Jax had been gone for several days on one of his spontaneous business trips so Alexis had lots of free time to spend with her sister. They'd gone to the spa, out to dinner, and spent a lot of time talking. It was so easy for Alexis to talk to Kristina and visa versa that they were quickly getting caught up on each other's lives. They were so comfortable with each other they were even starting to argue. Alexis wanted Kristina to go to a nearby prep school when the school year started, but Kristina wanted to go to public school. Kristina's argument was that if the Quartermain brothers could go to public school so could she. Alexis countered that the Quartermains, though wealthy and well off, were not the same as the Cassadines. Kristina rebutted by throwing up the fact that Alexis didn't identify as a Cassadine so she couldn't use that line of argument. The sisters finally agreed to put the rest of the school conversation away for a while as they were planning on having dinner with their brother and nephew at Windermere.

"Kristina." Alexis said as she stopped her sister from getting on the launch. "About what we talked about the other night. Please don't say anything to Stefan."

Kristina looked at her sister a moment and then finally nodded. "Alright, but you should tell him."

Alexis shook her head. "That's part of my past that I'd like to keep to myself. I know its selfish, but its mine. Can you understand?"

The teen nodded. Alexis smiled, kissed her forehead and then stepped onto the launch with her sister. When they reached the dark and imposing castle they were greeted by their older brother Stefan and their twelve-year-old nephew Nikolas. After their brother greeted them Nikolas followed suit with a well mannered, "Aunt Alexis. Aunt Kristina." Which made Kristina giggle. She put an arm around the boy and said; "You realize I'm only like four years older then you right?"

Nikolas smiled at her. "Yes, I know."

"Then stop being so stuffy with me." Kristina said. "Be stuffy with them. They're old."

"Hey!" Alexis protested with a chuckle.

Kristina smiled sweetly at her sister before dragging her nephew off. The boy simply would not loosen up around Stefan.

"Kristina looks well." Stefan said as he poured himself and Alexis a drink. "I'm pleased to see she has adjusted so well."

"She's still grieving her parents." Alexis said as she accepted the drink. "But she has made herself right at home." She smiled warmly as she sat down. "She's so bright and bubbly, Stefan, its almost hard to believe she's one of us."

"You mean that she is a Cassadine?" He asked.

Alexis nodded and laughed. "We're not the bright and bubbly type."

"True." Stefan agreed. "But I do believe that we have, as Kristina would say, lightened up since moving to Port Charles."

That nearly made Alexis snort out her drink, almost. "Well, I would agree that you have been a little more relaxed since moving here."

"I can see why you chose to stay in the states." Stefan admitted.

Alexis knew that it wasn't the American way of life that kept Stefan here it was Laura, but she was just smart enough to keep that to herself.

"How are you fairing Alexis?" Stefan asked his sister as he watched her carefully.

"Hmm?" Alexis replied. "I'm well, adjusting to living with a teenager, but to be honest I'm loving it."

The look in his sister's eyes, the brightness of her face, made him smile. Then he asked, "And the memories? Are you coping well with those?"

Alexis nodded. "It isn't easy remembering your own mother's murder, but it's getting better. The nightmares have stopped at least."

"If I can help in anyway." Stefan said caringly.

"I know." Alexis said brightly as she smiled at her beloved brother. "And thank you."

When dinner was ready everyone was called to the dinning room. The four Cassadines sat together and enjoyed each other's company. Kristina's mere presence seemed to lighten Stefan's normally rigid and formal demeanor, and Nikolas was also a lot more at ease. Alexis was enjoying her evening with her family, with her brother, sister, and nephew and as she listened to the sound of Nikolas' beautiful laugh she found herself wondering where her little girl would have fit into the picture. The sudden thought made her heart freeze and for a spilt second her whole body went rigid. Thankfully no one noticed, or at least she didn't think anyone had, but of course Kristina had become very intoned to her sister, she knew, and she understood.

When they finally got back to the penthouse Jax was waiting for them. The sight of him sitting on her sofa made Alexis smile. She went right to him and kissed him. Jax was tall, blonde, blue eyed and Australian. He was fun loving and open hearted, a free spirit with a happy outlook on life. He was nothing like Alexis and she loved it. He brought out those things she loved about him from some deep dark forgotten place in her. She and Jax had become fast friends when she first moved to Port Charles but it had been a well-meaning scheme that had brought them together. They were supposed to pretend to be in love, neither expected it to really happen.

"Miss me?" Jax asked with his boyish bright smile when the kiss ended.

Alexis smiled back. "A little."

Jax laughed. With Alexis in his arms he looked over to Kristina who was grinning at the two. "Hey Red."

"Did you have a successful trip?" Kristina asked. She knew why Jax had been out of town. It had been her favor that sent him on his mission. She knew Alexis would be upset with her for telling Jax about her daughter, but she thought her sister might have more peace of mind if she knew her daughter was well.

"It was a good start." Jax replied.

"Another big take over?" Alexis asked as she sat beside Jax on the sofa.

"Fact finding." Jax answered as he pulled her close. "So did you have a nice family dinner with Stefan?"

Alex looked up at him and smiled, "How did you know that's where we were?"

"Two reasons." Jax said. "One, you're dressed in a dark "I'm going to a funeral" suit."

"Hey!" Alexis huffed as she smacked him in the chest.

Jax smirked. "Two," He picked the Cassadine medallion that hung around her neck on a long gold chain. "You only wear this when you have dinner with your brother."

Kristina lifted up the one she was wearing and smirked.

"You too?" Jax asked with a laugh. "Didn't take long for him to brand you."

"Jax!" Alexis protested. "Be nice! These aren't brand's they're family tokens, that's all."

"Whatever it is," Kristina said with a giggle. She loved watching Jax and Alexis together. Theirs wasn't some kind of big dramatic epic love, but it was the kind of love that would last forever no matter what. "I'm going upstairs to take it off." She got up from where she'd been sitting on the other sofa and walked over to her sister. She kissed Alexis on the cheek. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Krissy." Alexis replied.

"Night Red." Jax added.

"Goodnight." Kristina said with a knowing smile. "See you both in the morning."

Alexis blushed which made Jax smile even more. "So did you have a nice evening?" Jax asked again as he pulled Alexis close.

She nodded. "It was lovely. How was your trip?"

"It was fine." Jax replied. "I'll be taking another in a couple of days. I have some things I need to follow up on."

Alexis nodded in understanding and turned to face him. "Then I guess I should make good on the couple of days I have." She leaned in and kissed him. She squeaked a little when Jax stood and picked her up. Then she smiled as he carried her upstairs. Jax was still sleeping when Alexis left for the office the morning, or at least she thought he was, once he was sure she was gone for the day he got up and went downstairs to look for Kristina.

"So?" The redhead asked as she handed him a cup of coffee.

"Who made this?" Jax asked as he looked cautiously into the dark depths of the mug.

Kristina laughed. "I did." She reassured. Alexis wasn't known for having any kind of skill in the kitchen other than pressing the popcorn button on the microwave. "So? Fill me in already."

Jax took a sip and then settled onto the couch. "I found the clinic she was sent too and I found her records."

"And?" Kristina asked as she nearly bounced in her seat.

"Her baby was meant to be given to an adoption agency that Mikkos paid to place the baby with a well off American family in Hartford." Jax explained.

Kristina stopped bouncing and frowned. "Was suppose to go?"

"The lawyer for the agency was told the baby died." Jax explained. "He even had a death certificate."

"Oh, oh god no." Kristina said as tears welled in her eyes.

Jax moved over to her and put his hand on her knee. "I don't think that's what happened."

"You don't?" Kristina asked.

Jax shook his head. "I did a little more digging. There has been a lot of suspicion about that clinic. Some rumors of dirty dealing. I'm going to look into it a little more."

Kristina sighed and shook her head as she wiped a tear from her cheek. "If something bad happened, Jax, she'll blame herself."

"I know." Jax said. "But she didn't have a choice. I spoke to one of the nurses who was there when Alexis was. She remembered Alexis, she remembered how badly she wanted to keep her baby, but her "uncle" wouldn't hear of it. He gave her no choice what so ever."

"I wanted to give her peace of mind, Jax." Kristina said as she looked up at him. "What if her daughter isn't as safe and loved as she was led to believe?"

Jax gave her a one armed hug as he said. "We'll make it right."

"You really are to good to be true." Kristina chuckled. "You know that right?"

Jax smiled that dazing smile of his. "I just do what I can for those I love."