They arrived home after the wedding and he went straight into the office as she went and relieved Aubrey. She let the nanny out and then went into the office to find him sitting on his laptop. "Hey, it's pretty late, don't you think this can wait?" She asked gently.

He wanted to find the detail he missed that proved his mother was involved. Nothing had stood out at the time, but it had to be there. Maybe he had been distracted trying to fend off Jillian's advances, probably encouraged by his mother. She had never approved of his marriage to Alexis and he wouldn't put it past his mother to use this as a chance to not only get him back at ELQ but to put an end to his marriage as well. He turned to face her, "I missed something and I need to figure out what it was."

"You can't anticipate everything." He nodded agreeing with her and she quietly closed his laptop. "This will be here in the morning. Let's go upstairs." She said as she took his hand.

He stood up and kissed her softly. He followed her lead up the staircase, allowing her to distract him as they entered their bedroom and she turned and kissed him running her hands down his chest and loosened his tie before pushing his jacket off his shoulders. He kissed her neck and unzipped her gown as things began to escalate and they shut the world and their problems behind them.

He watched her sleep, hand placed protectively over her abdomen, and he leaned in and kissed her temple before pulling away gently and getting up and walking towards the window. He couldn't stop playing every interaction with Jillian in London over and over again in his head. Each time he had thought they had come to an agreement, she had an excuse and kept him there. How did he miss the signs that there was more to it than her wanting him and he played right into her hands.

She felt him pull away and watched as he crossed the room and stood in the moonlight lost in thought. She knew the night's events were weighing on him quietly got up and wrapped her arms around him. "Honey, come back to bed." She whispered and kissed his shoulder.

"I can't stop thinking about how we got here." He responded staring straight ahead as she leaned her chin on his shoulder.

"We are fine and whatever your mother's involvement was, it doesn't change what we have," she replied as she held him.

"I love you. But you don't know what she's capable of." He turned to face her and took her hands.

"What I know is that nothing your mother has done is your fault." She said as she wrapped her arms around him again. "You suspected she was involved somehow."

"I had hoped I was wrong." He spoke into her hair.

"I know."

"You'll help me figure this out?" He asked, pulling away slightly and searching her eyes.

"That goes without saying. But nothing is going to get solved tonight. Come to bed, try to get some sleep." She brought her hand to his cheek and he took it and kissed her palm before reluctantly agreeing. They climbed back into bed and she leaned against him as they fell asleep in each other's arms.

The morning had come quickly and Alexis arranged for Aubrey to come and take Kristen to the park as he called his family, calling an emergency board meeting. She had told him she'd try and be there, but she had promised Nikolas she'd meet him at Kelly's so that they could talk. He wanted her there with him, but, Ned understood, there was a lot going on with her family as well and she needed to be there.

She walked into Kelly's and sat at a table near the counter as she waited for her nephew. She ordered a cup of tea and smiled at him as he walked in and sat down across from her.

As Nikolas walked in, Jillian approached Kelley's and saw Alexis through the window. She watched as she met with Nikolas and realized that this could be her opportunity. If she was right, Ned would be at the Quartermaines and their house would be empty.

"Thanks for meeting me. I was hoping to talk at the wedding but–" Nikolas said as Alexis cut him off, knowing why they didn't get a chance to talk.

"But, well you saw what happened. I'll always have time for you Nikolas. You're family."

"Your favorite family, I believe." He joked, lightening the mood.

"Of course. Now, why don't you tell me what's going on. Did you make any decisions?"

"I met with my Uncle, and then my Grandmother showed up. She thinks you're manipulating me, and made her usual veiled threats. I want you to know that I know that's not what's happening."

"I'm sorry, Nikolas."

"She hasn't come after you, or your family has she?" He was protective of his aunt, the one family member he knew he could trust to tell him the truth.

"No, and I can handle Helena. What I'm more concerned about is you. I don't want you to make this decision because you're worried about what could happen to me. I can handle myself."

"I know you can. But if she comes after you, or makes any threats against Kristen and your new baby–"

"I'll let you know. How did it go with Stefan?" She changed the subject. She didn't even want to think about Helena going anywhere near her children.

"Honestly, I'm torn. I agree with you and I know that I can put the Cassadine resources to good use. I told him I'm still thinking, but will you do me a favor and read over these contracts he gave me? I want your advice before I sign anything."

"Of course. I can review them later today and stop by L&B tomorrow afternoon?"

"That would be perfect. Thank you, Alexis."

"No thanks, necessary. I love you, Nikolas." They finished their conversation and caught up before Nikolas left and Alexis pulled out her cell phone to call Ned. It went straight to voicemail, she had decided to head into her office for a few hours before meeting him at home. She had dug out the files she reviewed for him during the London negotiation and she wanted to look them over, preparing for any questions that would come her husband's way when the SEC ultimately brought him in for questioning.

Meanwhile, Ned arrived at the Quartermaine mansion as the rest of the family gathered in the living room. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice." He said, shortly, already aggravated that this meeting even had to happen in the first place.

"Why are we here, Ned?" Alan asked.

"Yes, I'm not sure anyone here is surprised Tracy is up to something." Monica added.

"We're here because there's a pending SEC investigation and we need to discuss how we are going to handle this latest crisis."

"You're the sainted CEO. You tell us." AJ quipped.

"You know what, we're in this mess because you screwed up in the first place Junior."

"No AJ is right, Ned. You're the CEO, how do you propose we handle Tracy?" Edward added. Having a few ideas of his own, but wanting to give his grandson the chance to propose a course of action.

"I don't need to be handled daddy." Tracy said as she walked into the room. "Having a board meeting? My notice must have gotten lost."

"This meeting is to discuss how to handle what you set in motion. You put ELQ in jeopardy when you committed corporate espionage." Ned said, his anger visible.

"There we go Ned, now we are finally getting down to the point here." AJ added.

"All you have is the word of the family drunk. You have no proof of anything otherwise." Tracy evaded as she walked over to the breakfast bar and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Do you have any idea what you set in motion? Do you?" Ned interrogated, agitated.

"Ned, darling, you have no idea–"

"No, I know full well what the London deal has done to my life. To my marriage."

"Oh you're exaggerating. I saw you and Alexis last night, and your marriage is fine."

"Your support means, oh so much."

"Ned, what exactly do you propose we do? Do you have any proof? I know full well what my sister is capable of, but this seems a bit premature."

"Gee, thanks Alan."

"I will, soon enough. But, Junior here would do us all a favor if he told us what he actually knows. He was the one who felt the need to lorde this over us all at Chloe's wedding."

"What exactly are you doing with Jillian Trainor, AJ?" Edward changed the subject, concerned.

"Who I see and don't see is my business. Aunt Tracy here wanted her precious Ned back in charge, if you don't have the proof of her involvement, you haven't looked hard enough."

"AJ, if you know something that can hurt a member of this family–" Monica chimed in, trying to appeal to AJ.

"Oh stop with the family loyalty card. Where was it when I needed it?"

"Family loyalty is what bailed you out of the mess with Trainor Industries in the first place Junior. And now my family is dealing with a deranged stalker, who you are encouraging."

"Trainor Industries isn't a part of the ELQ portfolio any longer. This meeting is a waste of our time." AJ said as he got up to leave.

"Ned, when you have an actual motion, we will be behind you. In the meantime I need to get back to the hospital." Monica said as she left.

"I also need to get back to the hospital." He turned to Tracy, "sister, good luck." Alan said as he followed Monica's lead and left the room leaving only Ned, Edward, and Tracy.

"Darling, did you really think calling a full board meeting was going to solve this issue? It really is more of a personal matter." She said to Ned.

"Tracy, if what Ned says is true and you sold this company out.."

"Oh daddy, I'm a Quartermaine. I was just looking out for my son. I did what any one of us would do."

"You risked this entire family's reputation when Ned was doing just fine and it was being handled."

"What's that supposed to mean grandfather?"

"Were you or were you not considering coming back to ELQ before you left for London?"

"I was."

"But your wife, Eddie's Angel? Was standing in the way of that. You needed to be reminded that you, my son, like to make a deal, and are a great businessman. ELQ is your birthright just as much as it was AJs."

"Alexis has done nothing but support me. Whether it was L&B or ELQ she didn't care as long as I was happy. More than I can say for you mother." He said as he crossed the room.

"She's a Cassadine. I was just looking out for you." Tracy replied and followed.

"Alexis is a valued member of this family and exactly the wife your son needs." Edward chimed in, adamant as he looked Tracy in the eye.

Tracy hesitated to respond and then finally replied, "I admit I may have been wrong about Alexis."

"What you think doesn't really matter. Now, soon, we will go through just exactly what you did and with any luck, you'll be turning over your stock and we won't have to deal with you again. That is until your next scheme blows up in your face." He had reached his limit and needed to get out of there.

"Ned, I didn't intend to hurt you."

"Well you did mother and I don't know why I expected anything different this time." Ned said as he left and closed the door to the living room. He stood there and took a minute to collect his thoughts before leaving the mansion and heading to ELQ. He knew he wasn't culpable, but the SEC wouldn't ignore ELQ in their investigation. He was certain of that.

Across town, Jillian pulled into the empty driveway and walked to the front door. She pulled the key she had kept and put it in the lock. It turned with ease and she laughed slightly realizing they had never changed their locks. She walked into their living room and attached the small black device to the back of the wedding photo she pulled out of her purse. She placed the photo back on the bookshelf and then quietly left the premises undetected as quickly as she had arrived.