Chapter 21 Lise stares intently at her computer at Mercy Med Center, as she compiles a reading list for one of the classes she'll be teaching the next quarter at PCU. Alison Kraus plays gently on the portable tape player next to her, and Lise hums contentedly as she sorts through a pile of articles and textbooks. A firm knock on her office door rouses her from her work. Lise: Come in. Stefan enters the office cautiously, not interested in another hostile encounter with the good doctor. Lise looks up, and her jaw drops at the sheer nerve. Lise: Don't EVEN tell me they sent you as damage control that doesn't seem very realistic, does it? Stefan: Damage control? Lise: (she rolls her eyes good-naturedly, not in the mood for a fight, and not willing to let him know she gave a rip about ELQ) Save the innocent act, your royal loftiness. Get to the point. Stefan: I'm here on behalf of my nephew. Lise: Your nephew? Stefan: Yes, he is interested in taking your class at the university. He's finally leaving this ridiculous public high school phase and has decided to take undergraduate courses that are more at his level. Lise: How nice for him. Stefan: The university administration has agreed to allow him to attend classes, with the condition that his prospective instructors accept his presence in their courses. Lise: Sounds to me like if he wants to play with the big boys and girls, he ought to be big enough to come here and beg his way in my class all by himself. Stefan: I wanted to speak to you first, so as to discourage any hostility that you might be predisposed to show him as a result of our issues. Lise: Mr. Cassadine, rest assured that you and Luke Spencer are the only ones who let your adult "issues" interfere with the well-being of your children. I, on the other hand, have every intention of treating my students and prospective students with the fairness they deserve and the respect that they earn. Furthermore, you and I have no "issues". We have no relationship. Now, my brother may have a different perspective, but that's him, not I. I suggest that your darling prodigy scurry his lily-white royal bum in here and chat with me himself. (she turns back to her computer screen in dismissal) You have 10 seconds to be out of here before I call security. Stefan: May I inquire as to the exact cause of your intense hostility? After all, I only offered you employment, not the guillotine. Lise: (looking at him in wonder) Do you honestly not know? Stefan: This guessing game grows tedious, Dr. Ashton. Lise: (laughing out loud) You don't seriously think that you got away with your little pharmaceutical scheme undetected, do you? That's almost so funny, I may let you stay an extra 20 seconds just so I can laugh at you. Stefan: (trying to play off the revelation, wondering if Alexis knows that Ned knows about her betrayal) Interesting that you should be such a good sport, Dr. Ashton, I would think it was we who had the heartiest laugh, wouldn't you? Lise: Yeah, as if you have ever laughed heartily in your life. Your arrogance is so over the top, it's entertaining. You're killing me. (she laughs insincerely and then gets serious again, as if the 20 seconds just ran out) Ok, your time's up. (She picks up the phone to "call security") Stefan turns to leave, but the door opens and in walks Ned, closely followed by Alexis, the two men almost colliding literally as much as they did economically. Ned stops suddenly, and stares at Stefan with a gamut of emotions scampering across his face. Alexis stands horrified, and says nothing, just switches her gaze between Stefan and Lise. Lise throws down her pen in a show of exasperation at all hope of doing work being gone. Lise: Well, if it isn't Hester Prynne. Welcome to Don't-think-you're-getting-any Mercy Medical Center, and my humble office. I hadn't planned on it, but hey, I'm up for a good public flogging. Who wants popcorn? (to Stefan) Ned: Lise- Lise: Maybe you should call the Tsarovich for a little observational instruction in why not to get involved with Western plebeians? Ned: Lise- Lise: (ignoring him) Oh wait, no, he's probably already gotten an eyeful with your unsavory romantic entanglements. Ned: Lise! I need to speak with you. Get him out of here. Lise: Oh come on, I'm up for a fight. This is better than pay-per-view. Ned: (to Stefan) Get the hell out of here. And stay the hell away from my sister. Stefan: (ignoring Ned, to Alexis) What are you doing here? Ned: Why don't you go bully someone your own size? Stefan: (still facing Alexis) I'm glad you decided to return to Port Charles. We need to confer immediately. Ned: Back off, Cassadine. Alexis: Ned! I can take care of myself. Stefan, I'm busy today, can it wait? Stefan: It most certainly can not. (he takes her arm to lead her out. She pulls away sharply) Ned: Didn't you hear her? Alexis: Alright, both of you, get out! There's a men's restroom in the hall, find a urinal in which to continue this argument. Stefan: When did you start speaking like trailer park riff-raff? Alexis: Out! I'll be a few minutes with Dr. Ashton. (looking nervously at Lise) If she'll see me. Lise: (pretending to be obliviously absorbed in her computer screen) La de da Ned, did you hear something? Ned: Lise, you really need to hear her out. Lise: (rolling her eyes) Alright, all Y-chromosomes out of the room immediately. Get out. Shoo. Ned and Stefan both leave reluctantly, bristling as they pass each other. They begin to pace out in the hall. Lise looks Alexis up and down. Alexis opens her mouth to speak, but Lise stops her. Lise: No, don't even say anything. Let me just sit here a minute and admire you. Clearly you are a woman of considerable talent, since you walked in here with the Nedster's pinkie sweetly entwined in yours. I'm simply kvetching. I'm in awe. Alexis: Lise, I'm not going to sit here and sweat and squirm before the greatly indignant little sister. What happened was ugly, more so for me than for you, and it's a far more complex situation than I intend to explain to you. However, I am sorry that you had to be in the middle of my own neurosis and familial abnormality. It was not my intention to hurt you or irritate you. I understand that our relationship is non-existent at this point. I did, however, want to say that, no matter what happens in business, Ned is very important to me. We have many unresolved issues between us and with our own lives, but what happened between you and I was not personal. Lise: (dryly) Nice speech, but I assure you, Counselor, that I'm not scarred. The support group I'm in helps a lot. You know, the Women-Used-By-Cassadines group. Katherine, Bobbie and Laura Spencer and I meet weekly to swap stories and bond. Between the group hugs and the Prozac, we're surviving, just barely. "Easy does it" and "One day at a time" and all that. (she sighs melodramatically) Alexis: (annoyed) Well, then I'll thank you not to try to sabotage my relationship with Ned. I'm sure you'll berate him for caving to my manipulations, but I'd appreciate some apathy. Lise: (coldly) Honey, you couldn't have more apathy from me if you were a fly on the wall. It wouldn't be the first time I sat back and watched Ned crash and burn, and it won't be the last. Are we finished? If not, I'd be happy to send some witty insults home with Nikolas every day after class. Alexis: Nikolas? Lise: Oh yes, the li'l whipper-snapper will be drinking from my fountain of knowledge, sitting at my proverbial feet, yadda yadda. (she raises her voice, knowing that Ned is right outside the door, trying not to be obvious that he's eavesdropping in front of Stefan). Oh Nedster! Come on in and get the poodle! (to Alexis) I think we're finished.   Chapter 22 Ned rolls his eyes at Lise' reference to Alexis as "the poodle" and walks back into her office. Alexis looks annoyed, but not overly frazzled. As she passes him, she asks, Alexis: Is Stefan still out there? Ned: Pacing and pawing the ground. Alexis: I'll meet you at the gatehouse later? Ned: Why don't you wait for me? Alexis: I need to talk to him. Alone and away from here. Ned: Alright. See you then. (he leans over to kiss her, but throwing a sideways glance at Lise, decides against it) Alexis shuts the door behind her. Ned: (to Lise) Hi. Lise: Hi. (she pretends to be absorbed in her computer screen.) Neither says anything as Ned just looks at her, somewhat bracing himself for the berating he's expecting. When no outburst is forthcoming, he sits down in a chair by Lise' desk. Ned: Well, aren't you going to say anything? Lise: (sighing and turning to him) No. Ned: Ok. (he pauses) No, actually, I'd rather you did. Lise: Ned, I have never, not once, ever interfered with your personal life. I have always let you in on my opinions of the women you choose, but I never tried to talk you out of or into relationships. And as for business, I'm even less involved in that. The choices you make are yours to make. I've always expected you to grant me the same courtesy, and for the most part, you have. I mean, you walked me down an aisle with Jerry Jacks waiting at the end. Ned: Well, maybe I shouldn't have. Lise: Then I would've walked down it alone, and my wedding would have been worse for your not being there. And if I hadn't married him as you might have wished, I would never have Emma. What if I'd tried to talk you out of marrying Lois? Even though I knew she'd never last in this family, I didn't say anything. And what if I had? You would have married her anyway, and if you didn't, you wouldn't have your daughter. You see, we've always had this unspoken agreement. We make our own mistakes and we're there for each other when we crash and burn. No "I told you so's" That's the rule. Any other way would turn us into Quartermaines, and I'd have to kill myself. Ned sighs and leans his chin on his hand on her desk. He looks somewhat dejected. Ned: So you think I'm making a mistake. Lise: Ned, are you deaf? What did I just say? Ned: You said you're gonna let me make my own mistakes. Lise: In a general sense. I don't know this woman from Adam. I don't know who she really is, or what makes her tick. I don't know if she was just puppeted by the Dalai Lama or whoever he is. You know her exponentially better than I do. So, if you decide that she's ok, then I can live with that. I trust you to take care of yourself, like you always have. I don't have to like her or be right about her or anything. I trusted her before I knew her and I got burned. The whole thing is really my fault anyway. Ned: (reaching across the desk and taking her hand) Yeah, well, we both underestimated her priorities. I should have known them though. I knew her well enough to predict what could happen. The problem is, that I really like her. Lise: Then do what you want, Ned. You've never needed my approval before. You don't need any hand-holding. Ned: (standing up, he leans over and kisses her on the cheek) I love you. Alexis and Stefan get into the limo silently, not having exchanged a word in the hospital. When the door shuts, they settle down on opposite seats, facing each other. Stefan tries to engage Alexis in his usual staring contest, an intimidation tactic that always works when they have a power struggle. But Alexis doesn't bite. She just doesn't care. She laughs slightly to herself, and turns to face out the window as the car leaves the parking garage. Stefan eventually tires of the effort, leans forward and reaches for her hand. Alexis still doesn't look at him. Stefan: Alexis, let's not do this. Alexis: Do what, Stefan, think independently? Stefan: (he leans back onto his seat, rebuffed, letting go of her hand) This newfound sarcasm of yours is most unbecoming. Alexis: Newfound? It's just never been directed at you before. Besides, who's being sarcastic? You really don't like me thinking for myself. Stefan: Not if thinking for yourself means betraying me, no, I don't like it. Should I? Alexis: I don't really care what you like. Stefan: Since when? Alexis: Since you made it clear that you could care less whether I live or die. Stefan: (sighing dismissively) Alexis, honestly, is the melodrama really necessary? You are acting like a child. Alexis: (looking at him angrily) I didn't have to get in this car with you. And I won't be patronized. (she reaches for the phone to the driver) Please let me out at the next intersection. Stefan grabs the phone out of her hands and tells the driver to ignore that last instruction. Alexis: So now I'm a prisoner? Well, at least I'm in good company: Lesley and Laura survived, I suppose. Stefan: (ignoring her comment) Alexis, I should not have asked you to betray your friend. Alexis: (trying to keep her jaw from dropping) And? Stefan: (annoyed) And I could have dropped the Jakarta operation at your request. Alexis: Why? Stefan: (rolling his eyes) Because you are not a servant, you are family, and you were asking for a small financial sacrifice for the sake of your happiness, and you deserve that much. Alexis: Oh my God. Have you been letting Bobbie Jones near your beverages lately? Stefan: (sneering) Don't gloat, Alexis, just accept the apology graciously. Alexis: (sadly) I'd like to, Stefan, but I don't think it will have the desired effect. Stefan: And what is the desired effect? Alexis: You're hoping that we can have peace between us and carry on as if nothing happened, and that's just not going to be possible. Stefan: And why not? Alexis: Because there is something of great significance which we have not discussed. Stefan: Which is? Alexis: Natasha. Stefan: What about Katherine? Alexis: I don't want to discuss this here. Stefan: Where then? Alexis: Greece.   Chapter 23 Stefan: (settling into his seat on the jet) This is ridiculous, Alexis. Doesn't it seem a tad overdramatic? Alexis: I know it's difficult for you to humor me this much in one day, but try. She pulls out her cell phone and moves into the next cabin, out of range of Stefan's ears. Ned: Ned Ashton Alexis: I know I told you I'd meet you at the gatehouse. Ned: I've been waiting. Alexis: I'm sorry. I'm on a plane for Greece. It's an urgent trip. Ned: Last time you told me that, you had just swindled me out of millions and run away to the Big Apple. Alexis: (slightly chagrined) Please believe me. Stefan and I need to hash some things out that can only be dealt with at home. Ned: (sad, almost whining) Why?? Does he miss his baklava? Alexis: (smiling) No, I can't tell you about it until we get back. Then I'll tell you everything. In fact, (bittersweetly) then I'll be free of my family and will probably be out on the street. Ned: (concerned) What's going on? Alexis: I'll tell you everything when I get back. Ned: (hesitating) I want to believe you, Alexis. Alexis: I know I've made it difficult for you. Speaking of which, how did it go with your sister? Ned: Oh she was all sweetness and light. Alexis: Uh oh. Ned: Exactly. (he pauses awkwardly) Will you be coming back? Alexis: Assuming I don't encounter a tragic, accidental death. Ned: Is that supposed to be funny? Alexis: No, just possible. (she waits for Ned to reply, but he is unsure of whether to laugh it off or take her seriously) Ned? Ned: What? Alexis: I'll be back. In your bed. Count on it. Ned: (warily) T-minus 24 hours. Alexis snaps her phone shut, and stretches out lazily on the leather seat. She decides not to face Stefan until they reach Greece. She is surprised at how relaxed she is, but feels a peace about her impending unburdening. She slips into sleep. Stefan steps into the cabin a few hours later, and finds her still sleeping. He has no idea what to think about this spontaneous trip. Alexis is probably the least spontaneous person he knows. But she has been different in every way lately. From her drunken rage the other night at Wyndemere, to her tell-all confessional to Ned at the expense of the Jakarta venture, to her casually apathetic attitude toward him since her return to Port Charles. He worries that he may be losing her loyalty all in one fell swoop. He completely underestimated her loneliness. She must have felt truly alienated and isolated during his obsessive phase with Katherine in order to become so attached so quickly to Ned Ashton. Stefan makes a promise to himself to be more attentive to Alexis in the future to avoid similar unpleasantness and lost business opportunities. As he watches her sleeping, he is reminded of her as a little girl, her long brown hair cascading down her back, as she would stand unobtrusively in a corner and watch the fireworks between his parents, or between he and Stavros. She had these big brown eyes that saw and memorexed everything. She never forgot, she just tucked those memories away. She was the only one who really knew him. He likes to pretend that he needs her for her business savvy, for her utter competence. But he knows, as he watches her, that she is his best friend. And without assurance of her loyalty, he feels that same isolation and loneliness he must have put her through the past few months. They finally land in a small airstrip in Corfu, where a helicopter waits to take them to the island. Alexis rouses from her slumber, and carries herself in a way that leaves Stefan cold. Like an uneasy calm before the storm. She is about to step down out of the jet, when she turns to Stefan, who is standing behind her. She looks at him in the eye for a long time and then speaks with finality. Alexis: You always were my best friend, Stefan. She leans forward and kisses him, on each cheek, letting her cheek linger on his a moment after the second kiss. He is taken aback, not knowing what she means or why she is acting so bizarrely. She then turns briskly and steps out into the tropical air. The helicopter takes off, stirring up sand and debris, as Stefan and Alexis escape indoors. Their shoes echo on the marble floor, as they stroll through the house, breathing in the salty Ionian sea. There's only so much stopping and rose-sniffing that Stefan can manage, however, before he loses his patience. Stefan: Now, will you end this charade and finally tell me what is going on? Alexis: (smiling at him) It's nice to be home, isn't it? I miss the sunshine. Stefan: Alexis. Alexis: Come on. (she heads up the grandiose staircase and he follows her, hesitating as she gets nearer and nearer a certain bedroom door. She senses his distance and turns.) What are you waiting for? Stefan: What are you doing? Alexis: We need to have a family chat. Stefan: No, Alexis. Alexis: Sissy. Stefan: This is absurd. Alexis: (throwing open the double doors to a spacious bedroom suite, she smiles at the person inside) Yasu, Theia Helena (she says the name the Greek way rather than the Russian, out of spite). Stefan closes his eyes in horror at the sheer gall of Alexis and the idea of being here with his mother. He follows her in quietly. The frail figure laying in the bed looks too small to be a real person, wasted away, clinging so voraciously to the last scraps of life left in her. She is attached to a ventilator, which kicks in if her breathing stops, and an ECG machine. On either side of the bed, an IV stand pumps nutrients into her veins. But the old bat is conscious. And offended. She speaks in Russian. Helena: Don't you dare speak to me in that base tongue, little brat. (Stefan rolls his eyes, but Alexis laughs) Alexis: (in Russian) Not so little anymore. I've brought your favorite son here to talk about Natasha. Oh, (with a malicious smile) and Kristin. You remember her, don't you, Helena? Helena's face curls up in a snarl. Stefan pulls Alexis sharply away to a corner. Stefan: What are you trying to do? Alexis: Don't worry, Stefan, your precious little Katherine is in no danger. Stefan: What makes you say that? Alexis: Trust me. She leads him back over toward Helena's bed. Alexis: Tell Stefan about what you did. Helena: Whore. Alexis: I thought you might say that. Oh well, I can tell him myself. (she turns to Stefan) My mother wanted a child more than anything. I can't imagine why (she glares over at Helena), could it be that every woman who marries into this family had better produce or else?? She finally got pregnant, they had the names all picked out. If it was a girl, she would be Alexis Viktrova. But unfortunately, my mother miscarried in the third trimester. Very ugly scene ensues, as you might expect. After all, she was a failure. And back then, men weren't to be troubled with "female" issues. So, my father didn't even know. Meanwhile, your father was busy hiding the fact that his mistress had just had a baby, and was making plans to get her out of the country before Mommy dearest unearthed the dirty little secret. (she turns around) Isn't that right, Mommy Dearest? Helena ignores her, the sneer still permanently etched on her ghost-white face. Stefan: Get to the point, Alexis. Alexis: But Helena always was one step ahead of your blundering father. She had always known about Kristin, and the baby. She saw the perfect opportunity. Didn't you, Agapimou? Helena: You vicious, bastard, no-good, (she carries on in Russian profanity) Alexis: Go ahead, Helena, tell him. Helena: I'll die first. Alexis: No, you'll die afterwards. First, tell him. Helena: You traitor, interloper (yadda yadda) Alexis: TELL HIM. Helena: You don't deserve to walk in this house, you should be flogged, you little- Alexis: Fine, I'll tell him. Stefan: Tell me WHAT. Alexis: She had Kristin killed. Stefan: But, I thought Alexis: You thought wrong. Stefan: So then, Natasha IS dead? Alexis: Not exactly. Stefan: What are you saying? Helena is hurling obscenities, and her ECG machine is beeping loudly. Over the chaos, Alexis chooses her words Alexis: What better way to wipe out all trace of your father's affair, than to give his bastard child another name, another father? And without his brother even being the wiser to it. What is Mikkos going to say when my mother presents her darling Alexis to Viktor? "Hey, that's my lovechild?" No. He'll just quietly glare at his wife, smugly fawning over her newborn "niece" in her ultimate act of revenge. Everybody wins. Mother avoids the disgrace of miscarrying, Father is thrilled by his new daughter, Kristin meets a tragic death, and your father is restored to fidelity. Helena has grown silent. Stefan's eyes are narrowed as he processes the outrageous story. Stefan: Are you saying that YOU are Natasha? Alexis: Ask your sweet mitera. Stefan turns to Helena, his voice gruff with emotion. Stefan: Did you do this? Helena: What does it matter? They're all dead. Everyone who matters is dead. Alexis: And you're next. Stefan, (she turns and looks at him tenderly) I know this is difficult for you to hear. Perhaps, you should wait outside, while Helena and I have words. Stefan looks at her with bewilderment and slowly shuffles out, deep in thought. Alexis slams the doors behind him. Alexis: (to Helena) Enough already. Haven't you disgraced this planet long enough? Helena: You are a spiteful bitch. Alexis: Who is more spiteful, the woman who tells a 10 yr old girl that her father didn't want the bastard child of his whore and gave her away to a woman who always hated her and a father who ignored her, or the girl who has to hear the dreadful tale? Tell me, Helena, which of us has more brownie points racked up with the devil? Helena: You will not tell Nikolai about this. Alexis: Why not? You don't want to sully your reputation in the boy's eyes? I hate to burst your bubble, but he laughs at the pathetic thought of you. He can't even speak Russian anymore. She casually goes to the IV stand on the right side of the bed, and detaches the catheter from the IV bag. Fluid spills out onto the floor, as the tube empties, still attached to the needle in Helena's arm. Alexis then repeats the process on the other IV. She turns off the ventilator. Helena, too physically weak to stop her, glares and curses. Alexis finishes and turns to Helena. She smiles a sweet smile and says softly. Alexis: We all are still here the embarrassing children of your husband. The ones you wished were never born. We're the only ones left. And Laura Spencer? She spent her free time sneaking off to Stefan's bed. She doesn't even know who Nikolas' father is. Sleep well, babushka, enjoy your trip to hell. Helena is so overcome, she is unable to speak. Alexis takes a deep, cleansing breath and strolls nonchalantly out of the room.