She smudged the subtle rose colored lip gloss across her lips and then took a moment to look at the dark brown eyes staring back at her before making her way back into the bedroom. The once spitting image of her father now resembled a stranger... she let out a deep breath.

A crash course in Port Charles - she had maps and photographs spread out to the edge of the bed Newspaper clippings of Ned Ashton, CEO of ELQ, Skye Chandler, Quartermane family cast away and the towns local mobster , Sonny Corinthos. She had photographs of Nicholas, the charming Cassadine Prince and of course Stefan. She also had several clippings about the tragic death of Kristina Cassadine...

Her fingers pressed into the article on Ned Ashton until the words were laterally imprinted on her skin. Her jaw seemed to tense at the sight of him.

She dropped the article carelessly back on to the bed and slipped the long, black wool over coat over her already sleek black attire. The day before she would have been seen as a child. Today should would be see as a woman. A woman that may need to be reckoned with.

"DO NOT DISTURB" hung from the knob of the door as she pulled her hotel door shut.

"A coffee, to go please"

"You should have more than coffee for breakfast... besides you may drink too much cofee"

"You again" She said looking Zander up and down "Will I run into you every time I come here or is this a coincidence?"

"I live upstairs"

"Good for you"

It was that attitude again

"Can I buy you breakfast?"

"Look Ive got some things to do..."

"You cant eat, you European types dont eat?

"European type?"

Instead of responding Zander only shook his head

Coffee was slid directly in front of Kate

"Come on! A few eggs, maybe a muffin... pancakes?"

"Will you leave me alone if I do?"

"Sure, at least for the rest of the day"

Kate followed Zander to the nearest table

"What is your fascination with me?"

The question that hit the nail on the head

"Excuse me? I dont have a fascination with you"

"Im sitting here eating breakfast with you per your persuasion. And there is no fascination involved?"

"And if there is?"

"Why?"

"I dont know" He said shifting himself in his chair and analyzing her face. "You look familiar..."

Her heart raced

"What do you mean I look familiar?"

"Your face, you hair... something about you is so familiar to me... Its your eyes..."

Kate tried to be nonchalant but quickly looked away

"You must have me mistaken for someone you know then..."

"Maybe?" He said still with a puzzled look on his face

Zander kept his promise. She managed to dodge at least thirty more questions of why she was here and who she was and why it puzzled him so much that she looked so familiar...

She had managed to wonder into the park to give herself time to figure a game plan.

Her plan would be easier to carry out that she could have ever imagined.

Her eyes quickly darted to the squealing laughter of a baby being pushed in the baby swings. Kate laughed at first sight and then her eyes wandered to the man that seemed to be ticked himself by the babies laughter.

She stopped... dead in her tracks... breathing... showing any signs of life... it was him.

"Ned Ashton" she said aloud as it pounded in her head.

She broke her trance and her eyes darted back to the baby. "Kristina" Kate now said silently.

She sat down on the bench and watched them for the longest time. And before she could think to bolt, Ned had made his way towards her with Kristina in his arms.

She looked around to see what he was headed for... her stroller right by the bench...

"Hi!" Her tiny hand sprung into the air as she looked joyfully at Kate and saying that if Ned didnt notice Kate she did

"Hi there!" Kate said returning the look of her bright eyes... dark eyes... familiar... eyes

A bold move

"You have a beautiful little girl"

"Thank you" Ned said proudly

"Whats her name?" Kate said focusing on the intrigued little face that stared back at her

"Her name is Kristina"

Conformation

"Well hello, Kristina!"

Kate again made gibberish conversation with Kristina while taking note of her from head to toe. The subtle curls that were beginning to form, her dark eyes, her tanned skin.

Ned sat Kristina back in her stroller and Kate began to wave good-bye to Kristina "Bye-bye, bye-bye!" Kristina only waved back but starred reaching her neck out to see past her stroller at Kate now in a distance.

Kate hadnt realized that her heart was pounding the whole time and that it had just now began to slow down. She stood up from the bench, tucking her hands in her coat pockets..

"You look just like her Kris... you have her eyes..."