Kristen walked into the house she grew up in and looked for her mom. Addison was right. She needed to talk to her and not just about why she was so upset over the divorce, or to face the consequences of her choice, but she really just needed her mother. She had been putting off facing the mess she may have made of her own life and the only person she felt like might understand was her mother. She had to swallow her pride and face her. She walked into the kitchen and found her working at the counter. A cup of coffee from Kelly's and a stack of documents. She looked up surprised, but seemed relieved to see her, "Kristen?"

"Is it ok that I'm here?"

"Of course it is. You got my messages?"

"I'm sorry I stopped responding." Kristen said as she stepped further into the kitchen.

"I'm just glad to see you. Do you want to talk?" Alexis asked hopefully as she closed the Cassadine file she was reading.

"I do, but not about that. Is that ok?"

"What is it?" Alexis stood and walked closer to her daughter, who she could tell was trying to keep it together.

"I just really need my mom." Kristen finally admitted.

"I'm here, bug, I'm here." She hugged her daughter tight. "Why don't you come tell me what's going on?" Alexis stated as she took her daughter's hand and led them to the kitchen table where they sat.

Kristen looked at her mother, she hesitated. She didn't want to be a disappointment.

"Whatever it is, we'll figure it out." She assured her daughter.

Kristen sighed, and then finally opened up. "I didn't tell you, but I was seeing someone in Boston. I thought maybe he was it. I thought maybe I was in love with him, but we agreed it was never going to work and broke up. And then…"

"Then…?"

"There was this one night before I came home for winter break. We ran into each other at a bar and we were drinking and well one thing led to another. We weren't thinking. I wasn't thinking and now everything is ruined. I've been putting it off. I kind of hoped I was wrong that this isn't happening, but I don't think I can avoid it any longer."

Alexis tried to read her daughter and then finally asked. "Kristen, are you pregnant?"

"I might be. How could I be so stupid, Mom?"

"You were thinking with your heart. You're not stupid."

"But this could change everything I've worked so hard for. This isn't part of the plan. I have a plan!"

"Hey, listen to me, this doesn't change that. Life doesn't always go according to plan. You can't logic your way out of every situation, but you'll be ok. I'm certain of that. And if you are, you have options, Krissy."

"I know."

"Did you buy a test, sweetheart?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm just afraid to take it."

"Do you want me here when you do? Do you have it with you?"

"Yes." She replied quietly.

"Let's go upstairs." Alexis stood and followed her daughter out of the kitchen and upstairs to her bedroom. This was not what she was expecting when she saw her oldest daughter walk into the house this morning. She sat on the bench at the end of her bed as her daughter went into the bathroom. "You'll be ok, Kristen. No matter what it says, you'll be ok." Alexis assured her.

Kristen nodded and then went into the bathroom and shut the door. She took the test and waited what were an impossibly long few minutes. She took a deep breath and then looked at the white stick and placed it back down on the counter. A sigh of relief washed over her and she opened the door to face her mother.

"So?" Alexis asked, cautiously.

"I'm not. Thank god, I'm not. I'm so relieved. You have no idea."

"I'm glad you got the result you wanted." Alexis said as she stood and went and hugged her.

"Thanks for being here, Mom. I know I haven't been very good to you lately." Kristen was sincere as she stepped out of the hug.

"You're my daughter. I'll be here for you no matter how angry you are at me. I can take it."

"Or how angry you are at me?" Kristen added, knowing she had crossed the line.

"No matter what, Krissy."

"Please don't tell Dad about this."

"This happened to you. You get to decide who knows and I would never break that confidence."

"Thanks."

"Can you stay and talk, bug?" Alexis hoped.

"Yeah. I'd like that."

They walked downstairs and sat on the sofa in the living room. "Kristen, I just don't understand why you're so angry with me."

"I don't understand why you'd push Dad away. Addie is right. We all know you love each other."

She sighed, Kristen was old enough to hear the truth. "Recently, your Dad wants me to be someone I'm not and we tried to talk it through, we did, Krissy. I love our family. I love him, but–"

"Dad didn't know what I was going to do at the board meeting. He didn't. I swear."

"He told me."

"Then why don't you believe him? You should be mad at me. Not Dad."

"It's complicated. You don't have all the facts and this is between your father and I. We both love you. I wish you could see that."

"You said you don't know who I am anymore. That you don't recognize me. Is that true?"

"I was hurt about what happened at the board meeting. It was raw and then the way you reacted to this divorce…I was taken off guard. I'm sorry if what I said hurt you, Kristen."

"I'm sorry, too, Mom. I didn't think about you. I saw the opportunity and just acted."

"I guess I just hoped that of all the things you learned from us, taking care of everyone, prioritizing everyone else over yourself was the one thing I didn't want any of you to internalize."

"Growing up, I wanted to be more like you, Mom. I want you to like me. The way you like Addie."

"What?" She was shocked at how her daughter felt.

"It feels like you don't get me sometimes. Dad always does."

"That's true, but it's because you are so much like your father. You see things the same way. These past few months that became very clear to me. Everything I love about him, I see in you. I love you just as much as I love your sister. Don't ever doubt that."

"But do you like me?" Kristen asked again.

Before Alexis could respond the lock turned and Ned entered the house. He second guessed whether he should just let himself in, but it still felt like home. He may have been at the Gatehouse for a week now, but this would always be home. Both Alexis and Kristen acknowledged him simultaneously.

"Ned?"

"Dad."

"I hope it's ok I let myself in…" He said as he looked at his wife.

"Of course it is. What are you doing here?" Alexis asked as she stood. "Where are Addie and Owen?"

"They wanted to meet friends at Kelly's. I don't want them to feel obligated to give up their weekend plans. I told them I'd pick them back up on my way home."

"You're a good Dad. So…"

"Right. Well, I just need a few things that I've left here. I've got some meetings in Manhattan this week."

"Oh, well, of course. Get what you need."

"Thanks. I'll be down and Kristen, I'm glad to see you here." He said, making a point, hoping his wife and his daughter were finally healing their relationship as he went upstairs. He went to the closet and found the suit he needed and then went into the bathroom. He had left his travel kit. He froze when he saw it. Sitting on the bathroom counter. A pregnancy test. He sighed and then looked at it. Negative. He was relieved, but also he couldn't help but feel like maybe this scare was a sign they were making the wrong decision. He gathered what he needed and went downstairs. They needed to talk. They needed to really talk. Last night he realized that and now it hit home even more.

Alexis stood in the kitchen with Kristen, a bowl of fresh popcorn on the counter as Ned entered.

"Did you find what you needed?" Alexis asked as she ate the last kernel of popcorn that was in her hand.

"Krissy, can I talk to your mom alone for a minute?" Ned asked, seriously.

"Sure." She said, confused as she left the room, but in true Quartermaine fashion stood in the hall and eavesdropped. Maybe there was hope after all.

"What's up?" Alexis asked not sure why he'd send their daughter out of the room. They were separated, they had decided to divorce. There wasn't much left to discuss.

"Why wouldn't you tell me you thought you were pregnant?" He asked, hurt.

Out in the hall Kristen froze. She left the test on their bathroom counter. She didn't think…again.

"What?" She was taken off guard not sure where he would have gotten that idea.

"Alexis, I saw the test in the bathroom."

"Oh."

"So, why wouldn't you tell me?"

"Honey, I'm not sure what to say." She tried to buy time, she promised her daughter she wouldn't say anything.

"Another baby. That would be a pretty big deal, considering."

"It would be." She agreed.

"I thought we were past this point. We didn't need to worry about the chances of that any longer."

"It's not completely impossible, Ned." She said annoyed.

"You didn't have to face this alone. How do you feel?"

"How do you?"

"Honestly?"

"Please."

"When I first saw it sitting on the counter, I had more hope for us than I had in a long time. Our children are the best part of us and I thought maybe it was a sign we were making a mistake."

"You wanted another baby?" She asked. He wasn't making sense.

"You didn't?" He was surprised.

"You wanted to do it all again? Sleepless nights, potty training, little league and play dates and all the rest?"

"I would have done it again in a heartbeat. Why won't you tell me what you're thinking?"

"I guess I just don't feel the same way. I love our three kids, but to do it all over again, now? I don't know…"

"Are you saying that if you had been pregnant, you wouldn't have wanted the baby. My baby. Our baby?"

Kristen couldn't take listening to her mom lie for her any longer. She didn't want her to have to answer that question. "Dad, it wasn't Mom's test."

"Kristen, you don't need to do this."

'It's ok, Mom."

"It was yours?" He looked at his daughter, shocked.

"I told her not to say anything and I never thought she'd take it this far, but I guess I never thought you'd see it."

"I told you I wouldn't say anything. If letting your dad think it was mine, supported you. I was ok with that. We were talking in hypotheticals." Alexis told her daughter.

"Are you ok, Krissy?" Ned asked.

"I'm fine. Relieved, actually."

"I didn't even know you were seeing someone."

"I was. It's over. It'll never work."

"Someone from school?"

"Someone I met in Boston, yeah. We'd been together for a few months. He's pre-med at Tufts."

"And you broke up with him? When?"

"Does it matter?"

"I'm just curious about your life, sweetheart. You've been so consumed by everything going on here. We haven't talked about what's been going on with you in a long time."

"I'm curious, too, bug. If you thought you loved him…"

"You were in love?" Ned questioned. He had no idea his daughter was keeping so much to herself.

"Yeah, maybe. I'm not sure."

"Just tell us about him." Alexis encouraged.

"His name is Jack Barrington. He has family connections to Port Charles, actually.""

"But you didn't think it would work? Why?"

"Because he's entering med school and then he'd have to go wherever he matched. I want to come home and work at ELQ. I ended things before the long distance thing got in the way, that's all."

"Plenty of couples make long-distance work. Did you talk about how to try to make that work? Did you want to?" Alexis asked sincerely.

"No. It was still pretty new. And like I said. We agreed it wasn't going to work out, so thank god I'm not pregnant. That would have been a disaster."

"Only you can judge that." Ned said sympathetically.

"Anyway. I'm glad we talked about it."

"Us too." Alexis agreed for the both of them. It was nice to know what was truly going on in her daughter's life.

"Are you both still sure you're getting divorced?"

"We are." Alexis stated before Ned could respond as her eyes met his briefly.

"I still think if I was here, you wouldn't be doing this."

"Kristen, the root of what we were fighting about existed long before you. It's not your job to fix every problem. Understand?" Alexis explained.

"Yeah."

"Are you going to go back to school next week? You have one more semester and when you said you wanted to withdraw…" Ned asked, concerned.

"I'm going back. This scare put things in perspective for me."

"Good."

"I should go." She wanted to give her parents time to talk. Maybe it would help. "Mom, is it ok if I come back here later? We can keep talking…"

"I'd love that. Please." It was quiet without her husband and her children around. She was alone and she hated it. She hadn't realized how much she didn't miss that life. They said goodbye and Kristen left her parents standing in the kitchen alone. They stared at each other, not quite sure what to say and then she finally broke the ice. "Ned we were almost…we might have been…"

"Grandparents?"

"Yeah."

"It's crazy to think about."

"It is. What kind of… well you know…do you think we'll be one day?"

"I think we'll be the best kind. I'm looking forward to that day, but honestly, I'm glad it's not now."

"Me too. I would have supported whatever she wanted to do. I know you would have, too. But I have to admit I'm relieved she doesn't have to make those choices."

He nodded in agreement and they stood there together in understanding before he finally said, "I should take off."

"Ok. And thanks for talking to her, for breaking down that wall."

"It wasn't me. It was Addison."

"Addison?"

"Addison." He confirmed. "I've got to go pick them up at Kelly's."

Alexis nodded and she watched him start to leave, but she stopped him. He needed to know. "Ned-"

"Yeah?" he asked, turning around.

"For the record, to answer your question, if the test had been mine. If it was mine and it had been positive. I would have been conflicted, but I would have loved our baby."

"Me too. We'll talk later?"

"Sure."

That afternoon Addison and Owen sat with Cam and Sophie at Kellys. Sophie had convinced Addie that she needed to get out. That hiding at home wasn't going to help her get over her fear of being at school and Cam echoed Sophie in their group text and so she agreed. Owen had joined them when his own plans were cancelled. Getting out, avoiding facing the reality that their family was torn in two was a good plan. He and his sister needed their friends.

"I can't believe your parents are divorcing," Sophie said.

"I know." Addison said.

"We saw it coming," Owen reminded his sister.

"Where's Will? I thought he was coming?" Sophie asked.

"He's still grounded for being at the Kensingtons."

"You were there, too?" Cam asked Sophie.

"I was. You know? Adds you told him?" Sophie looked for confirmation.

"I did." Addison said and reached for Cam's hand under the table.

"Hey." Joss said as she entered. "Room for one more?"

"Uh sure?" Sophie said and looked at Addison.

"It's fine." She said to Sophie. "What's going on Joss?"

"Nothing much, really." She looked at Addie and Owen, "I heard about your parents. That sucks."

"Thanks." Owen said. "How are you since everything…" He asked as Joss pulled over a chair and sat next to him.

Joss was taken off guard, she didn't know Owen even cared. "I'm ok. Morgan is starting to act more like himself again. I was scared I'd lost my brother." She admitted, and looked at Addison, "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize for caring about your brother, Joss." Addison said.

"Even though…" She looked around the table.

"Everyone here knows." Addison confirmed.

"Oh." Joss didn't realize Addie had told anyone. She knew Owen would know, but Cam and Sophie? Then, maybe she shouldn't have been surprised. Sophie was family and Cam was very clearly her boyfriend. "None of you are planning—"

"Addison gets to decide who knows." Owen clarified. "I'm not planning to say anything unless she wants me too…"

"That goes for me, too." Sophie agreed.

"Me too." Cam said as his eyes locked on Addison and he squeezed her hand under the table.

"Got it." Joss said. It was clear they were keeping the secret but also clear that if Addie every changed her mind it would be out there.

"You're all the best friends I could ask for." Addison said, grateful. "Joss, I hate to ask, but umm is he going back–"

"To school? I think so. At some point. Your mom–"

"Is a brilliant attorney." Owen interjected and emphasized looking at his sister trying to send a message.

"Well I think she is trying to arrange for him to be released. Home and school as long as he stays on his meds…" Joss said. "I'm sorry Addison. I know that makes things harder for you."

"Just tell him to stay away from me, ok? I don't want to see him. It's bad enough that people are staring as it is."

"I will. He needs to focus on his recovery and I'll remind him of that."

"I wish we were at the same school." Cam said seriously.

"Me too. It would be easier with you there." Addison agreed and the rest of the table watched them.

Owen and Sophie exchanged knowing looks, clearly his sister and Cam were together and if they thought they were keeping it a secret, they weren't. Owen then turned to Joss. "He needs to stay away from my sister."

"I'll do what I can, Owen. I swear. No one wants to see this blow up into a bigger thing."

"It's too late for that." Owen said and then wished he hadn't.

"What does that mean?" Addie immediately worried.

"I'm handling it."

"Owen…"

"Kids are just saying some stuff. Addie, I've got you. I don't want you to panic about this."

"What? What are they saying?"

"I haven't heard anything. Joss?" Sophie looked at her sister.

"Me either…" Joss said as she watched Addison's anxiety increase.

"It's mostly just some upperclassmen who are pissed that the party was broken up. Don't worry about it." Owen tried to brush it off, calm his sister's fears.

"Easy for you to say…"

"Hey, you trust your brother, right?" Cam intervened.

"Right."

"Then, take a deep breath and try not to focus on it. They'll get over it and it will blow over. Parties get busted up all the time. There will be another party and they'll move on." He had no idea what was being said, but he knew it wouldn't help her to panic. Addison didn't need more to worry about.

"You're probably right," She said to Cam and then looked at her brother, "But Mom told you the police have videos of that night…"

"I haven't seen anything posted with you in it, Addie. I swear. People are just talking."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure." If his sister knew what was being said she'd never want to step foot in that school again. He had to believe he was looking out for her by hoping it would die down. The fact that Sophie and Joss seemed in the dark had to be a sign he was doing the right thing by not saying anything this time.

That afternoon Ned picked his kids up at Kellys and they spent the rest of the afternoon at the Gatehouse. They were both quiet. He tried to tell himself that it was an adjustment for all of them. They were all trying to navigate how to function in this new reality. But he also couldn't help but feel like there was more going on. The conversation he had overheard the previous night, everything both Owen and Addison were facing in the wake of that party. He tried not to think about what his son could know. He tried not to focus on the fact that his daughter was very clearly struggling with facing what happened to her. She shut down every conversation he tried to have with her about opening up, finding a way to face it and heal. But then, he wasn't the Addison whisperer. If they were together, maybe just maybe they could have tag teamed this. Now, they were both trying to figure it out on their own. He stared at her number on the screen of his phone. He called. He couldn't not hear her voice. The morning brought a lot up.

"Hi." She answered immediately.

"Hi," he replied.

He was quiet, she wasn't sure why he'd called. He said he might, but she didn't plan on it. "So, ready for your trip?"

"Getting there. I'll drop the kids off around 4?"

"That works. Is that all?" He could have texted. They didn't know how to make small talk and not admit what they were feeling.

"Well, no…I should have brought this up when I was at the house today."

"What? Is it the kids?"

"The kids are fine. Quiet, but fine. Maybe I just needed an excuse to call you."

"You never need an excuse to call me."

"I miss you." He said quietly on the phone.

"Ned…I miss you, too." The week had taken its toll and the morning made it even harder.

"Then why are we doing this?"

"We agreed. We can't keep hurting each other. It hurts our kids as much as it hurts us."

"We can not hurt each other and be together."

"You have no idea how badly I wish that were true."

"Can we talk more about this tomorrow when I bring the kids home?" He could feel the wall she built through the phone line.

"Sure. If that works for you?"

"It does."

"Ok, well I'll see you tomorrow then."

"See you tomorrow, Lex."

"Night."

"Love you."

"Honey…you know I do too."

"One of us needs to hang up first."

"It's just hard. You were right. I didn't understand. I didn't know."

"Not what I wanted to be right about."

"I know. I'm sorry." Silence. "Ok, well…"

"Well?"

"Goodnight, Ned."

"Goodnight, Alexis."

She hung up. He had called her. She wasn't sure what his goal was. They agreed. No mixed messages. For their kids. For themselves. But one thing was clear. The feelings weren't going to magically disappear.