She tossed and turned as memories surfaced. Memories she had blocked out, intentional or otherwise. Memories she wanted to forget and didn't want to relive.

The grass was green, and the sun was high in the sky as she laid there and read. She was deep into the latest book Stefan had helped her sneak out of Mikkos' library. She never understood why she had so many restrictions. She was basically ignored unless Stavros was around. Stefan always helped her avoid Helena and Stavros. Reading was her escape. Occasionally she'd get to take out a horse or spend time at the beach, but more often than not the bluff overlooking the ocean was her safe space. At least it was until that afternoon.

She looked up. She could sense she was being watched. She feared it was Stavros. It wasn't. It was one of the guards. Helena must have sent them to find her. She'd tried to disappear after Stavros had been harassing her again. She needed to disappear. She knew there'd be consequences after she'd thrown a vase at precious Stavros. The glass had shattered and when he went after her she picked up a piece of glass and cut his hand to get away. She knew she shouldn't have. She knew better than to go after Stavros. But Stefan was nowhere in sight and she was afraid. She needed to defend herself. "You didn't think you'd be able to hide out here Miss Davidivich. Did you? Madam says you're to be taught a lesson." The guard said as he approached.

She stood and backed away. "I didn't mean to hurt him. He attacked me first. I was just defending myself. I'll stay out of the way. I promise. Just leave me alone."

"You're just as naive as they say and you are a very pretty young woman, Alexis. It's a shame no one will ever want you. The abandoned orphan whom they took pity on." He said as he stepped closer to her.

She walked backwards. She dropped her book. It fell over the ledge and down onto the beach below. "What does she want you to do to me?" She asked uneasy, afraid, as he continued to approach. He was always watching her. She had told Stefan. He told her to ignore it, stay out of the way unnoticed and it wouldn't be an issue.

"She left that up to me. You hurt Master Stavros." He said as he grabbed her and pulled her towards him. "I've been watching you."

"Let me go."

"You need to learn your lesson, Alexis, but there are other things we can do that will be more enjoyable. I won't tell her, if you don't."

She sat up, startled, out of breath. The memory of that day in Greece having fully surfaced. She looked over at Ned, sleeping peacefully. She breathed out. She was at home, she was safe. She was with the only man who had ever made her feel both physically and emotionally safe. She reached over and ran her hand through his hair. An attempt to remind herself that he was in fact there. It was in the past. She had sworn to herself she wouldn't let this haunt her. She had to work harder to keep it at bay. She'd survived and now she needed to teach her daughter how to survive as well. Drowning in her own trauma wasn't going to help her do that.

She got up out of bed and walked down the hall. She needed to check on Addison. She knew from her own experience, was painfully reminded there might be nightmares. She was relieved when she opened her daughter's door and found her fast asleep. She walked into the room and adjusted the bedding, kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, Addison. I hope you're only having sweet dreams." She kissed her daughter's head again and quietly left the room and walked back down the hall to her own bedroom. She quietly climbed back into bed and as she did Ned rolled over and reached for her. She gratefully let him wrap her in his arms and held on tight.

"Is she ok?' He whispered into her hair.

"Yeah, she's fine." She whispered her reply. "Go back to sleep. Love you." She said as she brought his hand to her lips and then settled into him.

"Love you, too." He replied and kissed the back of her head.

She tried to fall back to sleep. But the memories kept surfacing…

"Alexis, I need to get that book back into the library. Do you have it?"

She stared at Stefan.

"Alexis?"

"I-I don't. Please don't be angry with me."

"Alexis what happened? You're hurt."

"Did Stavros do something?"

"No–I did. It's my fault. I cut Stavros' hand and then she–"

"What? What did my mother do?"

"She sent that guard who's always looking at me to find me. I was on the bluff. I was reading. He…he…"

"He…?"

"Yes."

"I'll call for the doctor. I'll talk to my father. He won't go near you again. I promise you that."

Stefan was her protector. He took care of everything: he sent her to law school because he knew she was brilliant, he helped get her off that island and in return she'd spent her adult years, her legal expertise helping him defend the family interests. She became their gatekeeper.

That morning Ned walked into the kitchen and found his wife sitting at the counter. She had been restless all night and he worried whatever she was keeping to herself was preventing her from sleeping. "You were up early." Ned said as he walked up behind her and rubbed her shoulders.

"Couldn't sleep." She said as she put down her pen.

"I'm aware. Is everything ok?" He asked concerned and kissed the back of her head.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"What are you working on?" He was curious, she was engrossed.

"Cassadine business." She replied simply.

"Oh?"

She heard the tone of his voice, and turned in the chair to face him. "I'm trying to find Stefan. I'm going through some transactions. Maybe it can help us figure out where he is."

"Alexis…"

"He's my brother, Ned."

"I know and I also know that you miss him. Just be careful."

"Stefan isn't a threat."

"Helena is."

"Helena is on her sick bed in Greece. She can't hurt us…or Owen." She added, knowing he'd always feared she'd go after him again.

"Right." He replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"I know you worry. I do, too. But one day, hopefully soon, Nikolas will have an heir of his own and Owen won't matter to her any longer."

"Do you think we should finally tell him why he was kidnapped when he was an infant? Why we've been afraid of getting too close to your family? He's old enough to understand."

Alexis sighed, "Probably. But the person who's been most afraid of my family is you, Ned."

"Alexis, you were afraid for him, too. Don't pretend otherwise."

"You're right. I was terrified when he was small and again when Helena escaped. But we've been left alone for years now. Do I think Owen should know he has a legitimate claim to the estate if something ever happened to Nikolas? Yes. But, do I think he's still in danger? It's unlikely. And Nikolas is fine. Owen deserves to be a normal teenage kid without fear that someone might go after him because of who he's related to."

"I agree. He deserves to be happy. But I also think he needs to be aware of the danger, especially if you're trying to track down your brother. So we should talk to him."

"I'll talk to him. It's my family."

"He's our son."

"He is. But you need to let me do this. I stay out of your ELQ drama with Kristen. Let me handle my family."

"Alexis, I don't want him to get this false sense of security about the Cassadines."

"Do you really think I'd lie to him about the danger my family poses?"

"I think you'd make him feel like it was safe. That Stefan would protect you when you yourself have no idea where your brother is. A brother who only pops up when he feels the need to pull on the familial string and use you as a means to an end Alexis."

"There are things about my relationship with Stefan that you just don't understand. Things you could never understand."

"That's because you never talk about it. You never talk about what it was like growing up there. I get you're their gatekeeper, but–"

"You don't know what it was like." She cut him off.

"I could try to understand, Alexis. If you'd talk to me. I would listen. I would love you."

She sighed, "I know you'd try."

"Then give me the chance. What was it like? What don't I understand?"

"Now isn't the time."

"Then when will it be? You always do this. Just when the conversation starts to be about something you push me away."

"Honey, please. Just drop it for now. I need to go get ready for court."

"You'll be home early?"

"The courthouse closes at noon today, yes."

"We'll keep talking?"

"I love you."

"So, no."

"Ned, please. The kids don't need this right now."

"We don't need this either, Alexis."

"You think I don't know that?"

He sighed, and brought his hands to his face in exasperation."Go. Go get ready."

"Thank you." She said and left him standing in the kitchen. She went upstairs to get ready for court. She thought about what Ned had said. Owen should know. The title might die without another heir, but the vultures would be all over that money and no one would have a stronger claim to it than her own son. Her father's original will made sure of that and she still had the document Jax and Chloe risked their lives to retrieve for her what now felt like a lifetime ago. She wanted nothing to do with the Cassadine blood money and she doubted her son would either, but he had a right to know.

It had been a long morning, and after filing the motion to get the charges against Morgan dropped due to his mental state, Alexis walked into the house and saw her daughter curled up on the sofa with a blanket, reading. She walked into the living room, "How many books have you read this week?"

"Three, in the last 2 days." She smiled as she replied.

"You think maybe you want to call Sophie or Cam? Maybe getting out will be good for you?" She worried her daughter was isolating herself.

"I'm ok, Mom."

"Where's your Dad?"

"He said he had something to take care of. That he'd be back later. Krissy is out, too."

"Oh. He left you here?"

"I'm fine. Really. Stop worrying."

"Your brother home?"

"Yeah, he's in the kitchen."

"Thanks, peanut." Alexis said as she walked towards the kitchen and found her son standing at the microwave. "You're going to burn it, " she said as she heard the popping slow.

"I've got it, Mom."

"You need to take it out. It's going to burn."

"It's fine." He said as he waited one more second and then opened the door and grabbed the bag of popcorn. "Told you."

She smiled at her son. "You did and now I can rest assured you won't starve when you move away from home. You've mastered the only culinary skill you need. My job here is done."

"I'm a junior. We've got a whole year and a half before I go away to school."

"It's going to fly by." She said as she passed her son a bowl and he emptied the bag of popcorn.

"If you say so."

"I know so." She said as she took some popcorn and sat at the island as Owen went to grab a sports drink from the fridge. "Have you thought about college at all, O?"

He froze and turned to his mother. "A little. Do you have a few minutes to talk about it?"

"For you? Always. So what have you been thinking about?"

"I mean I guess a solid soccer program goes without saying, right? Because I really do want to keep playing."

"It does and I know you do. But have you thought about what you might major in because that might help you narrow it down?"

"I have…actually I joined something at school that I thought I might like…and I'm kind of good at it…"

"You did? What?"

"I joined the mock trial team. Dad signed my permission slip for the missed class time…I told him not to tell you. Don't be mad."

"Owen…why wouldn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want you to get your hopes up that this is what I was interested in until I knew I liked it."

"And do you? You said you feel like you're good at it, but do you enjoy it?"

"I do, Mom. I really do. The team chose me as lead prosecutor for the mock trial after the new year."

"That's amazing, O. I'm so proud of you, truly. So you're thinking–

"I think I might want to go into a pre-law program. I think I want to be a prosecutor. I know you're a defense attorney, but–

"There are many different types of law, Owen, and the system only works if there are good people on both sides. You do what interests you, ok?"

"Thanks."

"If you want help with anything or have any questions I'm here."

"I know and I'm sorry I kept this a secret. I just wanted to be sure."

"Is this why you were asking about my taking Morgan's case?"

"Yes and no. I wanted to know how you made that decision, because I was interested. But I was also surprised you took it because of Addison."

"This really bothers you, doesn't it?"

"It does. You have no idea."

"Is there more going on? Is there something your Dad and I don't know about?" She watched her son shift uncomfortably. "Owen…?"

"I told Will I'd be on to finish the tournament we started. He's probably wondering where I am.."

"Ok, go..but not too long. You're supposed to limit screen time with your concussion."

"Right. Thanks for listening and for not pushing…"

"You're welcome. But, Owen, if there's something you want or need to talk about, I'm here."

"I know."

She watched as her son left the kitchen and she sat there wondering what else was going on. Ned had been right. Owen knew something more and they needed to figure it out. For now, she walked to her office and took back out the files on Stefan's movements. She wanted to find her brother. Her memory of the days that followed weren't clear. She wanted to talk to him about what exactly happened in the days following, because she never saw that guard again. That much she remembered. She also wanted to make sure Owen was in fact safe before she told her son anything more about why he had been kidnapped or the will that had acknowledged her as Mikkos' natural daughter, but also stipulated that any son she bore would hold a place in the line of Cassadine succession. She didn't want any harm to come to her nephew but in the absence of another heir, her son needed to know.

That afternoon, Tracy sat in the Quartermaine den and waited for her granddaughter. She had received a message that she had to meet with her before the New Year and considering all of the upheaval at ELQ she was intrigued when Kristen mentioned the company. "What's so urgent, Kristen?"

"What? I can't just want to play a game of backgammon and spend some time with my grandmother?"

"You're too much of a Quartermaine for that to be true. What's going on? Do we need to do damage control?"

"I have the votes. I have the votes to make Dad CEO."

"What? How? Does he know?"

"No and he can't. Not until the vote. I need you to call a board meeting for after the New Year. Before I go back to school."

"Who flipped? What leverage do you have?"

Kristen looked around and quickly went to close the doors to the den. "Michael. You need to call on Michael to vote first. There needs to be a roll call vote."

"Michael? You got Michael to back out?"

"Yes, which is why no one can know about this. If AJ gets wind…"

"Oh this will be a board meeting for the ages. Why can't your father know?"

"He just can't. He won't be happy I did this. He wanted me to stay out of it."

"You are turning out to be quite the Quartermaine. So, tell me, what do you have on him?"

"It's simply a mutually beneficial arrangement." Kristen kept it vague. She knew her and Tracy wanted the same thing, but she also didn't want to be double crossed herself. "So backgammon?" She suggested. She spent the rest of the afternoon at the mansion strategizing with Tracy about the vote and what would come next. She stayed for dinner. It felt good to actually be appreciated for her efforts. She knew her dad would eventually see she did the right thing, but she worried about the fall out.

That evening Alexis and Ned sat in the kitchen, dinner just about finished. "You've barely said two words to me since you got home." Alexis said concerned. "Do you want to tell me why?"

Addison, who had gotten up to clear her place, froze as she listened to her parents. She made eye contact with Owen who also had a look of concern. She couldn't stay and listen to them fight. She tried to interrupt, reminding them they were still in the room. "I'm going to go up to my room and read if you need me."

"Ok sweetheart." Ned said and then turned back to Alexis. "There's nothing to talk about, Alexis. You're making this into something it's not."

Addison escaped and Owen followed unnoticed. They usually came together when any of them needed their parents. They had, but it was short lived and it worried them both how quickly their parents seemed to unravel again.

"There has to be something. Is this about this morning? Are you still annoyed with me about this morning?"

"Alexis, it's fine. I'm fine. Really."

"I don't believe that's true. Just talk to me."

"Like you so willingly talk to me?" He replied and instantly regretted it. He wondered why it was so easy to hurt each other lately.

She looked at him, annoyed, hurt, she tried to stay calm. Think before you respond, she told herself, but their conversation was stopped in its tracks when the doorbell rang. Alexis went to answer the door and Ned followed. "Chloe? Sophie? What are you doing here?"

"Sophie wanted to see Addison." Chloe said as Alexis let them both into the house.

"Thank you for calling me, Alexis."

"Of course. Sophie you're ok? Nothing happened to you, did it?" Alexis worried.

"No, I'm ok. Just grounded."

"Got that right."

"Hi Chloe," Ned greeted his friend. "Sophie, Addie is upstairs. You can go on up. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

"Thanks." Sophie replied as she went up the staircase.

"Want some coffee or a glass of–"

"Wine?"

"Yes. You read my mind."

"Do you mind?" Alexis asked, turning to her husband.

"No, I can take a hint." He joked and flashed his dimples.

"One of the things I love about you." Alexis replied.

"You two ok? I know you mentioned.."

"We're fine. I think. I'm not sure. But, we can usually set aside anything going on with us for our kids." Alexis said as she walked into the living room and sat down.

"But you're figuring it out, right?" Chloe asked as she followed her friend and sat in the chair opposite her.

"Who knows. Maybe? For today, I'm just glad the girls are safe."

"How is Addison doing?"

"She's putting on a brave face. But I know she's not ok. Just taking it one conversation at a time." Alexis said to her friend as Ned came back into the room. A bottle of wine, and three glasses.

"Well I wish I had known that Sophie was there for one, but also I had no idea she was ignoring Addie at school. For the most part, things seemed fine when I'd see them together."

"Us too, Addison only just told me a few weeks ago. It didn't seem like anything big, normal friendship growing pains. I knew they'd figure it out, which is why I didn't say anything at all at the time. It's just considering what happened, I knew she'd need her friend."

"No, I'm glad you did. It was eye opening for Sophie. She learned an important lesson today about what it means to be a true friend."

"Well, thanks for bringing her over Chloe. Honestly, I'm worried about her. She's buried herself in books. This could help." Ned added.

"Selfishly I wanted to see my two best friends. Am I crazy to think about starting things back up with Jax again?"

"Oh. Wow. I mean–honey? What do I mean?" Alexis looked to Ned. She was shocked. Jax was their friend, too, but she didn't think this was a good idea.

"Is it what you want Chloe? Jax is a good friend, but he hurt you. More than once."

"I think? Maybe? Like I said…it's crazy right?" Chloe asked, looking between her friends. Neither knew what to tell her.

While Ned and Alexis talked with Chloe, upstairs, Sophie knocked on her friend's open door. She felt awful. She needed to apologize. "Adds?"

"Sophie? What are you doing here?" Addison asked, putting down her book beside her on the window seat.

"My mom brought me over. I hope that's ok." Sophie stated, stepping into the room.

"Totally fine. We haven't really hung out all break."

"I know and it's my fault."

"What? You've got other friends, it's totally fine."

"But you're my friend, too and I've basically ignored you at school."

"Yeah, that's kind of true." Addison shifted uncomfortably. "Why have you?"

"Honestly, I was worried what was happening to you, would happen to me. It was easier to say nothing than be your friend there and I'm sorry. I suck. I've been a really shitty friend."

"I get it. I probably wouldn't have said anything either." Addison replied.

"So we're really still friends? Because I should have stepped in when I saw you at Hope's. You tried to talk to me. I should have paid attention. You were upset. Maybe I could have done something."

"It was loud and you were having fun. I don't blame you, Soph. I shouldn't have gone in the first place."

"Don't blame yourself. This is on Morgan. Are you ok?" She made the assumption.

"I'm not really sure. Wait– how do you know it was Morgan?"

"You left, he freaked out…I put it together….Are you going to say anything? What do your parents know?"

"They know what happened, but they don't know who. I can barely think about it. I'd rather not think about it and saying who it was..then there will be more questions and the police and the school and I can't handle that right now."

"Well if you change your mind, I've got your back."

"Thanks, Soph."

"And you're sitting with me at lunch. You're my friend, don't go hide in the library next week ok?"

"Haha, ok." She asked as she hugged her friend and then they sat on the bed. "Hey, have you heard from Cam?" Addison asked quietly.

"Actually, I have. He asked me if I knew why you were ghosting him."

"I'm not, well I guess I never answered him after Rice Plaza, but.."

"He thinks you really believe he wants to date Joss. He's worried he lost your friendship."

"Shit. Really?"

"Yeah. I told you that kiss with Joss wasn't initiated by him and it sounds like whatever happened at Rice Plaza wasn't him either. You should talk to him."

"Ok, you're sure Joss and he aren't becoming a thing…"

"I'm positive that he likes you, Addison. Not Joss."

Addison nodded, taking it in. "I'm glad you came today. Do you think your mom would let you sleep over?"

"She's downstairs, I'm technically grounded for lying about that party, but I bet she would. Your mom told her what happened, it's how I got busted."

"Well, let's go see. It will be easier not to think about that party with you here to distract me." Addison stood and Sophie followed her downstairs where they asked if Sophie could stay.

Later that evening, Ned and Alexis were upstairs getting ready for bed. They had all agreed having Sophie stay was a good idea. They felt relieved that Addison was taking interest in something outside of a book. Kristen had eventually come home and they thought something was up. She was acting cagey, but there was so much else going on they pushed questioning her right out of their minds.

"Owen wants to be a lawyer." Alexis said as she stood by the window overlooking the lake, finishing massaging the moisturizer onto her hands. She'd keep the conversation neutral. She'd keep it about the kids.

"I had a feeling. He told you about mock trial?" Ned said walking into the room from the bathroom and stood behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Today." She turned to face him.

"I'm glad. I didn't like keeping that from you, but he swore he'd tell you when he was ready. I wanted to give him the chance. He was coming from a good place." He ran his hands down her arms and took her hand.

"You're a good Dad. He trusted you and you made the right decision." She said as she walked towards their bed, never letting go of his hand.

"How do you feel about it?" He asked as he let go and walked to his side and climbed in bed beside her.

"I'm just so proud of him, Ned. He's figuring out who he is and what he stands for and he's genuinely a good person."

"He is."

"I also think you're right. He knows more about what happened to Addison than he's letting on."

"She told us what happened."

"But not who…"

"You think he knows who did this?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it's possible. He was there."

"Well if he does I have to believe he's only keeping it from us because he wants to protect his sister's confidence. Did you talk to him about your family?"

"I wanted to, but no. I know you want to be there and we didn't settle that. I will though if you've realized I can and should be the one to handle this. That night, it happened to me."

"It happened to both of us and your family is the reason we went through hell."

"Stefan tried to help. He did."

"Did he contact you? Is that why you're so invested in finding him all of a sudden? You haven't mentioned him in months."

"No."

"Then what is it, Alexis?"

"Nothing. Nevermind. Where did you go this afternoon?"

"I had some business to take care of at L ." He told a white lie. He had actually been making reservations, ensuring everything was perfect for the night out they had agreed to and then he realized hours later she had forgotten when she texted and asked him to pick up the take out order on the way home.

"That's it?" She questioned. Something still felt off.

"That's it. I don't have some deep dark family secret I'm keeping from you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He took a deep breath, avoided continuing the fight she was trying to start consciously or otherwise. One that maybe he had instigated. "This isn't how I wanted this night to go."

"How did you want it to go, then?" She asked and he looked at her, waiting for her to realize and then she did. "Dinner. You wanted to go to dinner. "

"You. Me. Spending time together despite everything going on…"

"I forgot. I'm sorry. I forgot."

"It's ok."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"There's a lot going on with the kids. Chloe was here and now Sophie is sleeping over. I understand."

"I wish you had said something."

"There'll be other dinners. New Year's Eve is tomorrow. We're going to the party at the hotel, right?"

"Right. You. Me. A night for us. I'm sorry." She brought her hand to his face and leaned in and he followed her lead and kissed her softly. She had no idea how to fix what was broken between them and neither did he as they settled into each other's arms and tried to fall asleep. Years ago, hell just months ago they would have tried to show each other just how much they meant to each other. An attempt to apologize for all the tension between them and now it seemed like wasted effort. As much as they wanted each other, it felt contrived, expected, and never solved anything, so they went to sleep instead. Neither initiating what they knew the other wanted.