Chapter 24 The double doors close with a resonant thud. Alexis stands outside Helena's room, staring at Stefan's back. He stares out a window, brooding, with his arms crossed. A servant scurries past and Alexis gives instructions that Helena's room is not to be entered for the next 24 hours. She sidles up next to Stefan and they both stare silently out the window at the ocean. Stefan eventually breathes in deeply, his nostrils flaring as they do when he is angry. Stefan: Tell me again, Alexis, why you were so opposed to Katherine that you had to fabricate such a disgusting story. Alexis: It was all in the dossier, if you'd taken time away from your googly-eyed trance to read it. Stefan: Humor me. Alexis: Alright. She and her sociopathic lover came to Port Charles in order to swindle a man out of his newly dead wife's money. She convinced him that she was in love with him. Their plan was foiled. She then proceeded to blackmail another man into marrying her so that she would finally have money and prestige. Eventually, he found a way out of that marriage. Meanwhile, her lover was seducing a married woman as part of a bet. The lover later was murdered, and his money found its way to Katherine's bankbook. You do the math. Stefan: Allow me to elaborate on your dossier, which I did read, thank you very much. The dead wife happened to be her sister, and the money rightfully hers. The man she blackmailed "found a way out of that marriage" by producing another WIFE. The lover actually framed Katherine for his murder when he wasn't even dead. (he smirks) You see, we all have our own versions of history. It sounds to me like this was a personal vendetta that you and YOUR lover had. Alexis: Ned could care less about Katherine. Why are you so against him? Stefan: We'll get to that in a moment. Seeing as all your reasons for hating Ms. Bell are shady, why don't you reveal the real one? Alexis: Stefan, you SHOT her. Suppose you stayed with her. What happens the next time you have a little spat? I was not willing to be at the lifelong mercy of some bimbo's PMS. That incident could be held over your head forever. I was protecting our interests. Stefan: (bellowing fiercely) *I* will judge what are "our interests! Alexis: (raising her voice) You were in NO position to judge anything but what size lingerie you might purchase for that insipid woman. Stefan: How dare you! Alexis: I dare because I know you. Stefan: YOU KNOW NOTHING! Alexis: I know that the only woman you have ever loved is Laura Spencer and anyone else is but a temporary, vain distraction! Katherine Bell was a rebound plaything that satisfied your shattered ego after you played every card you had, saving Lulu, Nikolas, the hospital, and your final trump card, Lesley Webber, to win back Laura and you lost. You spend 15 years pining after this woman, letting your heart grow sadder and colder every day, you relocate to some godforsaken pitstop of a town in the one courageous move you've ever made on behalf your feelings, you invest every inch of your soul this past year to win her back, and she ripped yours and Nikolas' hearts out with a spoon and savored each bite with that faux death and resurrection. Any man with half an ounce of testosterone would need a distraction! Stefan is seething during her speech and when she stops for breath, his hand raises in rage as if to backhand her. Alexis flinches, but he does not strike. His hand stays poised in the air, as his tears finally spill down his face. When she sees he is broken, she softens her tone. Alexis: Did you think that you could make almost 20 years of rejection hurt less by making another woman desperate for you in a matter of weeks? If that were the case, you could have been healed years ago, Stefan. I've never met a woman you couldn't charm. But they all know you as this powerful, mysterious, tyrannical figure. You only want the ones who know the vulnerable young man who was trapped by his family. You will do anything to keep people around you who know the gentle spirit who would always be kind to the servant who'd been yelled at, who would take care of the dogs that had been kicked, the woman who had been kidnapped, the cousin who was ignored Laura knew him. And so do I. That's why you can't let go of her. And that's why you don't want my affections with anyone else. If we're not around, you might forget who you were and become who everyone thinks you are. And you might turn into the man you swore you'd never be. His arm has lowered slowly. Alexis: No amount of pining over a cheap replacement for Laura is going to bring Laura back to your bed, Stefan. And no amount of controlling my life or Nikolas' life will keep us loyal. The only thing it will do is ensure that we try to escape. I will always love you, Stefan. But my days of being unappreciated are over. That vicious woman in there has controlled my self-esteem long enough. Yours too. I'm going to start to live a little. I suggest you do the same. Get out of Port Charles. Let Laura choose cigar smoke and bad hair if she's that stupid. Who cares? Do you have ANY idea what's going on with Nikolas lately? Why don't you get him away from the States? Get on a ship and cruise around the Adriatic, cleansing your soul. Do Tai Chi and forget the Spencers. Go to France. Take your son to the World Cup. Stefan: My what? Alexis: Your s- (she stops herself). Whatever he is, Stefan. Stefan: You know exactly what he is. He is the heir. Alexis: Of course. Stefan: Alexis! Alexis: Are you going to deny that you had a DNA test performed on him? Do you think I'd believe that? I don't know what the truth is, and I've never had the courage to ask. I still don't. But whatever he is, Stefan, he needs you. And he needs to get away from this public school teen angst soap opera he's living. You realize, he's in love with a blond Webber. Stefan: The irony has not escaped my notice. Alexis takes his hands in hers. Alexis: I was willing to come here and help you try to re-establish a relationship with Laura. For you and for Nikolas, I was willing to sacrifice my own life to see you both finally happy. But now that we see how hopeless it is, I have to go back to my life, Stefan. I can't stay around and watch you self-destruct. There's only so much cigar smoke, bleached hair, and small-town togetherness I can take. Stefan: That's funny, since it took you less than 24 hours to return to Port Charles at your lover's request after your triumphant retreat a few nights ago. Tell me, Alexis, is it the leather pants? Surely you're not that desperate? Alexis: (letting go of his hands) Don't underestimate the power of a repressed woman. Just be glad I didn't marry that Kennedy who proposed to me in law school. Stefan: Politicians are so base. Alexis: The helicopter is coming after dinner. Will you return with me? Stefan: Perhaps. Alexis: I'm going for a walk on the beach. She puts her hand on his shoulder to balance herself as she takes her shoes off. He grabs her and pulls her into an uncharacteristically close embrace. Alexis is stunned but eventually hugs him back. He kisses the top of her head. Stefan: I don't know that I can forgive you for doing this to Katherine. Alexis: I never asked you to. Stefan: However, if I had my wish for anyone in the world to be my sister, it would be you. Alexis smiles and closes her eyes. He squeezes her tightly, very tightly in fact, until she can hardly breathe. At the moment when she tries to pull away, he asks gruffly, Stefan: What did you do to my mother? (he gets no answer, and so he tilts her head to the side a bit and whispers in her ear) Answer me, Alexis. Alexis: Nothing I won't be rewarded for ten-fold in heaven. Stefan: So then, the defining phrase for this moment would be "Ding, Dong "? Alexis: Something like that.   Chapter 25 Alexis hears the distant sound of a helicopter approaching the island and frowns to herself the beach is too lovely and peaceful to go back. At the same time, of course, she didn't want to be around tomorrow when they find Helena. She starts heading back to the house, since supper must be ready if the helicopter is already there. The sand under her feet is soft and comforting, and she looks forward to passing the first peaceful meal with Stefan that they've had in a while. What is it about Greece, she asks herself, that always draws them closer? Whatever they leave behind, it's as if setting foot on the island renews their solidarity. Perhaps because they were each other's only allies as children. Coming to the island is unsettling, and always makes Alexis want Stefan close by. But today, she is finally at peace. All her secrets cast away like the seaweed on the beach The terrible secret that she held close to her since childhood, finally Stefan knows. And no more keeping the plates spinning in Port Charles over Katherine Bell and ELQ-Jakarta. And of course, the greatest burden of them all, Helena. No longer an issue. Alexis reaches the house, and stares one last time out at the Ionian sea before turning to go. The wind tosses her clothes around her, her jacket left inside, and her blouse untucked. She laughs to herself, but the sound is eaten up by the waves. As she climbs up the sandy hill toward the estate, she notices the helicopter taking off. Why did it leave, she wonders? Unless Stefan wanted to leave quickly and without her. Hmm She walks through the gate leading out to the beach, and turns to close it behind her, wrapping her fingers around the wrought-iron and staring back out at the ocean. The sound of the waves obscures the footsteps behind her, and she jumps as strong arms encircle her waist. Ned: Don't move. Alexis: Ned, you scared me half to death. Ned: This is a perfect moment, don't say anything. (He nuzzles her neck, kissing her shoulder) She ignores him and turns around in his arms. Alexis: What are you doing here? Ned: I was worried when you mentioned your life might be threatened, call me crazy. Alexis: Oh. (she smirks). Well, all is well now. (she slides her arms under his and presses her cheek against his chest, smiling contentedly) Ned: Is that so? Does that mean that you and Stefan are speaking to each other? Where's Cruella Deville? Alexis: (with her eyes closed and a luxurious Cheshire grin on her face) Oh, she's resting comfortably. She always liked warm climates. Ned: So you saw her? How's her health? Declining speedily I hope? Alexis: You could say that. Ned: (pushing her off of him in order to look her in the eye) Why are you being so obtuse? Alexis: (shrugging) I'm always obtuse when it comes to my family, remember? Ned: Spill. Alexis: You're no fun Ned: I'm waiting. Alexis: Ok, ok, (she says lightheartedly) I told Stefan in front of her that I was his father's lovechild, made her confess to killing my biological mother, and enlightened her on Nikolas' feelings toward her. She died of shock. (breezily) Oh well. Ned: (laughing) Don't we all wish! Heh heh (she doesn't respond, just looks to the side, still smiling) Oh my God. You're serious! Alexis: (conspiratorially) Aren't I wicked? Ned: You deliberately lied to her and she just died? Alexis: Well, she didn't exactly "just die". And, I didn't exactly lie per se Ned: What? (he studies her) Wait a minute. (he grips her shoulders) You're father is Mikkos Cassadine? Alexis: Technically. Ned: You're kidding. Alexis: I wish. Ned: And Stefan never knew? Alexis: No one ever knew. No one but my pseudo-mother, Mikkos, and Helena. Ned pulls her by the hand and takes her out to the beach, where they sit. Alexis spills the entire story, including the hoax with Katherine being Natasha and the premature acceleration of Helena's demise. Ned lies back on the sand after the lurid tale, with his hands clasped behind his head, smiling smugly to himself. Ned: I completely underestimated you, Alexis Davis. I'm in awe. I'm speechless. Alexis: Well, that's a first. They are silent a moment, as Alexis stares out at the water, and Ned stares up at the slowly darkening sky. Ned: You realize, of course, that this calls for another sea-side coitus. Alexis: What? He jumps up and grabs her hand, pulling her up long enough to swoop her into his arms. Alexis: Don't you dare. (she kicks half-heartedly) Ned: (running toward the water) Killing off relatives is good for the soul. So is being naked on a Greek beach. Alexis: Oh my God, Ned. (she shivers as he wades out further and further, soaking them both, and starts stripping off her clothes and tossing them into the waves) What if someone sees? Ned: Who cares? It's Europe! Alexis: Ned! Stefan could see us! Ned: And he'll be green with envy. Alexis: Envious of you? That's vulgar. Ned: No, silly. Of us. Alexis: (slight concern on her face as she turns her face toward the house) But that's the thing, he's going through a difficult time romantically. Ned: Just the thought of Katherine is enough to ruin my mood here, do you mind? Alexis: Not Katherine, I mean (she stops, realizing she didn't tell Ned quite everything). Never mind. (she turns back to him and presses her body up against his, as the current swirls around them.) They hold each other tightly and make love in the ocean. Later, they collapse on the beach, naked, entwined and spent, the cold water rushing up around their legs every minute or so, and receding again. Stefan gazes out of a top floor window at the moonlight, after dining alone. He didn't send anyone out to retrieve Alexis and her lover, deciding she deserved the uninterrupted happiness. But as he catches a glimpse of two naked bodies holding each other on the beach, pale in the moon's reflection on the water, he's reminded of a similar scene, with different faces, so long ago. They would sneak out under the moonlight, stealing away, miles down the shore from the compound He would hold her after they made love, the gritty sand and salt drying on their skin, and for those precious moments, suspended forever in his memory, she belonged to no one else. He turns away from the window and finds himself staring at the closed doors to his mother's chamber. Stefan: I became the son you always wanted, Mother. Is all forgiven now? When you see your favorite son in hell, tell him that I never betrayed him. I never betrayed any of you. I let him have her. And her son. I let him have my son. Aren't you proud of me? (he smiles bitterly, as a tear falls gingerly down his cheek) The helicopter has returned and awaits, and Stefan gathers his things and walks out to the landing site. As he lifts off and away from the island, he gazes out the window at the beach, straining to glimpse the two figures, still lying on the sand, oblivious to all but each other. He can't see their faces, just the moonlight shining on their bodies. He smiles sadly, and blows a kiss in their direction. He speaks, not knowing whether he addresses his childhood home, his mother, the past, Alexis and Ned, or another couple, unrecognizable today as who they once were. Stefan: (whispering) Goodbye.