London

Despite his best efforts Ned ended up agreeing to take on the negotiations with Trainor Industries in London. He was worried that going away so soon after their reconciliation would put a strain on their marriage, but she assured him they would be ok. She understood that his family needed him. It was one of the reasons she loved him, his devotion to his family no matter how difficult they made things. What neither of them expected was that it would take so long, nor did he anticipate, that despite his best efforts to meet with a different executive, the chief negotiator for the other side being Jillian Trainer. A woman who he had tried to avoid at all costs. They had been together once when he was CEO in another life and she had never been able to accept that he wasn't interested in more. The last few weeks had proven that nothing had changed.

He was working late again, hoping to bring the deal to a close when he decided to take a break and call home. Two continents, a time difference and their schedules had made it more difficult to stay connected than either of them would have liked. Weekend negotiations prevented trips home, and her current caseload prevented her from flying out to see him.

"I miss you." She stated.

"I miss you too." He replied.

"It's been a month, Ned. Any sign of when this will end?"

"I'm not sure. We are very close to reaching an agreement with everyone involved, but the last time I thought that it all fell apart. I'll let you know as soon as I know. Is everything ok?" He sensed her frustration and knew that they needed to see each other soon before they started to falter again.

"Whose on the phone mommy? Is it daddy?"

"Is that Kristen?"

"Yeah, here she is." She passed the phone to her daughter and couldn't help but smile at the excitement on her face.

"Hi princess, I miss you."

"I miss you too daddy; when are you coming home?"

"Soon baby I promise. Did you and mommy do anything fun today?"

"Yeah! We went to the park and then we got ice cream after."

"That does sound fun! Is mommy still there?"

"Yeah, do you want to talk to her again?"

"Yes please, I love you princess and I'll see you soon ok?"

"I love you too daddy, here's mommy."

As Kristen was passing the phone back to Alexis, Jillian walked into Ned's office.

"Hey there Neddie, I'm surprised you're here this late again. We had a very late night together yesterday. You ready for more?"

"Can this wait? I'm in the middle of something here."

"I'll always wait for you, come to my office when you're finished." She said as she winked and strolled out.

Alexis was on the other end of the phone looking horrified at the exchange she just overheard. She was visibly upset but doing her best to hide it from Ned. "Who was that?"

"I'm sorry honey. That was Jillian Trainor, CEO of the corporation we are trying to woo back into ELQ"

"Oh it sounded like you were wooing her alright. Listen, it's late there, I should let you go."

"Alexis, what's that supposed to mean? Is everything alright?"

She sighed, knowing she shouldn't have made the last remark. "I just miss you that's all. I'm not thinking clearly. Honestly, I'm tempted to fly over there and bring you home myself."

"Honestly, I could use your brilliant legal mind, but I know you're in the middle of that big case so I haven't wanted to ask."

"Send me some of the work you're doing and I'll take a look in the morning."

"You don't have to do that, I know you're spread pretty thin as it is."

"I want to, especially if it means it will get you home sooner."

"Ok, I appreciate it and are you sure everything is ok? You sound exhausted."

"I'm doing ok, a little run down maybe but nothing some sleep won't cure. I just don't sleep as well when you're not here."

"Me too. "

"I'll call you after I get a chance to look over those contracts in the morning."

"Ok, we'll talk tomorrow. I love you."

"Love you too."

He hung up and sighed. He missed his family and after yesterday's advances by Jillian he was starting to sense that he needed to get back to Port Charles before things continued to get out of hand. He decided to simply head back to the hotel rather than continuing to work into the morning. Avoiding Jillian was now the game he had to play.

Later that evening he was organizing paperwork for the morning when there was a knock on his hotel room door. When he answered he found Jillian, who walked into his room and began opening a bottle of wine.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, perplexed and taking in her revealing attire. Realizing just why she was there.

"I heard you left the office for the day and thought we needed to relax a bit before negotiations continue tomorrow." She replied simply walking over to him and passing him a glass.

"I'm good, thanks. I think you should go."

"Now, Ned. I can tell things between you and the wifey are let's just say tense. Let me give you what you need." She said as she reached to loosen his tie.

He backed away. "Listen, I don't know what you think is going to happen here, but I love my wife."

She backed him up against the wall and pulled him into a kiss. "That's what they all say."

He gently pushed her away. "You need to go. Now." He stated calmly as he opened the door to the room.

"Aww, Come on Ned. Have some fun." She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him, kissing the back of his neck. He took her hand and pulled her away and then opened the door wider.

"I think it's best if we keep this professional. There isn't anything between us Jillian. There never has been. Now please, leave." He stated firmly.

"Alright, alright. But, know this. I won't give up this easy next time." She replied seductively and left the room. He exhaled and was left dumbfounded at what had just happened and worried about how he would explain this to Alexis. But, on the other hand he now thought he understood why she kept her secret for as long as she did.

As he laid in bed that night he couldn't stop thinking about the comment Alexis had made. He could sense the hurt in her voice, but wasn't sure where it was coming from. He knew that this trip for ELQ was a bad idea but she insisted he go anyway. He couldn't help but feel that the time and distance this trip had created would only do more harm than good. He knew that he had a brief history with Jillian and he also knew that she had never accepted that he wasn't interested in her and what he thought was innocent flirtation to try and get the deal signed had escalated tonight. He knew she was dragging out the negotiations in hopes of trying to catch him with his guard down. He was determined not to cave into temptation, despite his knowing that deep down there was lingering resentment about what his wife had done with Sonny.

Port Charles

She hung up and went downstairs to check on Kristen and order dinner. She found her sitting on the floor by the coffee table drawing. She walked over and sat on the couch behind her and ran her hands through her daughter's hair. "What are you working on there, sweetie?"

"I'm drawing a picture for daddy when he gets home. See?" She held up the crayon drawing and turned around to face her mother.

"I'm sure he'll love it." She replied, pulling Kristen onto her lap and kissing the top of the little girl's head.

"Mommy?" Kristen asked in a quiet voice and shifted so she could face her mother.

"What is it baby?"

"Why did daddy go away for so long?"

"Oh Krissy, he's away for work, he'll be home soon. He said so himself tonight on the phone."

"I know that mommy."

"But there's something else, isn't there?" She nodded.

"Well, I can't help if you don't tell me what it is. Do you think you can tell me?"

She nodded again and Alexis pushed her hair behind her ears. "Do you and daddy still love each other?" She asked innocently with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Alexis sighed at the sound of the question. It pained her to think that Kristen still picked up on tension between her and Ned and that she equated that tension to why he wasn't there. "Of course we do. Where is this coming from?"

"Daddy's been gone a long time and before that Daddy wasn't here all the time, remember?"

"I remember," she said as she wrapped her daughter in her arms. "But, daddy and mommy agreed that we weren't going to let that happen again, he's just away for work baby. We love each other very, very much and we both love you more than anything. Nothing is ever going to change that and that's why it's hard when he's away. Mommy misses him a lot, just like you do." Kristen nodded at her mother's explanation and then Alexis continued, concerned, "So are you ok, do you understand?"

"I'm ok mommy" She said as she wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and Alexis hugged her tight.

It took two stories that night but she had finally gotten their little girl to sleep and as she went to get ready for bed herself she tried to push the conversation she had heard on the other end of the phone out of her mind. She trusted Ned and even though she knew they had a lot of ground to regain she was certain that he was as committed to making their marriage work as she was.

As she got ready for bed, she dug through the bathroom drawer, looking for the test she had bought, just in case. Her symptoms hadn't gone away and she thought maybe it was possible that it had been too early and they had gotten false results in the Hamptons. A few minutes later she looked at the single blue line and her heart sank. She thought for sure it would be positive. All of the signs were there, but maybe it really was just the flu. She had been pushing herself lately and with him away, she didn't sleep as well. She sighed and reached for the phone. She wished he was there. After the conversation with their daughter and now this disappointment, she needed to hear his voice at the very least.

He reached for the phone. "Ned Ashton," he said groggily. Looking at the clock glaring 1am.

"I'm sorry, it's late." She said quietly.

"Alexis? Honey?" He sat up, surprised and worried that she was calling at that hour.

"Yeah, I didn't want to wake you. I just needed to hear your voice."

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," She said, second guessing calling him at that hour. " I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called and woken you."

"Are you sure everything's ok?" He asked, concern evident in his voice as he ran his hand through his hair.

"No, but it will be. And I know I woke you and I'm sorry. I should let you get some sleep."

"What's going on? Whatever it is, I'm here. I'm awake, talk to me."

She sighed, knowing she needed to tell him, but also wishing that he was there in person to hear this. It wasn't until the Hamptons that she realized just how much she did want to have another child and being disappointed again, she didn't have the heart to do that to him over the phone. "It's nothing. I promise. I just miss you and-"

"And…?" He gently tried to coax her to open up.

"You'll be home in a few days, I'm just being silly. Go back to bed. Love you."

"I miss you and love you, too. I'll see you soon." He appeased her, despite knowing her and he could tell there was more. It was hard enough to get her to open up in person, over the phone an ocean away it would be impossible.

"Promise?"

"Promise." He said as he hung up and was more determined than ever to close this deal and get home to his family.