The next morning she walked into the kitchen, made herself a cup of tea and went outside to watch the sun rise slowly over the lake. She had trouble sleeping as she tried to process all that had happened in her marriage the day prior. She didn't want to repeat mistakes, but she also knew she needed space to think about all she saw and the explanations he gave.

He had tried to sleep in the guestroom, wanting to give her the space she needed to process what happened. But, he had trouble sleeping that night, worried that she would come to her senses and regret letting him stay there after what she witnessed. He came downstairs in the early morning hours and as he turned the corner into the kitchen he saw her outside. He wasn't sure whether to approach her or not. He was grateful that she hadn't ended things last night, but he also knew what it was like to hear about a betrayal and knew she needed time to heal.

She turned to go back inside, her cup empty, the sun almost up and she saw him standing there, watching her. She froze for a moment and their eyes met before she walked back inside, past him and put her mug in the sink. "I have a deposition at 8. I should go get ready, but will you be able to meet me at the hospital later this morning?"

"I'll be there." He said taking a step towards her.

"Ok." She said quietly. "Like I said, I should go get ready." She continued, but paused before she turned towards the stairs, torn between wanting to talk with him and wanting space.

"I love you." He said, sensing her hesitation, taking another step towards her and wanting to connect.

"I know." She replied before leaving him there and going upstairs. It took everything in her to not reach out to him. She was conflicted. She needed him, and only him. But he was the one who had hurt her and she still couldn't wrap her head around how to be ok with that fact.

Later that morning, he went to the Quartermaine's after being summoned by Edward. He walked into the living room and went directly to the breakfast bar and poured himself a cup of coffee as he listened to his grandfather, "About time you showed up."

"You called, I'm here. Now what do you need grandfather? I do have actual business to take care of."

"What do you think you're doing with Trainor Industries? The stock price is plummeting and Jillian herself called to tell me you pushed the supplier issue off on AJ." Edward interrogated as Tracy entered the room.

"You wanted me back at ELQ and I'm doing what needs to be done. ELQ should be focusing on other areas. Expanding into green technologies and Trainor's business approach is holding us back." He had found a path for the company that would make sense to Edward, without needing to get into his real motivation for making moves against the ELQ subsidiary.

"ELQ is my company and you didn't talk this strategy over with me."

"I'm sorry, but who is CEO? And only because you wanted it that way I might add. If the board is unhappy, take it up for a vote."

"Now, Ned, don't be ridiculous. You just need to keep me in the loop about things as substantial as this." Edward backtracked, not wanting to lose Ned. Having him back at ELQ was what the company and the family needed. "So why are you opening them up for a takeover? We spent weeks trying to fix the damage that was done by your cousin."

"Daddy's right. What's going on here, Ned?" Tracy chimed in, making her presence known.

"You asked me to come back to ELQ. In fact you practically begged that I take the reins. Let me do my job. If something requires a board vote, you'll be informed."

"Stop evading. What's Trainor done?" Tracy pried. Wanting to know just as much for herself as she did for the sake of ELQ.

"She's crossing lines. And that's all I intend to say."

"Oh, so her flirtatious demeanor is a temptation? Too risky to have her around?" Edward said making inferences and found his conclusion amusing, thinking it was a joke.

He snapped from frustration at what his grandfather implied. "She kidnapped Kristen and there is nothing between Jillian and me. Got that?"

"She what?!" Tracy said incredulously. She knew things were escalating, but she didn't expect it to be this bad.

"When was this? Why wasn't the family told?"

"Listen," he said, calming down. "It's a long story and one I don't have time for now. Kristen is safe, that's all you need to know."

"You know I believe that nothing is more important than family. So, if that's what this is about, protecting members of this family. Then I'll back you 100%."

"Thank you."

He left the mansion and went to GH and tried to put the fight ELQ had on its hands out of his mind, so he could focus on his larger goal. Proving to Alexis that he was innocent and that no matter what, she and their family was what mattered most. He exited the elevator and saw her standing by the nurses station waiting for him. "Hi," he said as he approached her.

"Hi." She said, trying not to let awkwardness settle between them as she added, "the nurse said she'd come get us in a few minutes."

"So, we have some time? I wish we had been able to talk some more this morning."

She looked at him regretfully, "I don't think we should get into that right now."

"You're right. I'm sorry to push."

"This is about our baby, and no matter what is going on between us right now, I think we can both find the middle ground and just focus on what's best for him or her."

"Agreed." He followed her lead, still grateful she hadn't made him leave or went ahead and left herself the night prior. Just then the nurse came and walked them into the exam room, where Alexis changed and they waited for Dr. Meadows.

As they waited her own anxiety started to get the better of her. "What if there's something wrong? They were supposed to call with the test results and we heard nothing."

"Everything is fine." He said calmly, certain.

"How do you do that? How can you be so sure?" Before he could answer there was a brief knock on the door and Dr. Meadows walked in.

"How's everyone? Ready for your ultrasound?"

"Not quite. Before we do that I think we need to know what the test results are?"

"Nobody called you?"

"No." She said anxiously as she reached for his hand. He took it instantly and squeezed it slightly, trying to reassure her.

"I'm sorry you've been worried but, everything is fine. As far as the test results are concerned, your pregnancy is progressing as it should be."

"See? Everything is perfect." He said as he kissed the top of her head.

A few minutes later they were looking at the ultrasound screen mesmerized. "Do you want to know the sex?"

"Yes." They said in unison.

"You are looking at your little boy."

She turned and looked at him. "We're having a boy," she said elated. Despite everything happening, she was filled with joy for them.

"I'm going to have a son." He was equally as thrilled as he was shocked. Somehow he thought he was destined to have only daughters. He would have been happy regardless, but he hadn't realized just how much he had hoped it was a boy until he heard the news. Soon after, the appointment wrapped up and left her alone with Dr. Meadows. Instead of leaving, he waited for her to emerge from the exam room, hoping to be able to connect.

"You're still here."

"That ok?" She took a deep breath, nodded and he continued, "I can't believe we're having a boy." He said, still a bit in disbelief.

"I know." She paused and then stepped closer towards him, "And I know I'm still working through everything that happened, but no matter what happens with us, our son is going to be so lucky to have you. I'm certain of that."

"The same goes for you." She looked at him lovingly and he decided to take a risk, "Do you have time to go somewhere and keep talking?"

"I don't. I'm due in court in about an hour." She made up an excuse. She was so happy that their baby was healthy and she wanted to share that joy with him, but she also didn't want to mislead him when she wasn't sure what she wanted.

"You sure we can't go for a walk, or I can meet you at the courthouse later?"

"Ned–please don't…" She knew what it was like to be in his position. To want to so desperately prove that you loved the other, but she wasn't ready and she needed him to respect that, so she continued. "You should know that I am still so deeply in love with you that it hurts. And I know that you love me that much, too. But, I've been dealt this lousy set of circumstances. And I'm trying to find a way to get past this. Because I want to be happy for our family and our future. I just don't quite know how to do that yet… or if we even should."

"I know. I'm sorry. And you're right I do love you that much, so I'll try, I'll try and back off." He had hoped that they'd be able to build a small bridge after their news today and it was hard not to try and reach out. She was his heart and he couldn't lose her.

"Thank you." She said and they walked towards the elevator bay.

As they stood there waiting, he had an idea that maybe would give her the space she was asking for. "Alexis?"She looked at him and waited for him to continue as the doors to the elevator opened and they stepped inside. He waited for the doors to close again before continuing and his hand grazed hers as they let their fingers brush up against each other not quite holding hands. "I know you said you didn't want me to leave, and I'm sure part of that is more about Kristen than what you know you need, but what if I go see Brook for a few days? It's been awhile since I've seen her and I can take Kristen with me. I'm sure she'd love to see her sister. "

She thought about it for a moment and then replied, "I think that's a good idea," thankful he was making an effort to give her time and that it wasn't going to send mixed messages to their daughter. "When do you plan to leave?"

"I'll pick up Kristen and we can head to Bensonhurst later this afternoon."

"So, you may be gone when I get home?" She asked as the elevator stopped and the doors opened.

"Unless you don't want me to go." He asked, sensing some sudden hesitation on her part as walked out of the hospital. "Alexis?"

"No, go. You should see your daughter and… I think it's what we need. Go and I'll see you when you get back. Tell Kristen–"

He stepped closer towards her and and took her hand. "I will. I love you and I'll see you in a couple of days."

She inhaled his scent, and closed her eyes trying not to let him see how much she still wanted to be close to him as he kissed her cheek. "Ok."

He let go of her hand and walked away, even more determined to prove to her that their love, their family, was worth fighting for. He called ELQ and told his secretary to cancel his meetings for the next few days because he would be leaving town and then he went to pick up his daughter and head home. He packed and then sat down to put his feelings down on paper. It had been a long time since he had sent her a letter and he hoped that this small step would help show her how much he needed her. He finished writing, looking it over once more before they left for Bensonhurst and he dropped the letter in the mail.