This was heaven.

Snuggled up in her ski gear with a hot chocolate laced with brandy clutched between her hands, sitting on a deckchair on top of a mountain staring out at a fabulous view with an equally gorgeous man seated by her elbow leaning over and whispering alternatively sweet or suggestive nothings in her ear.

It was practically perfect in every way.

Save the scowling teenager boring holes in the side of her face with those laser beams for eyes.

Fallon was not happy. No that was an understatement if ever Alexis had heard one. Fallon was furious, and what seemed to compound her daughter's unhappiness was that her brother was by contrast thrilled with the sudden change in his parents' relationship. Not that either Alexis or Blake had come out and said anything specific but Steven wasn't stupid and even he had to notice when his father coyly took his mother's hand on the ski lift or when his father would whisper in Alexis's ear and his mother would giggle and blush.

Fallon had more concrete proof than that of course, the only thing more damning than finding her mother's underwear cast about the living room would have been catching her parents in their lovemaking. Fortunately Blake seemed to have taken Fallon's sour mood as another sign of her continued stubborn refusal to forgive Alexis. For which Alexis thanked God, as the last thing she wanted to do right now was explain to her ex-husband and current lover the real reason for Fallon's sullenness was that their eldest daughter knew exactly what her parents had gotten up to on the living room floor last night.

Still Fallon's sulking was souring an otherwise perfect day so perhaps Alexis was more than a little guiltily relieved when her temperamental teenage daughter begged to be allowed to join some friends for the afternoon even if Blake himself seemed far from convinced.

"We came here as a family Fallon is it too much to expect you to spend a little more time with us before running off."

"But Daddy you did say that I could spend time with my old friends if they were here…"

Fallon's pout and large pleading gaze were perfectly timed and were it not for the sudden butter wouldn't melt act Alexis might even have found it convincing. Her daughter clearly had Blake wrapped around her little finger and was used to getting her own way.

"I meant tomorrow…"

"Daddy please they are all waiting for me. If I don't go now they might not ask me tomorrow."

Alexis could see Blake wavering, his desire to play happy families warring with his need not to remain the bad guy in his daughter's eyes. Ever since Fallon had been born Blake had struggled with being a strong disciplinarian where his baby daughter had been concerned. Since Alexis had been the parent at home it had fallen to her to handle their stubborn daughter and Fallon had quickly learnt that if Mother said no then she could normally get what she wanted by asking Daddy instead.

Things hadn't changed much in that regard, save that Alexis knew what little to no influence over Fallon she had once had now was powerless without Blake to back her up.

"Alright but I expect you back in time to join us for dinner." Blake finally caved. "Seven at the latest."

"Of course Daddy." Fallon replied sweetly leaning down to kiss her father's cheek the picture of innocence even as she purposefully avoided meeting her mother's knowing gaze.

Still as Fallon rushed off to join her friends Alexis couldn't admit to being too upset that her difficult daughter chose to make herself scarce, not when Blake wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. Snuggling deeper into his arms Alexis sipped at her chocolate and smiled as she watched her son continue to build a masterpiece of a snowman.

If she tried hard enough Alexis could almost make herself believe that everything was perfect, the man she had always loved even when she claimed to hate him had suddenly and incredibly reappeared her life and things between them were finally getting back to what they once had been. Steven had accepted her back into his life and was just as wonderful and loving as ever and even if Fallon was being her usual stubborn-self Alexis was still involved in her life and given time her daughter would crack eventually.

In her wildest dreams she had never expected this to happen when she had agreed to accompany Blake to back to Denver. She certainly hadn't believed Blake's fantastic story but if it meant seeing her children again then she would have taken any opportunity no matter how bizarre. She had only intended to take advantage of Blake's sudden change of heart yet instead Alexis found herself in danger of losing her own.

Blake had been warm and loving, understanding and deceptively charming. The first time they had met Alexis had lost her heart to him in a matter of days, this time she had thought herself older and wiser but she had only been fooling herself. She was as in as much danger of falling completely under Blake Carrington's spell as ever, already the thought of losing this, of losing him hurt.

Yet there was still something missing, two something's, however only one of those was in her power to change and the truth gnawed her. Just as Rosalind's question had been tormenting her when her panicking cousin had learned just where Alexis was going for New Years and more importantly with who….

Was she going to tell Blake the truth?

It was a question Alexis had yet to decide on an answer to.

Yet as Blake tightened his grip on her as if sensing her unease, dropping a kiss to her forehead Alexis could only muse on the bitter truth that it was impossible to have everything, sometimes you had to make a choice over what you wanted more and despite the warmth of Blake's arms and her hot chocolate Alexis shivered. If she tried to have everything she just might lose her everything that was potentially in her grasp, but she said nothing now and then Blake found another way…

That thought caused Alexis's heart to clench, it was a dangerous game she was playing and one slip could see her lose everything. Right now she was trapped between a rock and a hard place, damned if she did and damned if she didn't and for once in her life Alexis Carrington was unsure what to do next.

Did she risk Blake's righteous anger and tell him about their youngest daughter, gambling on his love for family and feelings for her to pull them through and give them a chance to be a complete family? Risking everything she had managed to scrape back together, it wasn't perfect but it was real and it was hers here and now. Or did she play it safe, keep Amanda as her secret and swear Rosalind to eternal secrecy and hope and pray that Blake never found out the truth?

It ashamed Alexis to admit it, even to herself, but she was honest enough to realise if it came down to a clear choice between keeping Blake's love and Fallon and Steven or risking everything for Amanda, that her youngest daughter wouldn't be her first choice.

So maybe letting Fallon go off with her friends hadn't been the wisest decision Blake had ever made. Alexis had been unusually distant for most of the following afternoon and even though Blake had tried asking her what was wrong Alexis had simply shrugged her shoulders, insisted it was nothing and offered him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Yet Blake hadn't felt comfortable enough to call her on it. Part of him was afraid it was him that Alexis was already regretting the sudden change in their relationship; she had been the one to ask for them to take it slow. Well last night had been anything but slow and Blake couldn't find it in himself to regret a second of it, however part of him was worried that Alexis wasn't feeling the same.

Had Alexis's distance been because she had spent the afternoon trying to think of a way to break it to him that she wasn't as certain of this reconciliation as he was? Yet if that was the case then surely Alexis would have been as physically distant as she had been emotionally, and yet the opposite had been the case. Alexis had been unusually demonstrative and affectionate even for her; in fact Blake could barely remember a moment when she wasn't reaching for his hand or snuggling into his arms…

So Blake could only hope that Alexis's distance was due to their daughter's disappearance and that she was smarting from the fact that Fallon would rather spend time with children she hadn't seen in years, anything to avoid spending time with her mother. The alternative was too unpleasant to dwell on.

"It's only ten minutes past seven Blake." Alexis commented from her place on the couch lounging in the smart trousers that were her only concession to the cool temperature outside and the sensuous colourful silk blouse that was draped over her frame, her discarded wrap lay over the back of the sofa. They still had time to make their reservation, even if Fallon was cutting things a little fine. Steven at least was showered and changed and happily reading in his room until it was time to go.

Their daughter however was another matter entirely.

And Alexis could only watch, the delicate diamond chain around her throat sparkling prettily, as she her former husband pace back and forth in front of the fireplace, right on the spot where only last night he had her seeing stars. Not that that fact seemed to have registered with Blake who was far too agitated worrying about their wayward daughter to have such distracting pleasurable thoughts on his mind.

"I told her to be back by seven Alexis, she knows we are having a family dinner and our reservations at the lodge are for seven thirty, if she's not back soon then she won't have time to change let alone freshen up."

"Which is precisely I imagine what Fallon intends." Alexis muttered to herself as she examined the French manicure she had been forced to give herself. It wasn't up to her usual standard but normally she didn't have an excited little boy hovering over her shoulder alternatively pestering her with questions and bouncing up and down on the bed.

Still at least Steven's acrobatics had answered one question as the bed in question still seemed as springy as she remembered and Alexis could only hope that Fallon's little disappearing act didn't derail her plans to test its endurance later, just like it had upset their dinner plans.

"Do you think I should call somebody?" Blake mused glancing down at his watch that had now ticked over to twenty past.

"Whatever for?" Alexis questioned watching in disbelief as Blake looked at her genuinely confused.

"Well if Fallon has gotten into some sort of accident or…"

"Blake she is fourteen years old if she had been in an accident or gotten into trouble then we would already have been called." Alexis cut in. "No she is staying out late on purpose."

"No." Blake answered shaking his head. "Fallon wouldn't do that she's a good girl."

"Blake she's a teenager." Alexis replied with an exasperated sigh rolling her eyes at her husband's naivety and forcing herself up from her comfortable position lounging on the sofa to place herself in Blake's path.

"But…"

"No buts Darling trust me." Alexis insisted confidently, reaching up and covering Blake's protesting lips with her fingertips before wrapping her hands around his neck as she pressed her silk covered form firmly against Blake's chest. "I might tell you a few of the things I got up to when I was only fourteen but I wouldn't want to frighten you."

Chuckling slightly at Alexis's teasing and relaxing slightly as he felt Alexis's soothing fingers stroking through his hair, her fingernails lightly rasping at his scalp; Blake wrapped his arms around his ex-wife's tiny waist. "I am quite sure such tales would send me grey overnight!"

"Well Blake I don't know quite how to break it to you Darling but…"

"I am already half the way there yes I know." Blake finished for her, huffing in annoyance at the latest sign of his advancing years.

"Well personally I like it." Alexis pronounced confidently her emerald eyes glinting playfully as Blake stared down at her in disbelief.

"No I mean it." Alexis added, unlocking one hand to bring it forward and stroke her fingers along one prominent silver streak in her husband's dark hair.

"You look even more distinguished…"

"By which you mean distinguished is a nicer way of saying old." Blake countered shaking his head, starting in surprise as Alexis's other hand suddenly dropped, sensuously stroking down his back to cup his arse.

"Hmmm you don't feel old to me Mr Carrington…" Alexis drawled seductively watching as Blake's eyebrows seemed to shoot up into his hairline in her hand travelled once more. Only this time she cupped the front of his trousers and playfully stroking the eager little friend who was only too delighted by the unexpected attention. "Not old at all!"

"Alexis…." Blake hissed, his voice a strained combination of lust and embarrassment as his former wife continued to blatantly stimulate him through the fabric of his trousers.

"Yes Blake?" Alexis innocently even as Blake reached down between them and grasped her wrist stilling her provocative motions. Still Alexis didn't pout for long when Blake brought her hand up to his lips and pressed a hungry kiss first to her fingers and then the inside of her wrist.

"Raincheck?" Blake asked unable to contain the childish hopeful pleading in his tone as he tightened his grip on Alexis's waist and pulled her warm pliant body firmly against the part of him that Alexis's had deliberately gotten to sit up and pay attention.

"Hmmm are you sure you can wait that long?" Alexis taunted subtly rocking her hips against him, her delight growing when Blake closed his eyes groaning and cursing under his breath.

"You will be the death of me woman." Blake muttered leaning down his best intentions scattered to the wind as he covered Alexis's hungry lips with his own, feeling his own appetite increase as Alexis's tongue skilfully duelled his own.

Dropping one of his hands to cup her backside that Alexis's trousers more than nicely emphasised, Blake didn't hesitate to pull her close and pressing his desire firmly against her warm stomach. A few staggered paces and Blake had her pressed against the side of the couch, his hands now free to roam made full use of this new privilege even as Alexis took advantage of their new position to rub herself firmly against his thigh.

"You two are disgusting!"

If the venom of the words hadn't startled them back to reality then the sudden slamming of the front door would certainly have brought them back down to earth with a bump.

Tearing his kiss bruised lips away from Alexis's Blake could only stare in shock and confusion as the haze of desire quickly evaporated to be replaced by the horror and embarrassment of discovery, and discovery by his fourteen year old daughter.

"Fallon it's not…we were…"

"I can see what you were just doing and its sick, the pair of you are sick….I hate you both!" Fallon exclaimed shaking her head resolutely as nothing her parents could possibly say could ever make up for walking in on them like this…

Dear god it was like they didn't even care that she was late and that anything could have happened to her. They had probably been so wrapped up in each other that they probably hadn't even noticed.

Storming past her parents Fallon stomped her way up the spiral staircase, making sure to emphasis every stomp before she reached the bathroom she had to share with her brother and the only available lockable room in the entire lodge.

"Fallon!" Blake moved to follow his daughter only to stop when he felt Alexis's fingernails dig into his sleeve.

"No Blake that is exactly what she wants for you to run after her, we aren't doing anything wrong…True we might be lacking a little restraint…" Alexis conceded when her former husband continued to look torn between heeding her advice and running after their demanding daughter.

"Fallon is the one who broke her curfew by half an hour and ruined our plans for the evening, she's lashing out at us to try and distract from that. She's acting like a brat and is expecting us to appease her." Alexis added when she saw Blake wavering. "Trust me let me handle this please?"

"Well if you are sure?" Blake began his guilt abating slightly as Alexis smiled brightly and reached up to press a chaste kiss to his lips.

"I'm sure Darling…Now why don't you order us something for dinner and I will go talk to our daughter!"