The death of Edward rocked the family and created a power vacuum where Edward would have usually been the one to put his stamp of approval. Ned felt the weight of the family on his shoulders, and he knew the fight for control of the company was looming. That morning the community gathered at St. Timothy's as the family said their final goodbyes.

The entire family was in attendance, sitting in the front pews. It was rare that everyone would be there and the last time that had happened was Lila's funeral. Tracy stood at the front of the church with Alan and Ned, Monica, and Alexis. She turned to see who from the community was arriving and when she saw who entered next, rage took hold. "Absolutely not! Under no circumstances are you welcome here."

"Edward was a great man, we're just here to pay our respects." Sonny explained.

"Your respects? My father detested everything you stood for."

"Michael is his great-grandson." Carly jumped in.

"That may be true, but no one asked for the town harpy. You and your criminal husband can go. Michael is an adult."

"Ok, Mother, let's just walk this way." Ned intervened and redirected Tracy back to the front of the church as he looked to Alexis to step in and help diffuse the situation with Sonny and Carly.

"Why would you two come here?" Alexis asked, confused. She knew and they knew that the Quartermaines would have a reaction; and not just Tracy.

"We're here for Michael, Alexis." Carly said exasperated.

"Who you both fought tooth and nail to keep away from his father and as a result the rest of his family."

"And you did the legal work for that if I recall." Carly added.

"That doesn't mean I agreed with everything that transpired."

"Pretty sure you did at the time. And since when are you spokesperson for the Quartermaines. They really did suck you in. Didn't they?"

"You know what, Carly–"

"I think that's enough." Jax intervened between the two as he arrived with Joss, who stayed with her mother, while Jax took Alexis aside. "Just let them stay. It's not worth it."

"You weren't here when Tracy saw them. This day is hard enough for Ned and everyone else. They don't need them here. And why are you defending her? After she, predictably, went crawling back to Sonny."

"I don't need an I told you so, right now Alexis. I'll take responsibility for Carly. Sonny he's on his own. Good enough?"

She reluctantly agreed. "Good enough. And hi." She said as she hugged her friend hello. "How long are you in town for?"

"That's unclear at the moment. But I wanted to be here for you and Ned. And, Chloe."

"Well I'm happy to see you."

"Alexis, can I speak with you? Just for a moment." Sonny said as he approached and interrupted her conversation with Jax.

"Now really isn't a good time Sonny." She said, confused, especially after she made it clear that he shouldn't even be there in the first place. Add to it that they had a falling out, she wasn't his attorney anymore; she wasn't quite sure why he would choose now to ask yet again for her to take him back on as a client. Because everytime they encountered each other lately, that was all he seemed to want.

"After the funeral then?" He insisted.

She saw Ned, eyeing her conversation and knew she needed to cut this short. "I don't think so. Just avoid the Quartermaines today, please. And don't even think about trying to goad my husband. Not today."

"I have no intention of causing any problems."

"Good. Now, excuse me." She said as she went back to her family and stood by Ned, taking his hand.

"What was that about?" He asked quietly.

"Nothing. He promised not to cause problems. Just ignore that they're here."

"Easier said than done. If AJ engages…"

"Hey, don't even go there. I think everyone just wants to get through this morning. AJ isn't going to do anything, at least not here. I truly believe that."

"You're probably right." He replied and she leaned in and kissed him quickly before they took their seats and the service started. She held his hand as family members spoke and when it was his turn she gave it an encouraging squeeze, a show of support as he approached the lectern to share his own memories of his Grandfather. "There's no question that my Grandfather could be difficult, but underneath every scheme was a man who truly cared deeply for his family…," he began.

As Alexis listened to her husband describe the man she came to think of as family, she couldn't help but reflect on her own memories of Edward. As she looked at her three children, one memory surfaced above the rest. It was Christmas Eve. They had just found out that Owen was alive. That her instincts had been right and everyone was doing everything in their power to find their son. They had brought Kristen to the GH Christmas Party and as she stood in the corner and watched her daughter's excitement over the holiday, Edward approached her.

"Alexis."

"Edward."

"How are you holding up my dear? Alan told us the news."

"As well as anyone would be considering…" She said as she continued to watch Kristen with Ned and then turned her full attention to Edward.

"I'm positive he's ok. My great-grandson has defied the odds and he'll be home soon. Just you wait and see." He was supportive and certain.

"It's the waiting. I feel like I should be doing more."

"You're scared for your child. It's understandable; so, you let me and the rest of the family keep hope alive while you and Ned, you keep being there for each other and your daughter." Alexis nodded and the two hugged briefly. "Merry Christmas., Alexis."

"Merry Christmas." She replied as he went to talk with others in attendance at the party that night and she turned her attention back to Ned, who smiled warmly at her.

As Ned finished giving his eulogy, Alexis looked at Owen. Edward had been right. Owen had been ok. They got their son back and she had never been so grateful for the support of so many. Ned went back to the pew and sat next to her and reached for her hand again. "You did a nice job," she whispered.

"Thanks." They sat through the rest of the service, holding hands. She was his lifeline and when his oldest and youngest daughter got up to sing together at the service's conclusion, it nearly broke many in the room, but especially him. It was rare for him to see all his children together at once, but even rarer was hearing Brook and Addison sing together and it meant a lot to him that they would want to participate and honor Grandfather in this way.

After the service concluded the family gathered at the mansion for the reading of Edward's will. They sat in the living room, all waiting to hear who would get what percentage of stock. Tracy's frustration grew as Edward's lawyer read through the names of his grandchildren, great- grandchildren, Alan and Monica, all receiving a significant percentage of stock. Her outrage that Jason and Michael would have more control over the company's future than herself only increased when she heard who Edward had left stock to, before even mentioning her.

"My remaining stock is to be split. To my loyal grand-daughter in law, Alexis Davis-Ashton, I leave 3% and to my late wife's dear cousin, Chloe Morgan, I leave 3%" Edward's lawyer read, cautiously having been interrupted at every line of the will thus far.

"What?! Alexis gets stock? She's a Cassadine! That only leaves 1%!" Tracy interjected as Alexis sat there shocked she was in the will at all.

"One percent which goes to you, Ms. Quartermaine."

"Daddy relegated me to the likes of Lucy Coe?! Nonsense. There is no way this will is valid."

"Looks that way, dear sister." Alan said, amused. "At least you have your existing shares, cheer up."

"I agree with Aunt Tracy. There is no way this will can stand. He basically ensured Ned has the votes to do whatever he wants. Between him, his kids, and Alexis–" AJ said, indignantly.

"You're assuming an awful lot there Junior. But there will always be a need for a Vice President in charge of paper clips." Ned interrupted, equally amused. AJ wasn't wrong, his family made out and securing the votes he needed to formalize an appointment as CEO should only take a handful of other family members.

"The will was witnessed and notarized. It will hold up in court."

"Give me that." Tracy demanded as she took the document from the lawyer.

"Suit yourself. If there are any other concerns you know how to get a hold of me." Edward's lawyer left as the Quartermaine's descended into chaos.

"You're acting like Alexis plotted this. I'm sure like all of you she had no idea what was in that will." Chloe stated, attempting to be the voice of reason.

"And like all of you I'm sure she will do what's in the best interest of the company." Emily added.

"Thank you. That's exactly what I intend to do."

"So you'll vote against your husband if it comes down to it?" AJ asked incredulously. "Because I think it's time this company looks to the future."

"No one wants you as CEO again Junior."

"And I'm sure my mom will do what's needed," Kristen said adamantly, jumping in. Knowing her dad would want to make a play for CEO, but also knowing what that might mean for her parents. She had heard her parents reference events that transpired the last time he was CEO and she had faint memories of them being separated when she was young.

"I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about Michael."

"What?!" Tracy and Ned said simultaneously as several other members of the family sat there shocked.

"Michael?" Alexis asked, confused.

"Michael." AJ stated.

"Is that something you'd even want?" Monica directed at her grandson.

"I'd consider it." Michael said plainly, taken a bit off guard. Although he was making an attempt to get to know his family better, he still thought of Sonny as his father.

"You've never shown any interest in ELQ or this family and now you want to make some power play with AJ, a father you barely acknowledge?" Kristen asked, outraged. She was supposed to be the next in line. She had been the one actually pursuing a degree that could help her run the company one day.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Tracy said matter of fact.

"Why thank you grandmother." Kristen replied as Ned looked on impressed and Alexis watched her daughter slightly concerned with how easily she fell into the Quartermaine dysfunction. She was her fathers daughter. If it hadn't been clear before; it was clear as day now.

"I told you–"

"But you are a grandmother, Tracy. Have been for some time." Monica quipped.

"Why don't you all just table this, for today?" Alexis said not entirely comfortable with being the reason the room descended into an argument.

"Says the Cassadine who's walking away with a stake in this family's future."

"Alexis is a member of this family." Ned said adamantly, annoyed that after all this time for his mother it came down to the fact that his wife was a Cassadine.

"By marriage, that doesn't mean she should have voting shares."

"Honey, just let it go." Alexis said to Ned, stopping him as he was about to respond. She knew that Tracy was hurt, and grieving. It was obvious to anyone who had interacted with her the past few days. It wasn't a battle worth fighting; hell, she wasn't even sure she wanted the stock in the first place. She supported her husband in all that his family put him through, but she in no way wanted to disappear into the dysfunction herself. That had been her biggest fear all those years ago and it still existed deep down in some small part of her.

That evening Alexis stood in their living room scanning the photos that adorned the mantel and surrounding bookshelves. Her and Ned, their children, memories that filled her life with joy and so much love. She tried to shake the comment Carly had made that day about being fully sucked into the Quartermaines and the small wave of fear that she had maybe lost herself the moment it was announced she now had stock, voting shares, in ELQ.

Ned walked into the room and watched her briefly from a distance. He knew her well enough to know that something was on her mind, but what she was thinking, he had no idea. It had been a long day for all of them, but he was certain that being named in his grandfather's will and all that transpired afterwards had to have thrown her. He walked up behind her and placed his hands at her shoulders and kissed the back of her head. "Hey."

"Hi."

"What's on your mind?" He asked as she turned to face him.

"Nothing really. How are you holding up?"

"I have you. I'm ok." She leaned in, kissed him and then took his hand and led them over to the sofa.

"I was watching you this afternoon, doing the math in your head as the stock was divided. AJ wasn't wrong."

"No he wasn't. But can I help it if what we've built together has value? Grandfather saw that, clear as day. As much as he gave you a hard time, he knew this would stand the test of time. And we have, haven't we?"

"We have. But about the stock…" She knew she needed to tell him what was running through her head before it came back at them weeks from now. She needed to trust him, even if it would hurt him.

"What about it?" He asked, confused.

Before she could answer Kristen entered the room. "Hey, do you have a few minutes to talk?"

"Of course. What's on your mind?" Alexis said as her daughter sat in the chair across from them.

"Well with everything going on with ELQ I thought maybe I'd transfer to PCU. The deadline for spring semester hasn't closed yet. I can come home and finish senior year here."

"Kristen, you don't need to set aside your life because of what happened today. There's no way AJ will get the support he needs to pull anything off." Ned replied.

"I don't know about that, Dad. Wouldn't it help to have me here? I can help run interference. Plus, I have sway over Grandmother. I can help calm her down about Mom."

"All of that may be true and I appreciate you wanting to help, but the best thing you can do is finish school. Finish what you've been working so hard for."

"I will finish. Just not at MIT."

"But you love it there," Alexis added. "Everything will be fine here."

"But I love my family more."

"I love you, Krissy, but go back to Boston. The best thing you can do for me is to be happy. ELQ will still be here when you're done."

"Dad, I want to help. It's supposed to be me. It's not supposed to be Michael."

"I know you do and I promise you that there's a place for you at ELQ regardless of what happens."

"I never realized how much ELQ means to you." Alexis said as if she were truly seeing who her daughter had become for the first time.

"It's the family legacy, Mom, and I won't let something happen to it."

"Neither will I, Kristen. I'll keep you informed, ok? But I want you to go back to school. I don't want you to repeat mistakes I've made because of the company."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Ok, well I guess I'll go pack then." She said as she stood. "I love you both."

"We love you, too." Ned said as she left the room and Alexis turned to him.

"If we didn't know it before, today proved one thing, she is so much like you."

"I don't know. Her mother can be fiercely protective of her family, too."

She kissed him in agreement. That much was true.

"Now, what were you going to tell me earlier?" He asked, wanting to know why she had been so deep in thought.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter." She said, not wanting to get into it and possibly give her daughter another reason to want to move home and throw herself into the battle for ELQ. "But you can do one thing for me."

He doubted that was the case, but he let her drop it. It had been a long few days. "What's that?"

"Rub my back?" She asked and he laughed, nodded and started to massage her shoulders. "I still say you should get your hands licensed."

"Magic massages?"

"Well they are. And they have a way of turning into other things you know." She turned quickly, kissing him lightly on the lips before he resumed her requested massage.

"I do. I do know." He said, flashing his dimples.