The next day they went to her appointment together and there they confirmed that all was well with the pregnancy. She was shocked to hear that she was almost nine weeks along and she wished she had followed through with her instincts and confirmed her suspicions with Dr. Meadows, when the symptoms didn't first go away.
"Do you want to get lunch?" He asked as they left the hospital hand in hand. "We can talk about the move? We need to make plans." He was starting to think they'd never move, and he was more determined than ever to get his family out of that Penthouse.
"Actually, I have some paperwork I need to file with the court by end of day. Can I get a raincheck and see you at home?"
"Honey, you need to eat." He was concerned she would continue to ignore her health.
"I know that." She replied, annoyed at what he was insinuating. "I will, but I also need to wrap up some documents and fulfill my professional obligations."
"Look, I'm not trying to start a fight. I'm not. I just thought it would be nice to talk through the plans we have for our family. We closed weeks ago."
"Yes, while you were away." She added pointedly, reminding him just why they hadn't moved, yet.
"Alexis..." He gave her a knowing look that it was a cheap shot and she signaled that she knew and apologized with her eyes, not needing words as they continued to walk out of the hospital.
"I promise you that we will have that conversation. What if I call Emily and see if she can watch Kristen for us? She can stay with your family for the night. Then, we can have the whole night to talk and make plans." She stopped them and pulled him close. "I love you." She whispered as she kissed his cheek. She stepped back and looked into his eyes to reassure him, "And despite what it may look like to you right now, I am so happy that we are having another baby and that we are taking the steps to make sure that our family is on solid ground."
"I love you, too." He replied. "Ok, so I'll see you later then?"
"Absolutely." He pulled her close again and they lingered in each other's arms for a few moments before they both left for their respective offices.
She had called him later that day and left a message that she was running late. He should have known better, he knew she had a meeting with Sonny. He sat at the bar of the Grille and ordered a scotch. As he did, Jillian sat down on the stool next to him. "Trouble with the little wife?"
"Nothing that concerns you, Jillian." He said, trying to ignore her presence.
"Well I have a meeting tomorrow at ELQ. Will you be there? You know I only like to do business with you." She said as she winked.
"You won't be. I told you in London, and I have no intention of taking any meetings with you after what you pulled."
"Oh, nothing happened that you didn't want." She said as put her hand on his knee at the exact moment Alexis walked into the bar.
She couldn't hear what was being said, but the body language spoke volumes. This woman was after her husband. She walked over and quickly made her presence known. "Honey, sorry I'm late." She said as she walked to the other side of Ned and leaned in to kiss him, staking her claim. Jillian quickly removed her hand from his leg as she came into view and Alexis noticed.
"That's ok, you're here now." He said, relieved she arrived when she did, diffusing the situation that was transpiring. "If you'll excuse us, Jillian, we have plans."
"Of course, I was just saying hello. Alexis, lovely to see you again." She said as she walked away.
"I really don't like that woman." Alexis said matter of factly. "How long is she in town for?"
"I'm not sure, but let's not focus on her. We made a plan to come here and focus on each other, and that's exactly what I intend to do."
"She was all over you. And I didn't see you trying to stop it." Alexis said matter of factly.
"Alexis…, she is not going to come between us. Do you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you. I just don't trust her. I know I've only met her twice, but both times she was coming on to my husband. What else am I supposed to think?"
"You're supposed to think that I love you. That I love our family, and I wouldn't jeopardize our future for someone like her. "
"I know that. I do. I guess I just needed to hear it said out loud again. Listen, this isn't really where I want to be right now. Do you think we could change our plan?"
"What do you have in mind?" He asked, intrigued.
About an hour later they walked through the doors of their house, a bag of takeout in hand. They proceeded out back just as the sun was starting to set over the lake. "You never cease to amaze me," he said in awe.
"This is our future, Ned. I haven't forgotten that." He leaned in and kissed her. She deepened the kiss and then they stood there, watching the sun set over the lake. They spread out a blanket and sat on the back porch and ate. They laughed and just genuinely enjoyed each other's company. Something they hadn't done since they had been in the Hamptons.
"When do you want to move?" He asked seriously.
"I told Sonny we'd be out by the end of next week." She said matching his tone.
"I had no idea you'd given Sonny notice."
"I did it today. It's why I was later than I thought I'd be, but you were right when we were at the hospital earlier. We closed on this place weeks ago and it's time we finally move forward. I know there's still some tension with us living there and I hope that this shows you that I do try to put you and our family first. I'm trying Ned, I really am."
"I know you're trying. And I'm sorry if I've made you feel any different. I love you and that was never my intention."
"I love you, too. More than I think you realize." He leaned in and kissed her and things intensified. Soon they separated and caught their breath. "I wish we didn't have to leave."
"Me too, soon we won't have to, but it's getting late, we should probably head home."
She leaned in and her lips met his again. "Ok, let's go."
They arrived back at the Penthouse, made their way over to the sofa and picked up where they had left off. They were just about to head upstairs when there was a knock on the door. "Ignore it. They'll go away." He said as he captured her lips with his again.
"Alexis?" Sonny said as he knocked again.
"Does the man have some sort of tracking device on you? I mean honestly,..."
She looked at Ned apologetically. "I'll get him to go away. I promise."
He only nodded and sighed as he stood up following her.
She walked and opened the door. "Sonny. Can this please wait until tomorrow?" She said looking between him and Ned.
Sonny walked into the Penthouse and Ned ran his hands through his hair. "What could you possibly need now?"
"Ned, please just let me handle it." She pleaded. He headed towards the kitchen. .
"Seriously, can this wait?" She asked as she closed the door.
"I wanted to see how you were after our meeting today. This decision to move seems like it's out of nowhere."
"There's really not much to discuss. I'm fine. Really. And I'm still moving out."
"What's this about Alexis?"
"I told you this afternoon. I just need a change and this is what's right for my family."
"It's about you and me isn't it?"
Meanwhile, Ned was about to re-enter the room when he heard Sonny's comment and stopped at the doorway to the dining room.. He had to fight his instinct to interrupt the conversation and send him away as he instead stood there and listened to Alexis reinforce that there is nothing between them. The more he listened the more his own guilt started to eat away at him once more.
"Where I live has nothing to do with you, and there is no you and me. You're just upset because you're not going to have me around 24/7 anymore. As your attorney that is."
"Oh, so you want me to give you more regular working hours?"
"Well. yes. But that isn't the point. I'm not some chess piece in this dysfunctional on again/off again dance you do with Carly. You need me to represent you, fine, yes that's my job. And I love what I do. But I can't be up and running at all hours handing out new copies of divorce papers and filing restraining orders. My family. My marriage is my priority and if you can't accept that, then I won't be able to be your attorney anymore."
"I like having you here, Alexis. Are you sure I can't convince you to stay?"
"You can't. You are my friend and as my friend I am telling you this is what I need. It's what my family needs and if you have a problem with that as I said I can work on a list of other attorneys for you."
"Alright, I get it. I don't like it, but I'll accept it."
"Thank you. Now, if you don't mind. I'm in the middle of something." She said as she started walking towards the door and opening it. Sonny nodded as he left and she closed the door behind him as Ned came fully into the room. She looked at him; grateful she was able to get Sonny to leave before he returned. Grateful that Sonny seemed to finally accept what she had been telling him all along.
"How much of that did you hear?" She asked curious, knowing his Quartermaine ways, walking closer and taking both of his hands in hers.
"Enough." He said, flashing his dimples and pulling her into a deep kiss.
"Well you're in too good a mood not to have heard at least most of the conversation. I meant what I said, Ned. This marriage is my priority and I'm going to prove that to you one way or another."
"I believe you." He said, kissing her again. "And now, I have something I need to confess." He turned serious, tried to pull away but she didn't pick up on it. He knew he needed to tell her, but he also felt like things were finally getting back to the way they were and he wanted that for them more than ever.
"Oh yeah, Mr. Ashton, and what's that?" She said, capturing his lips with hers once again.
"That I…"They were interrupted by his cell phone ringing. He looked at it briefly as she continued to kiss his neck, seeing it was his grandfather he looked at her apologetically, "I need to take this."
"Isn't that my line?" She joked and he gave her a look. "I'm kidding. Take it." She kissed him again quickly and then walked over to the sofa and started cleaning up some files she had been working on earlier that day.
"I did that as a favor, grandfather. I have no intention of returning full time to ELQ. She what? No, we didn't agree to that. Well, you're just…no I can't come down there now." He ran his free hand through his hair. He didn't have time for another encounter with Jillian again. "I'll check-in tomorrow. Yes. I'll be there."
She watched him trying to resist the urge to go back to ELQ. She wasn't sure why he was fighting it as hard as he was. Being CEO of ELQ, although demanding, was also something he enjoyed and she knew he missed all that it entailed. She walked over and wrapped her arms around him. "You could have gone, you know. I understand."
"I know you do, but I'd rather be here. With you." He said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"You said you had something to confess?" She asked coyly as she undid the buttons of his shirt.
He pulled her closer and began kissing her neck. "I want you." She took his hand and led him upstairs to their bedroom and they closed the door and the world behind them.