Alexis couldn't sleep. Her mind simply wouldn't shut off so she found herself standing in the doorway of the bedroom that Kristina and Sam were now sharing. She watched Sam sleeping in her new bed, she was clutching her bean plush turtle and using the one Jax bought her as a pillow. Her little chest rose and fell in the slow rhythmic way that said she was deeply asleep. It felt so surreal to be standing there watching her daughter sleeping knowing that the girl was back in her life after so long. She'd never thought she'd get to put her baby to bed, to help her get ready and then tuck her in for the night. Alexis smiled as she wiped a tear from her cheek. Deciding she should leave the girls to sleep before she accidently woke one of them Alexis went back to her own room.

In the back of her closet Alexis had a box tucked away that she kept her most precious of secrets. Reaching into the box she pulled out a hand-bound leather journal and carried it over to the small writing desk near her window. She had several of these beautiful leather bound books, the first had been a gift from Stefan the Christmas before she got pregnant, the first entry had been made the day she found out she was pregnant. She wrote in that first book and the one after it quiet a lot because she was writing to her unborn child and then to her newborn daughter. Over the years the entries because fewer but Alexis never let certain dates pass without an entry. She had always hoped that she would be able to give them to her daughter someday. When she'd been pregnant she'd dreamed of giving them to her on her eighteenth or twenty-first birthday, or maybe the day she graduated college, or her wedding day, or maybe the day her first child was born; after giving her up she hoped they would find each other again and she would be able to give them to her as a way of allowing her to know her mother; but now it wasn't just a dream or hope, she really would be able to share her thoughts and emotions with her daughter.

Picking up her pen she wrote the date and for the first time wrote, My darling Samantha; rather then My darling Kristin, today the miracle of your birth was slightly overshadowed by the miracle of your return to my life. Alexis spent an hour writing to Sam about the way she felt about finding her and having her back in her life and about her hopes and dreams for their new future together. When she was finished she put the journal back in it's place and then finally went to bed.

The smell of food woke Alexis up the next morning and it made her smile. After slipping on her robe and slippers she padded down the hall, stopping at the girls' door to see if they were awake, they must have been because the room was empty. When she came down the stairs she spotted Sam standing on the desk chair, which was pushed up against the door, looking out the peephole. "Um, Sam, sweetie, what are you doing?"

"Watching the man across the hall." Sam said without looking away. "Why does he need bodyguards? Is he someone important?"

"He thinks he is." Kristina said from the couch.

Alexis glared at her sister before walking over and picking Sam up off the chair. She was startled for a moment at how light the child was, sure she was small for her age but she should have weight more shouldn't she? "Sam, spying on people isn't polite."

Sam's eyes had gone wide when Alexis picked her up. Every muscle in her body tightened and after Alexis set her on her feet and scolded her she was expecting to be hit. When the hit didn't come she looked up at Alexis oddly.

"Sam?" Alexis asked softly as she took notice of the girl's reaction. The way she cringed, the way she braced herself. When it dawned on her what was happening Alexis knelt down to Sam's level and asked, "Did you think I was going to hit you?"

"Weren't you?" Sam asked.

Alexis shook her head. "No, Sam, I would never ever hit you like that. I would never be violent with you." She reached out carefully and caressed Sam's cheek. "You don't ever have to flinch away from me baby."

Sam looked into Alexis' matching brown eyes and after several seconds she nodded. She was quiet for a moment and then asked, "So who's the guy across the hall?"

"A client." Alexis said as she relaxed and stood up.

"What kind of client?" Sam asked as she followed Alexis over to the couch.

"A legal client." Alexis answered.

"Why does he need a lawyer?" Came the next question.

Alexis looked at the girl and smirked. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Kristina snores." Sam answered as she glared at Alexis. She didn't like that the woman deflected her question.

"I do not!" Kristina protested.

Sam looked over at the older girl and nodded. "Yes you do."

"No I don't." Kristina argued.

"Yeah, you kinda do." Alexis added in with a chuckle.

"What are we arguing about?" Jax asked as he carried a huge tray of food to the dinning table.

"Kristina snoring." Sam said as she looked at the food from her kneeling potion on the couch. There was a platter piled high with eggs and bacon, and a bowl of fruit.

Alexis noticed Sam and held in her sigh. So many things broke her heart when it came to Sam, knowing that she'd gone hungry for even a moment was just one. "Come on lets eat." She went over and picked the girl up again and set her on her feet. Something was telling her the more she touched Sam the more the girl would realize her touch wasn't something to be feared. As she, Sam, and Kristina went to the table Jax went back into the kitchen and brought out another tray.

"I hope you like scrambled eggs and bacon, Sam." Jax said as Alexis made a plate for the little girl.

"You didn't have to come over and cook." Alexis teased as she put the plate in front of Sam. "Is that good sweetie?" When Sam nodded she gave the girl a smile.

"Sure I did." Jax teased back. "Sam needs good nutritious food not popcorn and pop tarts." He was grinning as he put a glass full of his famous protein shake in front of Sam. "I was actually thinking of hiring someone for you, a nanny with cooking skills."

Sam blinked at the glass Jax set in front of her. "What is that?"

"It's a shake." Jax answered. "It's good, try it."

"I hadn't even thought of a nanny." Alexis frowned as she sat with her own plate. "But I guess I'll need someone around when I'm at work."

Questioning brown eyes looked between Jax and Alexis before settling back on the glass. Sam wasn't even paying attention to the nanny conversation; she was more concerned with the stuff in the glass. "What kind of shake?"

"Like a milkshake." Jax said still grinning. "Only it's good for you."

Alexis was hiding a smirk and a giggle behind her hand as she watched Sam carefully stick her finger into the goop Jax had tried and failed to get her to drink. She had to hold her breath to keep the giggles at bay when Sam sniffed it before tentatively tasting what was on her finger. She had tears in her eyes when she finally managed to say, "Just try a sip Sam."

Sam looked between everyone now. She noticed that Jax and Kristina were both drinking the stuff so she figured she'd try. She picked the glass up as if it were toxic and took a sip. A long moment past, the look on her face was unreadable. Finally she shrugged, "That's no bad."

"Really?" Alexis asked in shock. She was sure the ten year old would hate it. Reaching over she took the glass when Sam set it down and took a sip herself. "Hey! This isn't the stuff you tried to get me to drink."

Jax was smirking. "That's more kid friendly. She needs the extra nutrition."

Alexis huffed and then laughed. The four of them started eating and Alexis kept a close eye on Sam. She wanted to make sure that she ate well, but there was also a part of her that was afraid that if she looked away Sam would disappear.

"What is that on your toast?" Sam asked Jax.

"Vegemite." Jax answered. "It's an Australian thing."

"Can I try?" The little girl asked.

Jax beamed. "Sure!"

Alexis watched in amazement as the girl who was so leery of the protein drink willingly tried the rather nasty spread on a bit of Jax's toast. She was even more surprised when Sam liked it. "You like it?"

Sam nodded. "Its good. It's kind of salty, I like that."

"I'll make sure my Mum sends me an extra jar just for you." Jax said, still beaming. He grinned at Alexis who just shook her head and chuckled. Then he asked, "So what do you lovely ladies have planned today?"

Alexis liked that Sam seemed so willing to try new things, even if she herself weren't that open minded. She was smiling as she looked at Jax and said, "Sam has an appointment with Gail Baldwin. After that I thought we'd just play it by ear."

"Well," Jax offered. "How about a day out on the boat?"

Sam's eyes lit up as she stopped with her fork half way to her mouth. "You have a boat?"

Jax nodded and smiled. "I do."

"Oh!" Sam squeaked. "I wanna go on a boat!"

Alexis smiled at the way Sam's whole face lit up. She didn't really like going out with Jax on his boat because she didn't care much for the water, but she couldn't say no to that look. "Well, I guess we can go out on the boat for a little while."

"Oh that means shopping!" Kristina piped in. "You'll need a swimsuit and some new shorts and tops."

"We'll meet you at Windom's after Sam's appointment." Alexis smiled at her sister.

Sam was so excited she started rambling about how much she loved the water and swimming. She was talking so much and so quickly that everyone just watched her with huge grins on their faces. However her excitement deflated as soon as Sam found out that her appointment was with a shrink. "Why do I have to talk to a shrink?"

"You're seeing a therapist so you'll have someone to talk to." Alexis explained as they got off the elevator. "So much has changed in your life, Sam, it's got to be kind of a lot to take in."

"I'm not crazy." Sam said as Alexis checked her in at the nurses' station.

Alexis led her to the waiting area and sat her beside her. "No one said you were, Sam. It helps to talk to someone about the stuff going on in your life, it helps you to understand, and it helps to have someone who can give you advice. You can come and talk to me, or Kristina, or Jax, any time you want about anything at all, but sometimes there could be things you're not comfortable talking to us about. That's where Dr. Baldwin comes in. She talks to all kinds of people, all kinds of kids, about all kinds of things."

"I'm not crazy." Sam repeated as she slumped into her chair and crossed her arms. She didn't like it that Alexis thought there was something wrong with her. If she thought that something was wrong with her, she might send her away again, and with Carly with her mom, Sam would be alone again.

Thankfully Alexis was saved from trying to explain again when Gail came out. They spent a few minutes talking together before Gail took Sam into her office. She was hoping that Gail would be able to help them both with the major transition they were going through because she understood it her self. Sure Sam was her daughter biologically but they'd been separated for ten years, in a way it was like forging a relationship with an adopted child. Gail had experience professionally and personally given that she was Monica's adoptive mother and Scott Baldwin's stepmother. While she waited she decided to go over some of the information Jax and Diane had on Sam. She pulled out the file and started reading it over.

"Hey there mama Natasha."

Alexis looked up and smiled at Luke. She jumped to her feet and hugged him. Though it had been mostly Jax who'd found Sam, Luke had been a big help. "Thank you."

"Anything for you Natasha." Luke replied as they stepped back from each other. "You know that."

Alexis laughed. "You were helping your sister. It was a coincidence that her daughter and mine were together. But you did help Jax and for that, thank you."

"He really would do anything for you." Luke said with a smile. "Plus, it was fate darlin'." Luke said as he sat with her. "A Spencer and a Cassadine working together. Kind of reminds me of us."

Alexis pointed her finger at Luke and with a deadly seriousness Luke had never seen in her before replied, "Luke, I'm going to tell you this once, and I'm going to warn Stefan as well, I do not want my daughter involved in this insane Cassadine-Spencer war you two have going on."

"Spencer-Cassadine." Luke corrected.

"I don't care Luke!" Alexis said with a roll of her eyes. "You and Stefan will leave Sam out of it. Do I make myself clear?"

"She's your kid, Natasha, I would never put her in danger." Luke replied. "I wouldn't hurt her any more than I would you."

"And yet you still want to kill my brother." Alexis replied.

Luke smiled. "It's my life's goal."

Alexis groaned and rolled her eyes.

"You're not one of them Natasha." Luke said as he looked into her dark eyes. "You're your mother's daughter, not your father's."

"Put my daughter in danger Luke and you'll see just how much of a Cassadine I can be." Alexis said in a low, threatening voice.

Luke knew she was for real and that made him smile all the more. "Another time, another place, and I could have fallen for you Natasha."

Again Alexis rolled her eyes. The scary part was that she agreed with him. There was this strange undercurrent of attraction about their friendship, and under different circumstances she knew it could easily become one hell of a love affair. She also knew that it would never happen because they'd both end up burning each other to ash. They worked as friends and nothing more.

"Alexis." Gail said as she and Sam came out of her office.

Alexis turned and smiled. "How'd everything go?"

"We got to know each other." Gail said with a warm smile. "We're going to meet again in two weeks."

Sam looked slightly less annoyed then when she went in. Gail hadn't been pushy or anything and asked questions Sam didn't mind answering. When she spotted Luke she walked over to him, leaving Alexis to talk to Gail. "You're Carly's uncle."

"I am." Luke said with a warm smile. "I'm a good friend of your mom's too."

"Leave Carly alone." Sam warned. "Don't try getting rid of her again. Leave her be with her mom this time."

"Sam!" Alexis scolded as she caught what the little girl was saying.

Luke held up his hand. "It's ok Natasha."

Alexis shook her head. "No, it isn't." Alexis crouched down and looked her daughter in the eyes. "Samantha, we do no speak to adults that way. I know you're trying to protect Carly but you don't have too. She's with Bobbie and Bobbie is going to take good care of her, and Luke would never do anything to hurt his sister, and hurting Carly would hurt Bobbie."

Sam looked at Alexis because Alexis had a hold of her chin, but the minute she let go the girl glared at Luke. There was no need to say anything; the look she gave him said it all.

"I like you Slick." Luke said as he smiled at the girl. "I promise. I won't do anything to hurt Caroline." He added before getting up and kissing Alexis on the cheek before ruffling Sam's hair and walking off.

Before Alexis could scold her some more Sam looked at her. "Why did he call you Natasha?"

"Because that's the name I was born with." Alexis explained as she gathered up her papers. Then she continued, "I meant it Sam. I don't want you speaking to adults like that."

Sam rolled her eyes. It was really odd to hear Alexis use her full name, and it was odd to think that Alexis had a different name when she was born from the one she used now. "Did I have a different name when I was born?"

That caused Alexis to pause. She looked at the girl for a moment and then reached out and pulled her close. She sat Sam on her lap as she answered, "Yes, it was Kristin, after my mother."

"You gave me a name?" Sam asked, though it was less of a question for Alexis and more of a way for her to process that. Somehow knowing that Alexis had given her a name, named her after her own mother, gave Sam a bit of reassurance that what Alexis had been saying about wanting her was true. "It's a pretty name."

"I thought so too." Alexis said with a soft smile.

Sam was quiet for several long moments before finally jumping up and saying, "Come on! We're meeting Jax on his boat remember!"

Alexis was startled at the sudden shift but laughed as she stood up. "I remember, but first we're meeting Kristina at the store."

"So," Kristina said as she and Sam wandered about the children's department of Windom's while Alexis ran to the drug store for Dramamine. "How was your appointment with Dr. Baldwin?"

Sam made a face as she looked at some swimsuits. "Alexis thinks I'm crazy."

Kristina shook her head, which made her bright red ponytail sway. "No, she doesn't think you're crazy. She's just trying to make sure you have everything you need, is all."

"I don't need a shrink." Sam replied as she looked up at the older girl.

"I like Dr. Baldwin." Kristina told her niece as she held up a swimsuit that Sam shook her head at. "I think she's easy to talk to."

Sam blinked as she looked up at the older girl. "You talk to Dr. Baldwin? Are you crazy too?"

"We're not crazy." Kristina repeated. "We've both had a lot of stuff happen to us in short span of time."

Sam studied her aunt for several seconds before asking, "What happened to you?"

"Well," Kristina began as she stopped searching the rack to look at Sam. "My adoptive parents died and I came to live with Alexis, and we both had a lot of harsh truths to deal with."

Big brown eyes went huge as Sam's mouth dropped open. "You were given up for adoption too? God, doesn't anyone in your family keep their babies?"

Kristina frowned at the girl. "Our family." She corrected and then went on. "Your mother would have kept you if she could have, Sam. Mine had less of a choice then Alexis did; she died."

"Oh." Sam said as her flash of anger quickly turned to sadness. "I'm sorry."

Kristina pulled Sam over to a padded, upholstered bench and sat down with the girl beside her. "Our mother, Alexis' and mine, loved us very much. We were her world. When she died I was just a tiny baby and our father, Alexis' and mine, he couldn't take care of me. So he gave me to people who could care for me."

"But he could take care of Alexis?" Sam asked.

"No." Kristina said with a shake of her head. "He thought he could because she was older, you're age in fact, but he was wrong. Like you Alexis ended up taking care of herself, and like you she had someone in her life that understood and they ended up taking care of each other."

Sam thought that over a moment and said, "She had a Carly?"

Kristina laughed softly. "Yeah, she had a Carly; she had our brother Stefan." Kristina paused a moment and brushed at Sam's hair. "When she found out she was going to be a mother, Alexis wanted to love her baby as much as our Mama loved her, and even though she had to give you up, that didn't change. Even though she couldn't take care of you, that didn't stop her from loving you, and now that you're here, now that you're back where you belong, she's going to do whatever she can, whatever she has too, to take care of you." Kristina smirked then. "And trust me, sometimes that's going to be really annoying."

"Like making me see a shrink is annoying?" Sam asked.

The redhead laughed and nodded. "Yeap, you go it, Squirt." She stood and held out her hand. "Now come one lets get you a swimsuit so we can get out on that boat."