Alexis moved her way downstairs to find Molly sitting at the table. Her daughter was hunched over her laptop, and closed it softly as she watched her mother move into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. She came back out and asked, "Do you have plans today, sweetie?"

Molly stared at her mother silently. Her look disconcerted her mother. Alexis questioned her: "What?"

-"You're kidding right?" Molly countered.

Alexis sat across the table from Molly. "No, I'm not kidding. I'm legitimately interested in whether or not you have plans today." She looked around the room. "Kristina's not up yet?"

-"Nope. She waited up for you and fell asleep on the couch. So she's a little tired."

She shifted guiltily. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't intend to be that late."

-"Mom," Molly grabbed her hand. "We're all hurting. Please don't shut us out."

-"I'm not, Molls. I pro—"

Molly shook her head to stop her mid-sentence. "Look, I know that I'm this kid you keep trying to protect. But we know what you're doing. You do it all the time—you never share with us. And I'm petrified right now, Mom. So is Kristina. We're petrified what it's going to do to you."

-"Molly, I'm fine. Really."

But her youngest refused to give her quarter. "No. You're not. And usually we leave you alone because you have someone else. You go to Nikolas or Sam or Jax." Molly's voice got quiet. "Or Julian…but there's no one now except for Kristina and me, Mom. Please, let us help you."

Tears welled in Alexis's eyes. "OK, Molly. I'm sad. I'm sad about Nikolas and I'm petrified about Sam. But I can't stop, right now, baby. Spencer has to be settled and Sam needs to be cleared." She sighed, "When this is all over, and Sam is home and we've buried Nikolas, I promise we can sit and I'll cry for days if that's what you want."

Molly shook her head. "That's not what I want. I don't want you to cry for days for ME. I want you to just let it out, Mom. Because when you don't…you…"

-"I what, Molly."

-"You do things that hurt you in the long run. Like what happened with Kiefer. Or the mayor. Or Luis Alcazar."

Alexis smiled tightly. "Are you afraid I'm going to kill someone, Molly? Or just sleep with a married man."

-"That's not what I mean, Mom. I'm afraid you're going to do something you wouldn't usually do and that you'll regret. Like really, really regret."

She got up and walked over to Molly, signaling for her to rise. Molly reluctantly stood and was pulled into her mother's arms. "I love you, Molls. I'm not fine. But I'm not self-destructive, either. I don't want you to worry about me, and I know you will, but you won't need to." She heard a sniffle and pulled Molly's head back and smoothed her hair.

-"OK," Molly said between her tears. "So how do we help? How do we help you bring Sam home?"

-"I'm working on that. What you can do for me today is take care of Danny. Can you do that? Keep him distracted while his mother is away?"

-"Sure. What are you going to do?"

-"I'm going to meet with the Spencers about Nikolas's memorial service and then visit Sam later this afternoon in Pentonville. And in between I'm going to Wyndemere to see Uncle Victor and make sure I'm following all the protocols for the Greek service on the island."

-"Cassadine Island? But I thought we were burying Nikolas here?"

-"We are. We're interring his ashes here and then having a memorial for him in Greece. It's more ritual than anything—it pulls the family together around Spencer as the heir. The ceremony won't be for a few months, but it will take a while to plan, and I'm looking to Victor to make sure we do it properly."

-"Can I help?"

-"Let me talk to Victor first. Figure out what it entails? Then I'll let you know. Does that work?"

-"Sure."

-"And if you and Kristina have time, visiting hours today are in the early afternoon. Just don't bring Danny. Sam wouldn't want that."

The meeting with the Spencers went as well as Alexis could have anticipated. She sat in the MetroCourt suite the family had rented out for their stay in Port Charles, and she listed the requests Nikolas had laid out for his memorial service and internment of his ashes. They opted for a relatively simple service the following Saturday, and the only heated debate came when Alexis noted she would enlist the local bishop to say a few words, infusing some Russian culture into the ceremony.

-"That's what the Cassadine Island ceremony is for, Alexis. To stamp your family's name on his death. This memorial service is about who he was as a person," Laura objected.

Alexis sighed. "I'm sorry, Laura. But this *is* who Nikolas was as a person. I know it's a part you wish didn't exist, but it did. If we're celebrating Nikolas's life, then I'd like to follow his wishes. And he requested this."

The room sided with Alexis—albeit with care so as not to hurt Laura's feelings—and the plans continued without interruption.

As she stood to leave, she turned to Lulu. "I need to speak with you and Dante in the next few days. There are arrangements we need to make for Spencer. I'm the lawyer for the estate and so technically Spencer's. You may want to bring legal representation."

-"I don't understand, Alexis. I trust you. We know you'd never hurt Spencer. Why would we need a lawyer?"

-"I just want you to know what you're getting into. There's a trust, on top of what Nikolas provided for you and Dante. As regent, I'll oversee the trust, but you both need someone to walk you through what's in it to make sure your own interests are protected."

-"Can't that be you?"

-"I'll be there to guide you, absolutely. But find someone else, too. Someone who can ask the questions you may not think to."

Lulu nodded and picked up Alexis's hands. "I know that this has been hard for you. I feel like my heart has been ripped out, and I don't have to worry about my own child." A tear fell down Lulu's cheek. "Thank you for not taking this out on Dante. I know you love Spencer and you'll do the best for him. And even though she doesn't always show it, my mother knows it, too."

Alexis gave her a hug, as Lulu whispered. "We know you're not the enemy, Alexis."

By the time the launch pulled into the slip to pick her up, Alexis was already exhausted. It was only late morning, but she was on her third cup of coffee. Fortunately, the ride to the island was bracing, and she used the time to focus on steps to clear Sam, willfully avoiding any thoughts about Julian. He would be back in about three days, and she convinced herself that no other scenario was possible.

It was mid-September and although the leaves had not yet begun to turn, the humidity seemed to recognize the change in seasons and entered hibernation. The sun was out, the sky was blue and Victor greeted his guest, guiding her to the patio on the east side of the house. Alexis tilted her head to Victor in appreciation of his attempts to bar any sad thoughts of Nikolas by avoiding the scene of their last happy interactions. But he failed to recognize that all she saw now were ghosts of Nikolas and Stefan strolling about the manse—it didn't matter where they were.

He pulled out her chair to seat her, and settled himself on the other side of the small breakfast table. An umbrella offered them some shade, and Alexis wrapped her light sweater around her shoulders.

-"How are you Alexis? You look so tired, my dear. Of course I mean that in the nicest way possible—you are always glorious. But these few weeks have taken their toll. Can I offer you anything? Some tea, perhaps?"

-"If you have any iced, I would love some. Thank you."

Victor let the butler know their order, and turned to his niece as the servant went to fill it. "As I was saying, it's been quite a week for you. I'm devastated of course, that you need to come to me under such sad circumstances, but I'm happy to have the chance to help you if at all possible. You mentioned something about the service in Greece?"

Alexis walked Victor through the plan Nikolas had made and asked questions about pieces they may be missing. "It's important, of course, that we do this correctly. Nikolas always wanted to make sure Spencer had access to his birthright." She left out the 'if he wanted it,' unsure how her uncle would feel about a Cassadine chucking aside his familial place in favor of living a pedestrian life.

Victor nodded. "Of course. I must say, Alexis. He is so young, there are probably branches of the family that would object to his inheritance. So I agree that this ceremony holds probably greater importance than it did when we buried Mikkos."

They talked through the etiquette and invitation list. Victor was impressed with Nikolas's thoroughness and how Alexis had managed to patch any gaps in the prince's instructions. Alexis sighed as they finished the list and reviewed it, dragging her eyes up and down. "This is a very long list. It's hard to believe it will come together in three months."

Victor contemplated her before deciding to speak. "You know, Alexis. If you need help, I'm more than happy to handle these details…with your input of course."

She smiled, "I would be grateful for the help, Uncle. But I'd need to make sure that I was the liaison between you and Spencer. It will be some time before Laura feels confident enough in the arrangements to trust you with anything that involves her grandson."

He made a strange face and brushed her concerns away with a wave of his hand. "Of course, Alexis. Anything you want."

-"Thank you."

-"It's just after noon. I was planning on eating a light lunch out here. Join me?"

-"Thank you, Uncle. But I'd like to leave soon. I'm off to Pentonville to visit Sam."

Victor nodded. "But you have to eat, correct? And after our last meal together, I don't know if I trust you to feed yourself." He smiled. "I'd like to speak with you anyway, and you have to eat. So please," he grabbed her hand and smiled, "stay."

She looked at her watch. She was hungry and she enjoyed Victor's company. He was right—she'd probably just grab a burger on the way to Pentonville. "OK. You are impossible to resist, Uncle."

-"It is a gift, my dear."

They ate a lunch of lightly grilled fish and a salad with tomatoes and corn. Alexis smiled at him, "You were right. I needed this."

-"See? Sometimes your elders are good for something."

She teased him, "Wow. I think I've told Molly that a few times. Now I know why she makes that face at me when I do."

Victor smiled in acknowledgement of her teasing as he folded his napkin and placed it on the table. "I'm not sure how to approach this, Alexis. And it's rather an abrupt change of topic, so I offer my apologies. But I was wondering: have you had any luck with Samantha's case? Any evidence to help prove her innocence?"

Alexis shook her head. "No. I'm hoping…" her voice trailed off. "I'm hoping her father has some luck but I…I don't know if he will." She focused on keeping her voice steady. The mention of Julian's name unleashed the trepidation she thought she had locked away.

-"Hmmm." Victor looked pensive. "Well, maybe I can help, Alexandra."

She smiled indulgently. "You've been so helpful already. With the business, with helping arrange Nikolas's memorial service in Greece…I don't know how I would have gotten through all this without you. I'm somewhat ashamed, actually."

Victor looked puzzled. "Ashamed? Why on earth would you feel ashamed?"

Face blushing, Alexis looked at her hands. "Nikolas told me you were one of the 'good' Cassadines, but I didn't trust you. I actually tried to point out the million ways he could be wrong, but…" She lifted her head. "I'm sorry, I haven't trusted you and shown you the deference you've deserved. Even though you've been so loyal and so quick to help. I hope you can forgive me."

Victor looked at her, "So does this mean you trust me now?"

She rolled the question over in her mind. "If I'm being honest, I'd say it's a 60/40 split on the trust/not trust. You've pulled through on everything I've asked of you so far, but I just…I just don't know you enough to trust you implicitly. I hope you understand that."

Victor smiled, "Well, I'm relieved then."

She questioned him as he took a sip of his tea, "Relieved?"

-"Yes. You see, I knew it. I knew you were smarter than she said."

Alexis looked at him quizzically. "Well thank you for the compliment," she giggled. "But smarter than who said?"

-"Your step-mother. She went on and on about how you were a mouse and useless, but her hatred was blinding her. I mean for gods' sake, Alexandra. You're in your 50s, Helena clearly hates you and you're still here. You're far more devious and clever than she ever gave you credit for." He broke into a huge grin. "Oh, I rather like you, Alexandra."

She tried to process what he was saying, but she couldn't shake off the haze around her. Victor wasn't making sense. "Wait, you've spoken to Helena? But she's dead."

-"Oh, she's dead. For now anyway." He looked at her incredulously, "Well surely you don't think this all came together in a matter of months? This has taken years of planning." He looked at Alexis's blank expression. "What I'm trying to tell you Alexandra, is that you were right. The whole time you were right not to trust me. And I'm so glad this has worked out because I really wasn't looking forward to killing you."

Alexis didn't know what she was hearing, but she felt a constriction in her chest. "What came together? What plan?" she asked tightly.

-"Come, come Alexandra." He snapped his fingers as though to wake her up. "I need you to be quicker than this."

Alexis stumbled as she tried to control her panic. She felt like she needed to pass this test, but she had no idea what it was on. "What? Sam and Silas? Nikolas? But that was an accident. What has come together?" She looked at him desperately, "this isn't making any sense."

He sighed. "Yes, dear. Yes to it all. I'm a little disappointed in you, Alexandra, but I'm going to assume it's the shock that's making you slow." Alexis face had started to turn pale. "Take a sip of your tea, dear. You look like you're about to faint." He waited until she finished. "I'm talking about destiny, Alexandra. I'm talking about taking our rightful place. I'm talking about the plan for the resurgence of the Cassadine."

-"But you have a Cassadine: Nikolas." She caught herself, "or you had one."

-"He was a Cassadine who refused to use his power," Victor spat disgustedly. "Nikolas was destined for greatness, but his conscience ruined him. And when he failed, *we* failed."

-"How did he fail, exactly? The company is doing well, we're out of debt—"

-"Gods, Alexandra. We're not bureaucrats or actuaries! We're gods. Here—on earth. We're not destined to balance the books, but to change the world. To make governments bend to our will. Not to make quarterly reports to the SEC."

Alexis looked at his face. It was maniacal, and yet in an odd way beautiful, as though some sort of vision that lit from within possessed him. She processed his words until realization slowly dawned on her. She whispered. "So you what? You killed him?" She put her head in her hands, "Oh my God. Oh my God." She felt the bile and her lunch rise in her throat and she took two quick steps to the grass and fell to her knees, wretching.

Victor gave her a pitying look. "No, Alexis. We didn't need to. The gods did it for us. It's destiny, Alexis. Destiny for the Cassadine to rise in more capable hands."

She rose and turned, slowly walking back towards her uncle, shaking her head in disbelief. "So you relied on destiny? You hoped that Nikolas would slip and fall?"

-"No, no, no. Don't be stupid, Alexis. I had a neat little car accident planned for him. But I didn't need it. It's made things so much easier, really. No pesky investigations. No nagging suspicions on the part of other branches of the family tree that there are machinations afoot. It's all coming together marvelously!" He clapped his hands to emphasize his joy, like a child who has just been given candy.

Alexis reached back for her chair as she quickly worked through her uncle's insane ramblings and a sense of dread overwhelmed her: he wasn't finished with his revelations. "But you have me in the way now," she said softly.

-"Pardon, my dear? I didn't catch that."

Her voice got stronger as she cocked her head to the side. "I'm the executor. I act as regent should anything happen to Nikolas and Spencer is underage. Clearly, I'm in the way. But you said you didn't have to kill me. So you have another way of removing me as an obstacle."

Victor smiled again, "Oh, Alexandra. You're everything I could have hoped for. There's the intelligence I've been waiting for." He sat back in his chair. "So tell me, clever girl, how exactly am I getting you out of the way."

Alexis braced herself against the arms of her chair for support. "Sam."

-"Yes. My dear niece, Samantha."

-"Why would you frame her? Why not just kill me?"

-"Once again, the gods stepped in, Alexandra. The plan *was* to kill you, but that wasn't ideal. One death we could get away with perhaps—and we had to kill Nikolas. But killing you so quickly after? Questions would be asked. I preferred leverage over violence in your case." He smiled at her. "I was also curious about you. Helena hated you so very much, there was a part of me that wanted you to live to spite her."

She closed her eyes wearily as she asked her next question, "How did the gods step in?"

-"Well my niece was being watched. So when a madman and his mother burst into her apartment with a gun and attacked her husband before my security team could arrive, I needed to figure out how to...what's that expression? 'Make lemonade out of lemons.'"

-"Your niece?"

-"Nina Clay. Tony's daughter. You remember your Uncle Tony? Well, she was a pet project of ours. Comatose for so long before she was roused. We wanted to study her to see the lingering affects of her injury. It was important to our work."

Alexis shook her head, "I'm not following."

-"That's alright, dear. I'll spare you the details. Suffice it to say, that my niece's rehabilitation failed when she chose a confidant poorly. We came to the apartment to find her husband on the verge of death and Nina hysterical. The experiment couldn't be salvaged, so before we ended it we tried to see if we could use the failure to our advantage. And lo and behold, Samantha! She had no alibi for that day, the cameras in her office made it easy to open her safe and easily retrieve her gun. It was perfect, Alexandra."

-"I can't believe this."

Victor nodded his head solemnly. "Because it is unbelievable, Alexandra. Our right to rule is divinely given. And nowhere is this more evident than in the events that have transpired. It is truly miraculous." He grabbed her hand across the table. "You understand that I have been chosen? That I have to lead."

Alexis looked into the eyes of the fanatic across from her, but her sole focus was on Sam. "OK. So you needed leverage, you obviously have it. What do you want from me, exactly? What will it take to free my daughter?"

-"Ugh. Samantha." Victor's face curled in disgust. "Are you sure you want to save her, Alexandra? She does you no favors. A two-bit whore just like her grandmother. Do you know when you were born, we all suspected you were actually Tony's? Your mother got the end she deserved, just like your daughter should."

-"If you touch my daughter—"

-"—yes, yes, Alexandra," he said dismissively. "I understand you love her and feel some sort of attachment. That's *why* I'm using her as leverage."

She steadied her breath. "So I want her free, and clearly that's in exchange for something else. What do you need from me to make that happen?"

-"I should think the answer is obvious, Alexandra. I want Spencer."