Time seemed to be passing quickly as the winter rolled in and the holiday season was hitting them at full force. They told the school about the diagnosis and Owen, but Addison insisted she didn't want her sister to know. She didn't want Kristen to judge her and they tried to tell her that her sister would support her just as much as everyone else in her life, but the hurt over Thanksgiving was still there. Addison and Kristen had always gone through periods where they fought, they struggled to understand each other. Growing up, Kristen had always pressured Addison to be more outgoing, she would try to help her with homework and Addison always lashed out. They had hoped they had outgrown it, but it was clear they hadn't.

The night of Addison's fall semester concert finally arrived and they were both blown away. They knew she was talented. They'd heard her sing, and they relished seeing her embrace it and shine. She was nervous, but she continued to push herself out of her comfort zone and they were so proud. After the concert, they were approached by other parents and teachers, including Mrs. Ryan, who had no idea Addison had such talent. When the evening concluded they ran into Chloe and Sophie; Addison asked if she could go sleep over at Sophie's. They couldn't help but say yes. Owen was at Will's and it was the first night they'd had at home, alone, in ages. In fact neither of them could remember the last time they had a night at home alone without any of their children.

They walked into the house and Alexis handed her coat to Ned, who was about to put both their coats in the closet when Alexis headed towards the office. Ned grabbed her arm and stopped her. "You're not seriously thinking about working, are you?" He asked and draped their coats over the railing of the stairs.

"Yes, just for a couple hours? I've let some things pile up while we focused on Addie. Things I couldn't delegate to my assistant. I have some deadlines I need to meet."

"Can't it wait, just one more night?"

"I mean, it could, but–"

He stopped her with a kiss. "Give me fifteen minutes."

"For what?" She was intrigued and stepped closer to him.

"You'll see." He responded and left her standing there.

She loved him. She loved him and his spontaneous romantic gestures, but she wondered how much longer they could ignore the cracks that had probably been in their foundation since the beginning. As he went to do whatever it is he was planning, she put away their coats and then continued into the office. At the very least she could organize and prioritize all that she had put off for tomorrow. She would have to spend the weekend working. He'd have to understand.

He found her sitting at the desk, putting files in her briefcase, "I thought we agreed. No work. Just us."

"Did we?" She toyed with him. "Maybe you need to convince me."

"I think that can easily be achieved." He said as he pulled her to stand and engulfed her lips with his. "Come with me." He led them upstairs and into their bedroom and then the primary bathroom. He lit candles and drew a bubble bath, had champagne sitting on ice. "I've been accused of not listening. I hope this shows I am and I heard you."

She was touched, but she knew him. "Honey, I hope this isn't some strategic plan to–"

He kissed her, "It's not. Just let me love you." She looked at the sincerity in his eyes and leaned into him. "You wore red," he whispered into her hair. He loved her in red. She always looked good in red.

"You wore a tie," she said as she wrapped it around her wrist. She loved him in a tie. He knew it and she had been waiting all night to pull him close.

They had both sent subtle signals about what they wanted that night. A night that had turned into more than either of them expected. Clothing scattered the floor, he leaned against the back of the tub, she leaned against him. Champagne having been opened and they savored the feeling of being at peace with the other. His fingers grazed up and down her arms, "Ned, you know it's not you, right?" She whispered, still fearing his comment, that he thought she didn't want to work as Chief Counsel because of him, because she didn't want him.

"Lex…I just need you." He kissed the back of her neck. He didn't want to fight with her. He wanted to devour her. To remind her that what they had was worth every battle recently.

"I need you, too." She breathed, his trail of kisses leaving their effect. She leaned forward, turned; adjusted so she could face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "And not just the ruthless, yet pragmatic CEO I fell madly in love with, but you." She said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, "All of you." She whispered, their lips crashing together once more.

"You've got me." He quietly assured her between their escalating kisses.

She pulled away, still inches from his lips and brought her hand to his cheek and ran her fingers through his hair. "I'm serious."

"So am I." He matched her quiet tone as they sought refuge in each other. A sense of safety neither of them had found with anyone else.

The next morning she sat at the island, coffee, and a pile of work she had no choice but to get up and face. She had taken a few moments to just watch her husband sleep. It was rare that she would wake first, and he looked so peaceful. It was hard to resist just staying in bed and curling up beside him again, but it was inevitable. So inevitable she had to be the one to brew the first pot of coffee.

"You were up early." He said as he entered the room and walked over to her and kissed her good morning.

"I was. I have to get this done." She said as she watched him head toward the coffee pot. "You don't have to drink that."

"Is that your way of asking me to brew a fresh pot?"

"Do you mind?" She asked, sheepishly.

"No. Exactly how long have you been up?" He asked as he poured what was left down the sink and started to brew another pot.

"A few hours. I told you I let things pile up and now there's no end in sight." She put down her pen and watched him, appreciatively.

He turned to face her. "I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have insisted you put it off last night."

"I'm glad you did, last night was wonderful and we needed that time alone. Just now, I need to work. So, I'm sorry, but I don't think we can get the tree today." She reached for his hand and he took it.

"Let's play it by ear, maybe you'll be done sooner than you expect. The kids aren't even home yet. If we can't go today, we'll go tomorrow."

"You're being really great about this. Thank you."

"I'm capable of compromise." It just slipped out of his mouth and he wished it hadn't as she glared at him.

"I'll be in the office." She pulled away, annoyed that what was a civil conversation had taken a turn.

He sighed as he watched her walk out of the room taking her files and her now lukewarm coffee with her. When the fresh pot was finished he poured a new cup and brought it to her, an attempt to repair the damage he had just done after they had spent the night in sync with each other hoping they were getting over their last fight.

She looked up expectantly as he entered the office and he placed the mug on the desk, swapping it with her old one. "I didn't mean that." He said simply.

"You did. Let's do both ourselves a favor and not pretend any differently." She replied calmly.

"Alexis," he said, trying not to get frustrated.

"Honey, I really do need to work. I appreciate the coffee. Thank you." She didn't want this to break down into a full blown fight. She had thought maybe they had made some progress and didn't want to erase it over one comment.

"I'll leave you to it, then." He said as she reached for the mug he had placed on the desk and he left the office not pushing the issue any further.

She had been working for hours and she needed a break. She was apprehensive about encountering her husband again for fear that what they tried to prevent from becoming an argument, would and she hated that she felt that way. She walked into the kitchen and saw him sitting at the counter. His own work in front of him. "L ?" She asked, interested, trying to build a bridge.

"ELQ," he replied.

"Anything change with where people stand on Michael as CEO?" He'd been doing more and more work for his mother lately and she worried he was spreading himself too thin. That this latest battle for control of the company was taking its toll.

"Nothing." He sighed.

"It will. You're the stability that company needs. Michael is young, unproven."

"That's the argument I keep making to no avail." He truly did not understand some family members' indecisiveness about the situation. Emily and Chloe were refusing to take sides and at some point they were going to have to see that he was the right choice. They'd have to vote against Michael.

"Well I guess you can't expect Monica and Alan to side against their grandson, but I have faith things will change."

"The other shoe will eventually drop. It's just preparing for when at this point."

"Well if you need anything…"

"Other than…"

"Yes, other than that. Let's not go there today."

"Agreed." He said as her cell phone started to ring.

She looked at him regretfully, "Alexis Davis-Ashton," she answered, never even looking at the caller id as she stood at the counter pouring another cup of coffee. "I told you–" She started to say but was clearly cut off. She looked at Ned, sitting at the counter and he eyed her carefully. "No, I don't want to see that happen. He's an 18 year old kid. Ok fine, I'll consider it. You're at the PCPD now? I can be there in 15 minutes." She hung up and looked at her husband.

"You're going to the PCPD. I heard." He said matter of fact. In his gut he knew exactly who was on the other end of that call.

"I'll be home as soon as I can." She kept it vague. She didn't want to fight. She knew this would lead to a fight.

"I guess we're definitely getting the tree tomorrow, then?" It was the PCPD, it was likely Sonny, it was likely that this would monopolize the rest of her time that afternoon.

"We are." She replied as their eyes met. She could read him and she knew, he knew who was on the other end of the phone.

"You better go. You said 15 minutes." He said resigned.

"I love you." She said, apologizing with her eyes, dreading the conversation she knew they'd be having later that day.

"I love you, too." He replied, sincerely as he watched her place her mug in the sink and head towards the foyer to grab her coat and go. History was starting to repeat itself in more ways than one and he was not ready to face the hard conversation he knew he'd need to have with her when she returned. He couldn't do Sonny Corinthos again.

That afternoon Ned sat at the kitchen island working on his laptop when Owen walked in. He had just gotten home from Will's and wanted to talk to his dad about a decision he made about a club at school before he forgot. His permission slip was due on Monday and he'd had it for over a week, not quite sure he wanted to join, but ultimately deciding he would. It would get the school counselor off his back about college and maybe help him figure out if his gut was right about what path he was leaning towards.

"Where's Mom?" He was surprised both his parents weren't home, but then maybe he shouldn't have been. They probably fought and needed space. It was becoming their pattern.

"She had to go to the PCPD for a client." Ned stated simply. "What's up?"

"I have a permission slip I need signed. Actually, I'm kind of glad she's not here. I don't want her to make this a thing."

"What is it?" Owen handed his dad the slip of paper and he read the details. "Mock trial team? Really?" He was surprised.

"My counselor said I needed to try some stuff to help me figure out what I might want to major in. Help with college apps and all that. It's one of the few activities that runs during winter." Owen explained. He knew this would seem out of the blue, but he actually was interested in what his mom did for a living.

"I had no idea you were interested in the law."

"I don't even know for certain if I am yet, Dad. Can you just sign it and maybe don't tell her?"

"Your mom would want to know. She'd be so proud of you for even thinking about it."

"Exactly, which is why I don't want to get her hopes up. I need to just see if I like it first."

"That's fair. But you will tell her eventually, right?"

"Right. If I like it, I'll tell her."

"Ok, on the condition that you tell her whether you like it or not. Your mom and I don't keep secrets from each other, especially about you kids."

"I don't want you to fight about me. If that's what you think will happen, I'll tell her today."

"No, no. That's not what I think. Give me a pen."

"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. Oh and can I borrow the car to meet Will and some friends at Kelly's?"

"Yeah. Will you be back for dinner?"

"I think so, but I'll text you if not."

"Sounds good. Have fun." He was sure Alexis would want to know their son was interested in her career and he hoped Owen would talk to her about it. If this was what he wanted to do, she'd do everything in her power to help, he was certain of that. A part of him also hoped Owen was interested, because maybe it would help Alexis understand the bond he had with Kristen about their shared interest, ELQ.

Alexis walked into the house later that afternoon. She took off her coat, dropped her briefcase and kicked off her heels. Morgan had been caught on the docks with a gun, in the middle of a shoot out. Someone was dead, Morgan was there and it was a mess. She honestly felt bad for both Sonny and Carly. Their son was clearly struggling. Diane Miller was representing Sonny. Morgan needed an attorney. It was an exhausting afternoon; she still had a pile of work to do for her actual caseload and then she'd have to face her husband.

"That took longer than I expected." He said, watching her from the living room.

"Are Addie and Owen home?" She turned into the living room and stood in the doorway, not wanting to get into it. Not wanting to stress out their children even more.

"No, he went out with friends and she's not back from Chloe's, yet. So, let's just be honest here…who required your services?" He asked calmly, certain he already knew the answer.

"I was meeting with–" She hesitated. "Sonny."

"I knew it. I had this gut feeling when you said the PCPD…why Alexis? Why would you do this?" He stood and approached her.

"It wasn't for him. Yes he's the one who called me, but it's Morgan. He's in trouble again."

"And you're going to represent him?"

"I don't know. I need to review the facts of the case before I decide anything." She knew she was leaning towards yes, but there was still a strong part of her that wanted to keep her own family safe. One case wouldn't likely put her or her children in danger again, but the trauma of the explosion left its mark even after all these years.

"I can read you, or don't you remember."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I know you're taking this case whether I want you to or not."

"Who made you the arbiter of my career, Ned?" She got defensive.

"We're going backwards. You're going backwards!" He couldn't believe they were here. He had truly thought she had cut all ties to Sonny and wasn't ever going to look back.

"Because I'm considering representing Morgan? It's one case. Honestly. I haven't even agreed yet."

"Because you're turning yourself into a mob mouthpiece again!"

"That's a bit extreme, don't you think? I know you don't like Sonny and it's not just because of the violence; that it's because of our history and the mistake that almost destroyed us." She reached to touch his arm gently. "I also know we've been here before, but it's his son and this is my call." She said trying to stay calm. Trying to understand his point of view, and then she turned to start walking towards the kitchen. He followed her.

"What happened to what you said after Addison was born? She almost died! You almost died! You flatlined that day and I thought for sure I was going to lose you forever." He watched as what he said clearly got to her. She froze and turned in the hall to face him again and then he reminded her, "You said you didn't want our kids to grow up without their mother. That you didn't want them to grow up like you did."

"I don't want that, but the kids are older now. And this is different. I'm not on retainer. It's one case. One." He had a point and it was the reason she was so torn between what she had promised herself and her family and what she felt was the right thing to do for a kid who they knew and was clearly struggling.

"Why are you doing this?" He truly didn't understand why she'd even consider it. They had put Sonny and that life behind them.

"Things have changed."

"Sonny hasn't. The risk hasn't."

"Everyone des–"

"Don't. It's not the principle. You're doing this to get back at me."

"Get back at you for what, exactly?"

"For wanting you to work at ELQ. You don't want to do it, so you picked the biggest obstacle you could find and you put it in our path instead of trying to compromise."

"Do you hear yourself? That's insane." She couldn't believe he was making this about ELQ.

"You said it." He said, walking past her and into the kitchen and she followed.

"This is my career, Ned. I'm an attorney. This is what I do. You used to understand that."

"I know that. I do understand that. But you're considering putting your life at risk again and I won't accept that."

"It's for Morgan, Ned. He's just an 18 year old kid. What if it were one of our kids, wouldn't you want the best attorney we could hire for them? As it is he'll be tried as an adult."

"One of our kids wouldn't be this reckless. One of our kids wouldn't be getting involved with the mob, Alexis!"

"I can't with you right now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that we need a time out. One of us needs to walk away before this gets worse."

"A time out or separation? That is what you said not just a week ago. Is that what you want? You want to separate then just say it!"

"Why are you taking this so personally? I don't understand it."

"You putting your life in danger is personal to me. You're jeopardizing our future together. How can you not see that?"

"What I see is that you have this fantasy of what you want the rest of our life to look like and you're throwing a fit because maybe my vision isn't exactly the same as yours."

"We're so close to the next chapter, Alexis. Our kids are almost grown. I don't want to lose you."

"I don't want to lose you either, but something has to give. It feels like you don't even know me anymore." She heard the car door slam and as she watched the hurt flash across his face at her last comment, the lock turned. "We need to table this for now. I don't want to upset either of our kids again."

Her last comment hit him at his core. He knew her. He knew her better than she knew herself sometimes. "Promise me we'll figure it out. Promise me we aren't going to lose this." He said calmly, stepping closer to her, taking her hand.

"I'm home!" Addison yelled as she entered the house.

"I can promise you we can try, but we're spiraling and I'm not sure I know how to stop it." She let go of his hand. 'We're in the kitchen, peanut!" She called out to her daughter.

Addison walked into the kitchen and immediately sensed the tension and the attempt to stop fighting because she was home. "Really? You're fighting, again? I thought things were getting better."

"Addison…" Ned looked at his daughter with empathy. The last thing he wanted was for her to continue to worry to the point of panic about this.

"How was Sophie's sweetheart?" Alexis tried to change the subject.

"It was fine. We're still getting the tree tonight, right?" Her mom wanted to change the subject. She could play along.

"Actually I have to work, we thought we'd get it tomorrow. That ok?" She knew Addison had been looking forward to getting the tree. Christmas was her favorite holiday.

"Sure. I'd rather do all the things when you're actually getting along anyway. I'll be downstairs. I don't want to listen to it." She was honest with her parents. Dr. Winters told her not to keep what she felt about this locked inside. And after thinking that through she thought maybe if they knew exactly how she felt they'd stop.

"Is that why you and your brother have been spending so much time together down there?"

"Pretty much. It's not because I actually like watching him play that stupid game, while I'm trying to read. Let me know when you're done tearing each other apart or when it's time for dinner, whichever comes first."

"Hey Addie?" Alexis stopped her daughter as she was halfway out of the room and she turned to look at her mother. "Is Owen as worried about this as you are?"

"I mean I don't want to speak for him…"

"Just tell me what you think."

"He would never say it, but yeah, I think he is."

"Thanks, baby."

"Wow. That was…" He was shocked that his daughter was so blunt about the tension she walked in on.

"The truth. And what scares me more than the fight we just had is that our kids are so resigned to the fact that this is how we function now."