A/N: Took this past Monday off to celebrate me turning 23 and GH turning 61. But we are back, and things are going to get a bit crazy!
A pair of bright brown eyes greet Dex when he exits the bathroom, and part of him wonders how long she's been staring to begin with.
Dex isn't sure how many days have passed since the trial, and he hasn't tried to keep track to begin with. While it wasn't an entirely deliberate choice, he wouldn't trade his moments of silence with his daughter for anything.
"You're up early," he squints at Ciara with a smile, smoothing wet strands of his hair back. Her tiny hands grip the side of her crib, one he installed mere hours after the trial ended, as she stands upright, staring blankly. He approaches the crib, standing close enough for Ciara to latch onto his navy blue T-shirt.
"What?" he asks with a toothy smile, pulling her up to carry her. His smile grows when her giggle hits his ears, "What is it?"
She looks around the room, going from the crib to the made bed to the bathroom door. Dex turns the same way for a moment, nodding in understanding, "Good idea."
The singe of the hot shower water stays with him as he walks down the stairs, a clean baby propped in the crook of his elbow. He sets her down in her highchair, the big yellow cushion supporting her back and head as he disappears around the corner, emerging with two bowls, one with cereal and one with fruit.
"It's nothing spectacular," Dex sighs, taking a seat, "but it's serviceable. The more we get to know each other, the better the breakfast will be, I promise."
Ciara babbles at him, hands plunging into the bowl. He giggles as she shoves a banana slice into her mouth, eating a spoonful of cereal. They eat in a comfortable silence before Dex feels an awkwardness set in. He looks around the space, locking onto a photo of him and Kristina on the credenza behind him. The framed smiles pull out a buried sadness within him, and he wilts the longer he stares. The clang of a bowl snaps him back.
"Done?" Dex observes Ciara's empty bowl as her palms smack her plastic tray. He takes it from her and heads to the kitchen, cleaning the ceramics and storing them in the dishwasher. He stops himself as he returns, standing underneath the archway. Ciara doesn't notice, placing a couple fingers into her mouth. His smile is sad as he scans her features: My nose…her eyes…
His head whips towards the front door, knuckles hitting the other side. He pulls Ciara out of the high chair and walks over, eyebrows shooting up when he sees who stands in the hallway.
"Dante," Dex says, "hey."
"Can I, uh, come in?" Dante looks around. Dex steps back and lets him pass through. He takes a seat on the sofa, the father and daughter joining him.
"What brings you by?" Dex asks, balancing Ciara on his knees.
"Well, I wanted to check on you, see how you're holding up," Dante scans the living room, "and since the place looks clean, I'd say you're hanging in there."
"Yeah," Dex laughs, keeping Ciara upright, "she's been easy. I have TJ and Molly to thank for that."
"Have they dropped by at all?"
"No. You're, uh, my first visitor."
"...Really," Dante raises an eyebrow, "Why's that?"
"It's just…how it's been. I mean, it's been about a week, and it's not like I'm doing it on purpose."
"So you haven't been ignoring my dad's calls or TJ's texts?"
Dex doesn't respond, glancing away.
"Is Kristina here?"
"No. I don't think she's come by since the trial ended."
"Have you talked to her at all?"
"No, and I kind of don't want to, at least not right now."
"I get it. I'm not talking to her either."
"Oh yeah?" Dex raises an eyebrow, "How come?"
"Let's just say…this incident hits way too close to home."
"How so?"
"My ex-wife and I were trying to have a baby a while back, but nothing really came of it. Her then-best friend offered to be our surrogate, and the baby we thought was ours…wasn't."
"I'm sorry," Dex frowns, pulling Ciara against him, her head resting under his chin.
"Yeah, but hey, we ended up having Rocco, so it worked out, I suppose. It doesn't change how hurt and angry we were, which is how you probably feel right now, huh?"
"To be honest, I haven't thought about it. I mean, I haven't tried to. It all just…feels so raw and new and I don't have time to stew in how hurt and angry I am."
"But you do feel that way?"
"Of course I do. It's definitely there," Dex lowers his voice, rubbing his daughter's back as she relaxes against him, "She went back on her word to Molly and TJ, and she lied to them and to me until it was too late to fix things. This could've been resolved months ago, but…that's not what happened. And right now, all I can think about, all I want to think about, is Ciara. What matters to me right now is her: her wellbeing, her growth. That's all I care about."
"Ciara," Dante smirks at the infant, "Sam told me you changed her name. It's pretty."
"Thanks."
"She also mentioned that you get to decide how involved Kristina is in her life."
"I haven't thought about that either."
"When's the hearing?"
"Friday. I have the whole week to make up my mind, and I know I have a lot of things to consider."
"Mhm…" Dante nods slowly, "Well, hey, I'm glad you're focusing on your daughter, but don't let that stop you from processing everything, okay? I know I had to keep it together in my situation, even though I was pretty frustrated myself. It's not exactly healthy."
"You're a better man than me, Dante."
"Eh, I try, but don't sell yourself short. The fact that you're not spending all of your time wallowing is pretty good."
Dex offers him a meek smile, feeling Ciara tug on his shirt. He looks at her, eyebrows furrowed in playful confusion. She giggles in response, a hand in front of her mouth. Dante grins at the exchange before getting to his feet, Dex joining him.
"Thanks for visiting, Dante," the young man says, "I'm glad you stopped by."
"No problem, man. You're family now, and we always gotta look out for each other."
"I appreciate that."
"If you need anything, call me."
"Will do," Dex watches Dante walk down the hall, turning the corner. He proceeds to shut the door when he hears the ring of the elevator, nearly closing it until a hand stops him.
"It's quite rude to close the door in people's faces, young man," Victor remarks from the other side, a strong push causing Dex to stumble backwards. He cuddles Ciara close, doing his best to shield her from the old man's eyesight as he and a goon walk into the penthouse.
"What the hell do you want?" Dex snaps.
"I'm here to see my great grand-niece."
"Get out."
"Oh, Dexter, is that any way to treat a guest?" Victor frowns, nodding. Dex seizes up when he feels two strong hands hold his arms in a vice-grip, the tightness making it difficult to carry Ciara. Victor smirks at the sight and attempts to retrieve the infant, enduring Dex's resistance. Ciara keeps her head turned away from the old man as he carries her, eyes locked onto her father.
"Hello, my dear," Victor bounces the baby, "it's very nice to meet you. Your dear aunt's told me so much."
"Aunt?" Dex asks, his arms held tighter.
"Yes, her aunt. Her incredibly distraught, newly-established aunt, specifically," Victor shoots him a look.
He refocuses on the infant while Dex attempts to wrestle himself free. Ciara reaches out a hand to him, grabbing air, "Don't mind your father, dear. He'll be fine. I want to focus on you, on how special you are. You are a Cassadine, a descendant of my brother Mikkos."
He cuddles her closer, and she averts her eyes, "And it's not just you, dear Ciara. You have a cousin, a spare from my great-nephew, a cousin who has a much less…elegant name than yours. I suppose I should give your father some credit for that, shouldn't I?"
"Let me go!" the young man huffs, tossing himself around in the goon's grip. The taller man stands firm, holding onto his captive as tightly as possible. Dex lets out a pained gasp, finally stopping.
"It seems that your name is all he's given you," Victor sits down, scanning her face, "I can't seem to find a hint of him anywhere. However, it's clear as day that you have your mother's eyes. There's a fierceness that could only have come from Kristina," he looks around the living room, "and yet she isn't here."
The goon swiftly pins Dex's arms square behind his back, forcing him completely upright. Victor stands up and gets in his face, Ciara looking on with her best attempt at concern.
"I know you have a big decision ahead of you, young man," the old man whispers sharply, "Don't make any decisions you'll come to regret, and don't forget what family your daughter belongs to."
"By my accounts, she's a Heller."
Dex unconsciously exhales a sigh of relief as Alexis stands in the doorway, arms crossed against her maroon pantsuit. Victor turns around and offers her a forced smile.
"Oh, Alexis, what a pleasant surprise," he slowly approaches her, bouncing Ciara along the way.
"Why are you here?" Alexis scowls.
"I want to see the newest member of our family, that's all. Between her and Ace, the future looks very bright for us!"
"Leave, Victor. Now."
"I have the right to visit members of my family."
"You have no business being here."
"See, that's where you're wrong," Victor steps closer to her, getting in her face, "With Helena gone, may she rest in peace, the family needs a proper headship, and with recent…events, Nikolas is no longer fit to hold that title."
"And you are?" Alexis's eyes narrow, her voice sharp and hostile, "Listen to me: you have no business sniffing around this place. Dex and Ciara are none of your concern, and it would be in, frankly, everyone's best interest if you stayed away."
"Alexis-"
"If you truly want our family to be united, to operate as a united front, you'll do what I'm telling you to do. If you care about this family like you claim you do, you'll leave that young man alone."
Victor scowls at her, taking a step back. He walks towards his goon, nodding. Dex drops to the floor instantly, rolling onto his back, and he feels Ciara take his shirt in a vice-grip when Victor sets her down. The goon taps Dex in the side with his boot as he and Victor exit. Alexis eventually appears in Dex's line of vision.
"Are you alright?" she asks.
"I will be," he sighs, "once my arms stop hurting."
Alexis squats down, locking eyes with Ciara. The baby cocks her head to the side, gazing at her grandmother curiously, "I'm assuming Victor forced his way in."
"He did."
"I'm concerned about you two," Alexis runs a gentle hand through the tiny blonde hairs on Ciara's head, pulling back when Dex manages to sit up, moving his daughter onto his lap, "This is the third time Victor's shown up here."
"Where else can I go?" Dex replies, "Kristina's probably bouncing between you and Sonny, so he's out, and I can't afford to spend money at the Metro Court just to avoid him."
"How did the security Sonny put in place not step in?"
"Victor probably snuck past them. It happens," Dex dons a stern gaze, "We're going to be fine, Alexis. He caught me off-guard and nothing escalated. And before you say it, I know he's a dangerous man, and I know what he's capable of."
Alexis looks at him sadly, opting not to respond. Dex softens at the sight, his expression mirroring hers.
"How's Kristina?" his question takes on a gentle tone.
"I'm sure you already know the answer," Alexis responds, and he casts his eyes down at the floor. Ciara coos in his lap, a few fingers in her mouth as she looks up at him.
"...Is she staying with you?" he asks meekly.
"For now. It's partly why I stopped by, actually, to get some of her clothes."
"Be my guest."
"I can get those in a bit," Alexis bites the inside of her bottom lip gently, "Let me help you up."
Dex keeps Ciara cradled in one arm as the other is around Alexis's shoulders. She walks him to the sofa, watching as he heavily drops onto the cushioning. He props his feet on the coffee table, settling Ciara against his chest. He could hear her quiet pants of exhaustion, and he rubs her back to relax her, planting a kiss on the top of her head.
"How are things?" Alexis asks, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Fine," he shrugs, "I mean, as fine as they can be. I'm just taking care of my daughter and getting to know her."
"What have you learned so far?"
"Well, for one, she loves being held. She also really enjoys any kind of fruit or fruit-based baby food," a bright smile spreads on his face, "She's able to sleep through the night, thankfully, and she already knows how to stand up. Getting her to take her first steps is very much a work-in-progress."
"Have you tried?"
"I've helped her walk a few times, but it's not clicking for her yet. She'll get it eventually, definitely before her first birthday."
"That would be ideal," Alexis laughs, looking down at her granddaughter. Ciara stares ahead at the door, eyes glazed over as Dex's hand travels up and down her tiny back, "Looks like someone is ready for her nap."
"She's getting there-" Dex remarks as there's a knock at the door. Alexis gets to her feet and answers, taking in Sonny's presence on the other side.
"Oh, well," she looks between the two men, "it's a party now."
"Dex," Sonny ducks his head down, eyes level with his employee. He holds out a hand when he sees the young man start to sit up, "I'm just here to check on you."
"I'm doing alright."
"How's my granddaughter?"
"She's alright too."
"Oh yeah?" Sonny looks at Ciara, his signature smile present. The baby glances at him, her breaths quicker and more pronounced. Dex kisses the top of her head again, resting his cheek against her identical blond hairs. The kingpin sits to his right while Alexis walks around and takes the seat to his left.
"She's…" Sonny begins, studying the infant's face, "She's got a lot of Kristina in her face."
"Victor said the same thing," Dex sighs.
"Victor was here?" an edge suddenly develops in Sonny's voice.
"Keyword: was," Alexis chimes in, "I took care of it."
"Did he do anything?"
"Other than his goons making my arms sore, no," Dex then clears his throat, "Uh, Alexis told me that Kristina's staying with her."
"That's right. She hasn't been by my place, if that's what you're wondering."
"Have you talked to her?"
"A few times. She doesn't know I'm here."
"Does she know you're here?" Dex looks at Alexis.
"She does. I told her I was coming here to get some of your clothes, and she told me to tell you that she loves you."
Dex doesn't respond, glancing down at his propped feet. Sonny and Alexis exchange glances, trying to figure out their next moves.
"Can we talk to you about something?" Sonny speaks up.
"What?" Dex asks cautiously.
"We know you have a…big decision to make regarding Kristina's place in Ciara's life," Alexis continues, "and time appears to be of the essence. We just want to make sure that what you decide on is what's best for everyone involved."