The doorbell rang and Kristina ran down the steps answering the door.

Ned! Hi Im running late

I can see that As Ned looked at Kristina standing in her robe.

Were not in a hurry are we?

No, no go ahead

Kristina made her way back up stairs to finish getting ready

Ned went and sat on the couch. The truth was he hated having to wait for Kristina cause it meant he had to be in that penthouse for longer than 30 seconds. He looked around she was everywhere, but why shouldnt she be it was her penthouse. Her coat lying across the back of the chair, her keys on the table, her handwriting on the pages on the coffee table. Ned stood up almost as if his body jolted from the nervousness that had come over him. He paced the room, then found himself wondering. He stopped at the dining room table where the prestigious box sat. The lump in his throat made it hard for him to swallow and unconsciously he began to run his fingers around the edges as if he no longer knew that it was just a box under his fingertips but rather the woman that owned it. He ran his fingers down its sides gently just as the way he use to touch her.

Footsteps broke his trance though his fingers were still placed on the box. There she was, in her deep plumb colored pajamas. She looked radiant as she always did in her now infamous pajamas.

Hi, Alexis said looking stunned to see Ned standing there

Hi, Ned said taking his hand off of the box, hoping she wouldnt notice

Still comes in handy

Hmm, Ned said almost unable to have a complete thought

The sound machine

Oh-yeah

Kristina is

Upstairs getting ready, Ned said finishing her sentence.

Alexis shook her head. Knowing she wouldnt have come down stairs if she knew Ned was there. She walked passed him sitting on the couch. Ned made a bold move by setting down from her on the opposite couch.

Here for the night?

Um yeah, I, work, I thought would get some work done

Always working

Alexis looked annoyed taking what Ned said as if he meant it in his usual way

No I mean you just work too much, he said in a calming voice

Alexis fidgeted nervously

Well it keeps my mind off of other things she shot back

A silence went between them as she regretted what had just said

New pajamas?

Alexis looked at Ned almost confused at the random change of subject

No Ive had them for a while now

Oh Ned had just made the situation worse making it clear that they had been apart

I didnt know you were going to be here or

Or you would have ran the other way? He said finishing her sentence again

Wouldnt you?

Sorry

I deserve it

No you dont

I should go up stairs before this gets worse

Alexis

She looked at him as he touched her stopping her as she started to get up. Her skin felt cold from the warm touch of his hand. She listened to Ned take a deep breath in and out.
Neds face showed the deep hurt that had welled up in side of him.

Ned

I love those pajamas, Ned said looking as if it was the one thing he knew to say to her as if it was his only way to let her know

A silence deafened the room.

It hurts Ned, god it hurts so much

I know baby, I know

Ned moved to sit on the coffee table in front of her. He placed each of his hands at her elbows that were now resting in her knees as she bent her head in her hands trying to cover the tears that she couldnt control

Kristina stood at the top of the stairs seeing what was happening and she headed back up stairs. Kristina knew that Alexis had met her breaking point. The only good thing that came out of seeing her sister like that was that Ned was there with the rest of the pieces to put her back together.

No, no we cant, I cant, she said now facing Ned too close.

He looked at her. He didnt know if he had the right words as he watched her in pain. He caught her eye.

I know how it feels, he whispered

I know you do, she whispered back looking into his sad eyes

Youre the only thing that makes the pain go away

Youre the love of my life Ned Ashton

He placed his face beside hers, letting them both familiarize themselves with their scent. He let his fingers trickle down the side of her arms just as he did with the sound machine. With comfort of his touch and the feel of her skin he turned his face to let his lips find hers.

Their kiss was of desperation of each other and a release of the madness that had come between him.