The week continued to barrel ahead. Addison and Owen had started to spend some weeknights with Ned at the Gatehouse and now they were back home. Their mom's house still felt like home. Addison had found that splitting the week made it easier to stay home. Although her dad had tried to get her to go to school the day prior she was dismissed early with a migraine. The video online had been buried with other posts and she was thankful, but being there was hard. There were still stares and whispers and hidden notes in her locker about wanting her or calling her a slut and the longer she stayed away the harder it was becoming. She knew it. She recognized it, but she couldn't bring herself to face life at Madison.

"Addie, we're already late. Your brother couldn't wait any longer. Let's go." Alexis yelled up the stairs.

"I still don't feel well. Can I just get another day here to rest?" Addison came to the top of the stairs still in her pajamas.

"Are you sure this isn't –"

"Mom, please. I can't be there. I'm tired and I don't want another headache because all I do all day is think about what might happen." Addison cut her off. She knew she was onto her.

Alexis climbed the stairs and met her daughter at the top step where she took her hand and they both sat down. "Addison, you can't avoid it either. You need to be at school. I want to talk to Mrs. Miller and the administration. If she knows she can help find a way to keep you safe, so you don't encounter each other."

"He'll find me. He will." She was adamant.

"And then he will face the consequences of that choice."

"It's not just Morgan. The rumors are so bad, Mom."

"You said that. What rumors, sweetheart? Talk to me." She wrapped her arm around her daughter.

"Just let me stay home again. Please. I'll email my teachers. I'll get my missed work."

Alexis looked at her watch and sighed. "Just one more day, but I'm going to call Aubrey and see if she can stop in and check on you while I'm in court and then when I get home we need to figure out a plan because you can't stay home indefinitely."

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Addison said as she threw her arms around her mother.

"I love you, Addie, but I'm not sure I'm helping you right now."

"I know." Addison said quietly as she hugged her mother again. They stood and Addison went back to her room and Alexis left for the courthouse. She had a full morning, but she made a point to clear a couple of hours midday. She needed to talk to Ned. They needed a game plan, because their daughter's anxiety was getting worse. They would need to be on the same page about how to handle this and she knew he wouldn't be happy she let Addie stay home again.

Alexis arrived at ELQ. She had stopped at the Grille on the way. She picked up lunch. His secretary wasn't there, she hoped he would be. Maybe she should have called, made sure he would be. She started to second guess just showing up as she heard the laughter coming from his office.

"Ned?" She asked as she knocked on the slightly ajar door. She was shocked to see him, laughing dimples in full force, sitting next to Julia Barrett, who had lightly touched his forearm. He turned as she entered. "Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't realize…"

"Alexis?" He was shocked to see her there and stood.

"I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll call you later." She said as she started to turn and leave the room.

"Wait. Why are you here?" Ned asked, concerned and stopped her. She hadn't just shown up to his office ELQ or otherwise in years and here she was doing it twice. First L and now ELQ. He missed the days she'd just barge in and demand he take a midday walk with her along the docks or have lunch. He missed the way they used to prioritize each other. He missed her.

"Like I said I didn't know you were in a meeting. I'll talk to you later." She explained again and made her escape. Of all the things she anticipated, this wasn't it.

"Alexis, wait…Julia, can you excuse us for a minute?"

"Of course." She said as Ned stepped out into the hall with Alexis.

"So, what's going on?" He asked as she stood by the elevator.

"I thought I'd stop by with lunch and we could talk about Addison. I should have called. I knew I should have called." She said, anxiously and pressed the button for the elevator.

"Why didn't you?"

"I don't know. I guess I didn't think you'd be having lunch with someone else…with Julia Barrett of all people."

"We ran into each other in Manhattan. We're working on a deal for the hotel together."

"Oh. That's nice. I think, maybe." It was awkward enough and she pressed the elevator call button a second time.

"You're jealous?" He asked reading her body language.

"No." She said unconvincingly.

"Alexis…"

"Ok, maybe just a little, but I shouldn't be. I have no right to be. We're getting divorced. I can't expect you not to move on."

"I appreciate that, but–"

She interrupted him, "No, it's ok you don't have to explain. I'll go. I should have called. We can set up a time to talk about this."

"Ok. I'll hear from you then?"

"Yeah. Go back to your lunch meeting with Julia."

"You're ok?"

"I am. Today was just a painful reminder that, well, you aren't going to be my husband any longer. I'll call next time."

"I'm still–"

"It's ok, really. I'll talk to you later." She said as the elevator doors opened and she stepped inside.

He sighed as their eyes met and then the doors closed. He walked back into his office. She was hurt. He could tell she was hurt.

"Are you two ok?" Julia asked, reading his change in demeanor the second Alexis had entered the room.

"We're divorcing." He said simply.

"She doesn't think we're…" She motioned between the two of them, knowing he could fill in the blanks.

"No, I don't know." Ned replied as he walked back over to the conference table and sat.

"You still love her. Don't you?" Julia could read him. Their history had taught her how to read him.

"Of course I love her."

"So if you want to talk…"

"Got it. We should get back to work. Did you look over the inspection reports?"

"I just received them this morning. I will and I'll get back to you."

"Good. The sooner we can get the hotel back on solid footing the better. Who'd have thought you and I would be back in the hotel business together."

"Certainly not me, but I'll welcome any chance to work closely with you again."

Ned flashed his dimples and agreed as they continued their work meeting. There was always a natural chemistry between he and Julia, but he still loved Alexis and her jealousy today had given him a sliver of hope.

That afternoon Alexis walked into the house and saw Addison sitting on the floor of the living room. She was relieved to see her working on schoolwork. She walked in and sat on the sofa and Addison got up and joined her, pulling one leg underneath her and facing her mother. "You doing ok? Feeling any better?" Alexis asked.

"I should have gone to school." Addison replied, deflated.

"Everything ok?"

"I'm just looking at my math work and I have no idea what's going on. You were right, I can't miss school. I can't figure this out on my own. I'm not Krissy."

"Hey, don't you dare start comparing yourself to her again. That isn't what I meant when I said you should be at school."

"I know. It's just stressful to be home and it's stressful to be there."

"I'll call Mrs. Ryan, ok? You'll catch up."

"No, I'll talk to her tomorrow." Addison sighed.

"I'm proud of you for realizing you need to be there. That hiding isn't helping."

"Right. You can't hide from the internet anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean, sweetie?"

"Nothing. I'm fine. I should finish some of my makeup work." Addison said, reaching for her notebook.

"Addison?" She got her daughter's attention again. "You're not alone. You don't have to suffer through this alone. I'm here. I understand."

"You've been so amazing, and I love you for always listening and sticking up for me when Dad wanted to go to the PCPD. But you don't know what this is like."

Alexis sighed. Maybe Ned had been right and maybe if she listened to him their daughter would finally be brave enough to stand up for herself. "Peanut, I do." She said quietly and tucked the stray hair from her daughter's ponytail behind her ear.

"You do what?"

"Know what it's like."

"Mom? What are you saying?" Addison questioned cautiously, trying not to jump to conclusions.

"I've been where you are, only I didn't get as lucky as you. I couldn't stop it."

"You were…" Addison started quietly, she couldn't even bring herself to say it. It was her mom.

"When I was fifteen years old and living on Cassadine Island. A guard, he…anyway…I know, sweetheart." She empathized.

"No wonder you never talk about what it was like growing up there."

"Your Uncle Stefan, I'm not sure if you remember him…"

"A little."

"He tried to protect me, but he wasn't always around. I didn't really have anyone."

"Because your mom died?"

"Right."

"Do you miss her?"

"Everyday. But you have me, ok? You have so many people who care about you and want to support you."

"So how did you forget about it? Because I'm still so scared. It's like I can't let my guard down anymore. I know I wasn't raped, but…"

"You are allowed to feel whatever it is you're feeling. But, Addison, I'm sorry to have to tell this…you don't forget. You just find a way to move on. You make the choice to not let it define who you are and you live your life."

"How, how do you lock it away? How?"

"Everyone is different. I threw myself into school, and I was so focused, I cut myself off from everyone and the idea that I could have or even wanted a meaningful relationship. I was so determined to make a life for myself off that island. I don't want you to make that mistake, so let us in. Let us all help you. Why don't you want justice? I couldn't get justice, but you can have justice, Addison. You can."

"It's not that I don't want it…"

"Then what is it?"

"I told you. I was afraid if I told you both it was Morgan, you'd fight. That Dad would blame you for taking his case and getting him released and it's not your fault and I didn't want to make it worse between you. I thought it was getting better and I didn't want to be the reason you're divorcing and now I am anyway because of Krissy letting the power go to her head."

"You are not the reason we're divorcing. I don't know what it will take for you to believe that, but you need to. So, do you want to press charges? We can still press charges, baby."

"I don't know…"

"Just think about it, seriously. Promise me. I want you to find your voice again."

"I promise. But will you and Daddy drop this idea about telling the school?"

"Addie…I still think at least telling them what happened will help them support you."

"Mom, I'm barely surviving the day there as it is. Please." She begged.

"Your father and I need to talk about next steps. We need to make some decisions as your parents, but we won't do anything without talking to you first. That's my promise to you. You'll be at Dad's tomorrow for the next few days. Have everything you need?"

"I think so, but if I wake up with a nightmare…can I call you? I know Dad is there, but…"

"Don't ever feel like you can't call me. We may not be under the same roof, but I'm here for you always." Alexis reassured and pulled her daughter into an embrace. They were going to need to make hard decisions soon and she needed to make sure Addison knew she was there.