie never had her cover for her exploits. She couldn't handle this, she just couldn't. "Alexis..."

"Yes Georgie?" Alexis glanced up expectantly from her plate.

Taking a deep breath, Georgie met Steven's beautiful baby blues quickly before turning her attention to Alexis. "I have something to tell you."