Ned stood there, shocked and stared at his cousin from across the nurse's station. "No, he couldn't have been. He was at the house, when I dropped off Emily and Kristen. Are you sure–?

"Are you really going to question my memory again?" She asked incredulously.

"I'm sorry, no, that's not what I meant. I believe you, I'm just processing. Tell me what you remember."

"He was there. He and Jillian were talking about some plot to make you pay, but it sounded like he was trying to back out, that maybe it went too far, but.."

"At the house, he got a phone call." He said remembering. "I was trying to assure Kristen that I'd find you, that everything was fine and he stepped out of the room. I didn't even notice…and when he came back in he told me that Jillian was at the cabin, that he'd lent it to her."

"That's how you found me?"

"Yes. And if I had any idea…"

"But you didn't, and he's your family. So, what do you want to do about this?" She asked knowing he'd be torn between wanting to turn him in and playing the family gatekeeper.

"If he knew you were in labor and left you alone, I swear, Alexis.."

"I wasn't, yet. He didn't know." She said, reaching for his hand and she was about to suggest they call Taggert when Kristen ran over to them and interrupted.

"Mommy, daddy, come on, Santa's here!"

They looked at each other and communicated without words, not wanting to talk about it in front of their daughter and then Ned took Kristen's hand and said to Alexis, "We're coming, right?"

"Of course, we've got to meet Santa." She said, smiling at her daughter and then leaning in to kiss her husband. "We'll figure this out at home. Don't let him get to you while we're here, ok?" She said quietly and he nodded in agreement and kissed her again before they walked back over towards their friends and family.

The drive home was filled with childlike excitement and it brought them both joy to be in the moment with their daughter. They ate dinner and put out the traditional cookies and milk for Santa. Before Alexis went upstairs to read to Kristen she had pulled her husband aside and told him she thought he should call Taggert about AJ. That maybe it could help them find Jillian at the very least. He agreed that knowing what AJ was up to was important, but wasn't sure about getting the police involved just yet. Everyone was already out looking for their son. This could stall the search and he truly believed what AJ knew had nothing to do with where their son was now. He went upstairs to change and stopped into Kristen's room to kiss his little girl goodnight, when he noticed the light still on and heard Alexis still reading.

"So, do you think if you keep reading, she'll wake up?" He joked.

"She was awake a minute ago, I swear." She said as she put down the book and gently got out of her daughter's bed. She pulled the covers over her little girl and kissed her forehead, before shutting off the light and walking towards Ned who stood in the doorway.

They both lingered for a moment, watching their daughter sleep before Ned spoke, "We're so lucky."

"Yes we are," she said as she reached to quietly close the door and then took his hand and led him downstairs to the living room. "Did you call Taggert?"

"Not yet. I want to talk to Junior myself first. We know he wasn't there for the birth, which means it's unlikely he knows where Owen is. He's my cousin, I'll handle it."

"I was afraid you'd feel that way." She said as she crossed in front him and walked to stand by the fireplace.

"Can we table this for now?" She just looked at him in response, about to protest, when he spoke first, "Just for tonight, for now. We've been under a lot of strain and we're both terrified for our son."

"But what if he knows where Jillian is?" She asked, rational, not understanding his mindset.

"You were certain Helena was involved. Do you really think that Helena involved AJ?"

"Well, no." She conceded; his logic made sense.

"The police are investigating, following up on every lead you could give them–"

"Except, AJ."

"Honestly, right now, I think you're the only one who could know what happened to him." He said calmly and then instantly regretted it when he saw her reaction.

"That sounds like you're blaming me, when I've spent every hour of every day trying to remember. And pieces are coming back, that's why we're here right now."

"I'm sorry, I just want to find our son." He stepped towards her and tried to take her hand, but she pulled away.

"I do, too, Ned. And I haven't blamed you once. Not even once. And I'm trying. I've gone over and over it in my head to the point that you thought I was going insane and still I didn't blame you. So how could you say that to me right now?" She was hurt and it showed as she tried to hold back the tears she felt welling up in her eyes. She sat on the nearby chair, and looked up at him, a bit shell shocked that this is where they were.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, really I didn't." He said as he sat at the end of the coffee table and leaned towards her, resting his elbows on his knees. "I'm just overwhelmed. I mean I don't even know what he looks like. How can I help find him, when I never got to meet him?" He asked before putting his face in his hands.

She took his hands in hers, she understood him, and he looked into her eyes. She quietly told him, "he looks a lot like Kristen did at that age. This perfect combination of the two of us." She smiled, as she remembered holding him, the one memory that brought her comfort in all the insanity. "And I wish this was different. You have no idea how badly I wish that you were there when he was born and that right now instead of falling apart we were doing all the normal Christmas Eve things."

He found the understanding in her eyes, in her words that he so desperately needed and he was grateful because she could have easily continued to pull away. He knew what he said hurt her and he regretted the implication. "Christmas Eve things…we need to.."

"Yes, we do. So, we'll table it for tonight because there's a little girl upstairs who deserves to wake up tomorrow thinking Santa was here."

They spent the rest of the evening wrapping gifts and putting together the doll house their daughter had wanted before finally heading to bed. For the first time since the nightmare had started, Alexis was able to sleep without waking up in terror that she was inventing everything that could have happened with Jillian and Helena. They had fallen asleep holding each other, finding comfort in knowing that even though they disagreed about how to handle AJ, they knew they needed each other to get through the terror they both felt for their son.

The morning came quickly and they were awoken when Kristen came running into their room and climbed on top of them. "Mommy, daddy! Wake up! It's Christmas!"

"Krissy, it's 5:30 in the morning," Ned said laughing at her excitement as Alexis sat up and pulled her daughter into her arms and kissed the top of her head.

"It's Christmas!" Kristen insisted as she pulled away from her mother and started to climb off her parents bed.

"We're coming." Alexis said as she reached for her robe and then leaned over and kissed her husband good morning. "Will you–"

He interrupted her, "you have to ask? Neither of us want your coffee."

"I guess not." She replied, getting up. "You said yourself, it's 5:30, it's early. I need coffee."

They went downstairs and it was easy to fall into a sense of normalcy as their daughter's excitement permeated the morning. Alexis sat on the sofa, legs underneath her, and gratefully took the mug Ned passed her as he re-entered the room and sat on the opposite end, his own mug in hand. Then, Kristen walked over with a small gift, "This one has your name on it, mommy."

"What?" She said as she looked at Ned and put her coffee down before taking the present from her daughter. "But we agreed…when did you find time to…"

"Just open it," Ned said simply.

She carefully unwrapped the small package, revealing a black velvet jewelry box. She opened it to reveal a simple gold necklace with a diamond surrounded by two different colored stones on either side. "It's gorgeous."

"Their–"

"I know." She said as she looked at him lovingly.

"Put it on mommy."

She moved to take the necklace out of the box. "But I don't have anything for you." She said as Ned, put down his coffee and moved closer to her, and took the necklace. He pushed her hair to one side as he opened the clasp and put the necklace around her neck. "Thank you," she said as she touched the necklace that now hung around her neck.

"And you already gave me a gift." He said as she turned back to face him again and she looked at him confused.

"Changing your last name… I don't think you realize what that meant to me." She brought her palm to his cheek.

"I do know and I wish I could have been here when you saw that."

"Mommy, you changed your name? Why would you change your name?" She asked, confused.

"Come here baby." She said as pulled Kristen on her lap. "I changed my last name because I love you and your daddy so much that I wanted to have the same name as you both. Because you are my family." She said looking at Ned and reached for his hand.

"So your last name is Ashton like mine now?"

"That's right sweetheart. Just like yours and daddys." She said making eye contact with Ned and smiling warmly. "Now, why don't you see if there is anything left under that tree." She suggested as Kristen climbed off the sofa and went back to her many Christmas presents.

When at least it seemed like everything had been opened, Ned stood and said, "Who's ready for some french toast?"

"Wait daddy, there's one more." Kristen said as she reached for the light blue bag that was on the floor between the tree and the entertainment cabinet.

Ned looked over at his wife, who inhaled upon seeing it, forgetting it was even there. He had moved the bag out of sight weeks ago, when they had come home from the hospital and neither of them were ready to face what he thought had happened. "Krissy, that's not a Christmas present." He said looking at Alexis, concerned. "Why don't we just leave it here for now." He took the bag from Kristen and put it on the coffee table in front of them.

"No, it's ok." She said, making eye contact with Ned. "We have reason to hope, right?"

"Right."

She reached for the bag and took out the card, reading it and then passing it to Ned. Congratulations on baby boy Ashton. All our love, Chloe and Jax.

"Whose it from, mommy?"

"Auntie Chloe and Uncle Jax." She said as she took out the tissue paper revealing a pale green long sleeved and footed onesie with a baby giraffe in the corner. She laid it on the table and placed her hand on it, taking the moment she needed and keeping her emotions in check as Ned reached for the bag and took out the other small object wrapped in tissue paper. He slowly unwrapped it and revealed a white ceramic ornament with a giraffe on it, which read Baby's First Christmas in navy blue font.

He passed the ornament to Alexis, who took it and tried not to let the few tears that had welled up fall as Kristen asked, watching her parents carefully, "Was this for my baby brother?"

"Yeah princess it is." Ned replied as he gently rubbed Alexis' back.

"I'm sorry it made you sad, mommy."

"Oh Krissy, I'm ok, I promise." She said as she quickly wiped the few tears from her eyes and then reached to give her daughter a hug. "Look," she said, showing her the ornament in her hand, "remember what you said, about how your brother needed an ornament? Well, he has one now."

"Let's put it on the tree mommy."

"You choose where it goes, ok cuddlebug?" Alexis said as she handed her daughter the ornament, wiped the last remaining tears, and stood, followed by Ned as they all walked towards the tree.

"Up there, daddy" She pointed and Ned lifted their daughter, so she could put it on the tree and then gave her a hug.

"I love you, Krissy." He said as he held his little girl.

"I love you, too, daddy."

They continued to spend the morning together as a family. Ned made his famous french toast and they sat in the kitchen after breakfast when the doorbell rang and she looked at Ned questioningly as he got up to answer the door. She got up and went out to the foyer when she heard his voice.

"Jax, Chloe, what are you doing here?" She asked as Jax gave her a hug.

"You didn't think we'd let you isolate yourselves today, did you?" Jax responded.

"You're both such good friends, thank you." Ned said as Chloe hugged him.

"Uncle Jax!" Kristen said as she emerged from the kitchen, curious. "Auntie Chloe!"

"Hi Krissy, " Chloe said smiling. "Merry Christmas."

"Did Santa visit your house, too?"

"Of course he did." Jax said, amused by his friend's daughter.

"Hey, Krissy, why don't you go play while we visit with Uncle Jax and Auntie Chloe? I think daddy already brought your new doll house downstairs to the playroom." Alexis said, running her hands through her daughter's ponytail as Ned nodded, confirming.

"Ok, mommy." She said as she left the four adults standing in the foyer.

"So how are you both? Really?" Jax asked, concerned

"I'm certain today hasn't been easy for you," Chloe added.

"We're ok." Ned said, taking his wife's hand. "Just trying to cling to the hope that he'll be found soon."

Alexis looked at him and nodded in agreement, "Right. He'll be home soon." She said unconvincingly.

They walked into the living room together. Ned sat at the end of the sofa and Alexis sat next to him, leaning against him slightly as he placed his arm around her shoulders, while Jax sat at the opposite end and Chloe sat in the chair closest to her husband. "What can we do? We want to help." Jax insisted.

"I'm not sure there is anything you can do."

"Helena has a soft spot for me, if I can use that to get information…" Jax started to say as Chloe looked on with concern.

"I would never ask you to put yourself in that position, Jax." Alexis said. "Stefan is trying to trace the funds and find any other connection between her and Jillian and despite everything I trust my brother with this."

"I don't know why." Ned said as Alexis glared at him and pulled away, standing and walking across the room. Her eyes landing on the ornament they had hung just a couple of hours earlier.

"Stefan is in the best position to leverage Helena right now unlike–" She said, turning to face her husband and her friends as Ned interrupted.

"Alexis, I told you I'll deal with AJ." He said as he stood and approached her, touching her arm.

"What about AJ?" Jax asked, confused.

"You two shouldn't be fighting each other right now." Chloe reminded, looking between her two friends.

"We know." he said quietly and then turned to Alexis, "I'm sorry."

"Me too," she replied, matching his tone. "I've been thinking about what you said last night. About my memory."

"I didn't mean to–"

"It's ok. You were right, until we know what happened we're grasping at straws. I want to go back to the cabin, maybe it will trigger something."

"Honey, are you sure?"

"I am. I need to fill in the blank spaces for myself and for our son."