Alexis stormed into Windermere still clinging to her rage and fear. She'd called Jax and made him come get Sam and his mother, she didn't want Helena harming either of them and knew Jax could tangle with the evil snake woman if he had too, and then she hopped on the launch. She hadn't even given the servants time to announce her after storming into the house; she swung open the doors to her brother's study and marched up to his desk. "Why the hell didn't you warn me?"

"Alexis?" Stefan replied as he looked up at the fuming woman. Her entrance had startled him and her appearance was concerning. "Warn you about what?"

"You're evil bitch of a mother being in town!" Alexis spat.

Stefan got to his feet quickly, but kept his composure. "Helena's here?"

"You didn't know?" Alexis asked with narrowed eyes.

"No, I did not." Stefan replied as he came around his desk and closer to his trembling sister. He put his hands on her upper arms as a way of offering comfort. "What happened Alexis?"

Having her brother so close did help. It gave Alexis the moment she needed to take a few deep breathes and calm herself down. "I was on my way to meet Sam and Lady Jane when she appeared on the docks like the devil woman she is. She said she wanted to meet Sam and I told her to stay away from her. Of course because this is me and my life and my luck Sam showed up with Jane." She looked up into her brother's eyes, his mother's eyes, and shuttered as she said, "You should have seen the way she looked at Sam, Stefan. She looked at my daughter as if she were something to be possessed."

"As if she'd found a backup plan to taking control of Nikolas." Stefan said with a heavy sigh. As soon as he'd found out about Samantha the thought had crossed his mind. As soon as it was reviled that Samantha was a Cassadine by blood he knew she would become a piece to played in his families never ending game.

Alexis shook her head. She didn't understand. "Sam doesn't have any connection to the title and the power she's after."

"That isn't true, Alexis." Stefan reminded her. "Nikolas is an only child. I have no children of my own. If something were to happen to him…"

Alexis' eyes went wide. How could she have overlooked that? "Sam would become the heir." She shook her head again as fear for both Sam and Nikolas gripped her heart. "She would never harm Nikolas. Even if she can't gain control of him, he's still Stavros' son."

"And that may be his only saving grace." Stefan said as he moved her to the sofa and sat down with her. "I had no idea she was here, Alexis. The last report I got on her location said she was still in Greece. I will take the proper measures to protect Samantha and Nikolas. I will also make sure her visit is a short one."

"I'll kill her, Stefan." Alexis told her brother in a voice that said she was deadly serious. "If she harms Sam in anyway, I will kill her."

Stefan looked at his sister with a raised eyebrow. He knew she was telling him the truth, and he knew that he could not allow her to follow through on that threat. He would kill Helena himself before Alexis had the chance, because despite who and why, if Alexis ever took a life this way, it would crush her. "I will keep everyone safe, Alexis. I promise." He kissed the side of her head. "Now, go home to your daughter. I will handle my mother."

After leaving Spoon Island Alexis made one more stop before going home. She trusted Stefan, she didn't trust Helena, so she needed as much insurance as she could get. Which is why she went straight to Luke to let him know Helena was in town. He looked almost excited by the idea of another round with Helena, until Alexis told him the same thing she'd told her brother. He didn't look any more pleased at the idea of Alexis killing her then Stefan did.

As soon as Alexis stepped into the penthouse she was yelling, "Sam! Sam!"

Sam came running out of the kitchen and right into her mother's arms.

Alexis hugged her daughter tight. She was just so glad that Sam was safe.

"Are you ok?" Sam asked as she and Alexis moved to the sofa.

"I'm ok." Alexis said as she took Sam's face into her hands. "Are you? I know that scene on the docks must have been pretty scary."

Sam nodded. "Kind of. That was the women you warned me about, wasn't it? You're stepmother?"

Alexis nodded. "That was her. Sam, baby, I need you to listen to me, ok?" Alexis paused until Sam nodded. "I want you to stay away from her. If she comes near you I want you to run away, scream, and come straight to me, or Jax, or Uncle Stefan. Do you understand?"

"You're afraid she'll hurt me." Sam said as she and her mother kept eye contact.

"We won't let her." Alexis promised. "I won't let her. I promise."

Sam nodded. "I know. I'm not worried about me."

Alexis smiled at her daughter. "Don't worry about me either baby. You're mommy's been dealing with that crazy old bat most of my life. I can handle Helena."

Carly was sitting outside on Kelly's patio with Zander. They were talking about school and about their options on Port Charles. Carly liked Zander. He was easy to talk to and just as she'd suspected they'd had a lot in common.

"I ran from my last foster home when I was thirteen." Zander explained. "I did alright taking care of myself but I got into some pretty bad shit."

"Kristina mentioned she knew you through her sister." Carly told him.

Zander nodded, a fond smile appareling on his face. "Alexis was the first person to ever give me the benefit of the doubt. She knew I was bad news but she still helped me out." He explained how he'd stayed with Alexis for a while and that now he was staying in a room above Kelly's and how Ruby was looking out for him. When Carly huffed at the mention of Ruby he chuckled and asked, "You got a problem with Ruby? No one hates Ruby."

"We have," She paused to think and then continues, "personal issues."

"Personal issues?" Zander asked with a smirk and raised brow.

Carly sighed. "We just don't get along."

"Give her a chance and I bet you two could be close." Zander told her and then raised his hands in surrender at the look he got. "I'm just saying. She's your family, right?."

"Great-aunt." Carly said with a look of distaste on her face. "I have my hands full with Bobbie." She huffed. "I don't need another busy body poking around in my life."

Zander decided to change the subject since Carly seemed to be getting short tempered. He had to think a moment and was just about to ask if she were into music because Eddie Maine was playing at Luke's when they were interrupted.

"Hi Carly." AJ said as he walked over and joined her at the table. He completely ignored Zander who was glaring at him. "I was just on my way to Luke's. Wanna join me?"

Carly blinked in surprised when AJ sat down and then glared at him. "Excuse you. Zander and I were having a conversation."

AJ looked over at Zander and then back at Carly. "You don't want to hang out with this looser, Carly. Unless of course you're trying to score some drugs; maybe a little E? That could be fun."

"I don't do that shit anymore man." Zander said defensively. "If you're looking to score you need to go someplace else."

"Come on Carly." AJ said as he stood up and took Carly's arm as if to help her up. "My cousin is playing at your uncle's club. We can get in easy."

"No." Carly said as she pulled away. "Thanks, but I think I'd rather hang out here."

AJ flashed her a smile. "You'll have more fun with me then with street trash."

Zander was pissed, not at what AJ said about him, but because of how he was treating Carly. He grabbed the taller boy by the arm and shoved him away from Carly. "She said no, now back the hell off."

"I think you need to step off man." AJ warned in a low threatening tone.

"No, you're the one who needs to step off." Zander replied as he stepped into AJ's space.

Carly jumped to her feet. She didn't want this getting out of hand. "Both of you knock it off. AJ, take a walk." She grabbed Zander's arm. "Lets go inside."

"Leave her alone." Zander warned AJ.

"Or what?" AJ asked.

Zander got in AJ's face. "I'll kick your ass."

AJ laughed and before Zander could react he pushed the younger boy, causing him to slam into Carly who fell into a table, and then to the ground. The boys began to scuffle but before it could turn into a full on fight Ruby came out with Jagger on her heels.

Ruby rushed over to Carly while barking out, "You two knock it off!"

While Ruby went to her niece Jagger went over and pulled Zander and AJ apart.

"Carly, sweetheart are you alright?" Ruby asked as she crouched down by her niece.

Carly nodded. "Yeah, I think so."

Ruby helped Carly to her feet and frowned when she saw the bleeding cut over Carly's eye. She wheeled on the boys and pointed the baseball bat she had brought with her at them. "What the hell is wrong with you two Neanderthals? Did either of you notice that you'd managed to hurt Carly or were you both just to focused on knocking each other's heads off?"

"Carly are you ok?" Zander asked as he took a step closer but Ruby stopped him with the bat.

"See what you did?" AJ barked as he lunged at Zander but Jagger kept a tight hold on him.

Ruby eyed the boys and shook her head. Bobbie had told her about AJ and Carly and she didn't like it any more then her niece did. She pointed her bat at the boy. "I don't care what the hell your last name is, get the hell away from my niece, my dinner, and Zander before I bet the hell out of you myself."

"Ruby." AJ said as he held his hands up as if to show her he was no threat.

"Don't Ruby me." Ruby growled at the boy. "Just get!"

AJ nodded at the woman and backed away. The only one dumb enough to cross Ruby had been Jagger when he tried to rob the dinner. But it all went wrong and instead of robbing her he ended up one of her strays. Like Zander, Jagger lived above Kelly's since Ruby had become something of a foster mother to him as well.

Once AJ was gone she pointed the bat at Zander. "Clean this mess up and then go take a cold shower or something you hothead." Then she turned to her niece. "Lets get you inside and have a look at that cut."

Carly wanted to argue but the look Ruby gave her said that she'd better not. Something told her Ruby was just old school enough that she wouldn't think twice about taking someone over her knee. She let the woman, who she still blamed for talking Bobbie into giving her up, into the dinner and sat in the chair she pulled out for her.

Ruby went to get her first aid kit and then came back and pulled out a chair so she could sit in front of her great-niece. "What happened out there?"

"I'm not really sure." Carly said honestly as she flinched a little as Ruby pressed a clean clothe to the bleeding cut. "AJ was being AJ and then Zander and him were shoving each other."

Ruby sighed and shook her head. "I don't know about that boy."

Carly frowned. "Maybe if everyone stopped looking down on him he wouldn't have so many issues. I haven't heard a single good word about him since I met him."

"Which should tell you something about him." Ruby replied. Once she'd gotten the bleeding stopped, she cleaned the cut, put some antibiotic salve on it, and then butterfly bandages. "There, that should do. I'm sure your mom will look it over when she gets here."

"You called Bobbie?" Carly asked, her eyes a little wide.

"Of course I did." Ruby huffed at the girl. "You were hurt."

Carly groaned. "It wasn't a big deal. You took care of it, you didn't have to call Bobbie and worry her."

"Worry is what mother's do." Ruby replied as she cleaned up. After standing and gathering everything she said, "Does anything else hurt?"

"No." Carly answered.

Ruby gave a small nod before saying, "Stay put."

Of course Carly didn't. As soon as Ruby was out of sight she left. She was angry over what had happened and she wanted some answers, so she went looking for AJ. She found him at Luke's. He was right about her not having any problem getting in and it hadn't taken her long to find him. She stalked up to him and demanded, "What the hell was that back at Kelly's? What the hell is wrong with you?"

AJ smiled at the sight of her. "I'm glad you came."

Carly just shook her head. "I just want to know why you're such an ass."

"Good breeding." AJ replied easily. "It's a family trait."

"You're hopeless." Carly grunted.

"You're cute." AJ replied.

Carly narrowed her eyes. "I'm jailbait."

"I like living on the edge." AJ said as he stood up. He gently caressed the side of Carly's face. "Sorry about that."

Carly stepped away from him. "I'm serious, AJ, what the hell is this? You realize I'm fifteen right?"

AJ shrugged. "You don't act fifteen."

"Yeah, well, I kind of had to grow up fast the last few years." Carly replied.

"Me too." AJ said with a smirk.

Carly rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah because a privileged life is so damn hard."

"You have no idea." AJ agreed.

Carly just shook her head and then said, "You need to back off."

AJ smiled at her. "Have a drink with me."

Carly just stared at him for several seconds. What was it with him? Why did he seem so fixed on her? It made no sense. She wasn't someone worth stalking. She was just a kid and he was nearly a grown man. "I'm serious AJ, back off and leave me the hell alone." She turned to leave but AJ grabbed her, pulled her close and kissed her. Carly could taste the alcohol on his lips and it made her sick to her stomach. She kneed him so hard in the groin he fell to the floor doubled over. "I said back off! Next time I won't ask so nicely!"

From the bar Luke watched the scene unfold and frowned until he saw Carly knee the young Quartermain. "That's my girl." Once his niece was gone Luke had AJ kicked out, a little to roughly, and told his bouncer and hostess not to let the little punk back in.

"Where were you?" Bobbie demanded when Carly finally came home.

"I had something to take care of." Carly replied in a snipe.

Bobbie walked over to her daughter and took her chin in her hand so she could look over the cut above her eye. "Ruby told you to stay put."

"Yeah well Ruby can go…."

"Caroline!" Bobbie cut her off.

Carly sighed in a way that only a teenage girl could sigh. "I'm fine, Bobbie." She tried to shoo away Bobbie's hands. "I've got homework to do."

"Where were you, Caroline?" Bobbie asked again as she put her hands on her hips.

"I already told you." Carly replied as she started climbing the stairs. "I had something to take care of."

"Caroline." Bobbie repeated.

Carly turned on the stairs and warned, "Back off Bobbie! I'm not in the mood."

Bobbie raised a brow at the girl. "Watch your tone young lady."

"Look," Carly said in a softer voice. "Just back off, ok? I went looking for AJ to tell him to leave me alone. Then I went to check on Zander. I'm fine. Ruby took care of the cut so you don't have to fuss."

Before Bobbie could say thing Carly was running up the stairs. She sighed and shook her head. This thing with AJ was really starting to bother her. She needed to talk to Monica and Alan, maybe even AJ himself. If he kept messing with her little girl she might just to take matters into her own hands.