Buildings, cars, Christmas lights everything was covered in a beautiful white blanket of snow

"Mom!"

Alexis shook herself from her daze to the sound of her name being called

"Yes! Where are you?"

She received no answer

Alexis began to make her way down the hall

"What are you doing?"Alexis said questioning the pictures that were scattered from her daughters bedroom floor, out the door, to the floor of the hallway

The innocent but curious eyes looked up at her

"You left to get Christmas ornaments..."

Alexis stepped over the pictures and cleared herself a spot next to her baby girl. She looked around again at all the pictures lying there and also spotted the box of ornaments sat neatly to the side

"Where did you find all of these pictures?"

"They were in the hall closet, these pictures were in the box stacked on top"

"Were never going to get the tree finished... Christmas will be over!"

"Well finish! Just look at these pictures with me. Theres lots of you and daddy..." Kristina paused for a moment "And you and Jax"

Kristina held up the picture "Look at you and Jax! Were you married in this one?"

Alexis slid on her glasses and studied the picture

She didnt keep many secrets from her daughter. In fact she only kept one secret from her daughter. The rest was fair game. Alexis knew that one day Kristina may even hate her for her decision to keep the secret but Alexis couldnt tell her until she was an adult, until Sonny Corinthos couldnt legally take Kristina away from her

"Thats Chloe isnt it?" She was beautiful"

"She was always beautiful"

"And where were you in this picture?"

"That was the penthouse I lived in before you"

"A penthouse huh?" Kristina said sounding impressed

"It was a job perk... at the time"

"That must have been some job! Is that when you worked for that Sonny guy?"

Alexis looked horrified

"Sonny... how do you know about Sonny?" She said trying not to change her tone

"I dont really know anything about him. I just know you once worked for a guy named Sonny! Why?"

Alexis blew it off

"No reason I just dont remember mentioning him... hey look at this picture of you and Zander"

"Look how cute he is!" Kristina said wide eyed

Alexis let out a laugh...

An hour had passed and they were still sitting there laughing, Alexis even tearing up at the pictures of her sister...

"We have to clean up this mess and finish the tree" Alexis reminded

Kristina sat down the stack of pictures she was holding in her hand

"Why did we leave Port Charles?"

Alexis looked stunned at her question

"Kris weve been through this a hundred times"

"You miss it"

"I love being in the city. Dont you love being here? Besides how would you know I miss Port Charles?"

"You miss Jax and Daddy"

"Jax is never in Port Charles anymore hes always traveling and weve seen him more this year..."

Kristina took her eyes away from her mothers and began almost nervously shuffling through the pictures

"I know he asked us to come for Christmas in his last email"

Kristina has the same dynamic as her mother, fidgety but straight to the point

She wasnt talking about Jax

"We cant!" Alexis quickly protested knowing exactly who she was talking about

"We could"

"Kris its been too long..."

"Hes my dad" she said almost in a whisper

"Ive explained all of this to you"

"You explained to me that life doesnt always make sense. And that its me and you. But why does it have to for Christmas!"

"We cant!" Alexis said not meaning to sound agitated

Kristina frowned

"Sweetheart well have a great Christmas! We always do! And you know you have big surprises on the way from both Nicolas and Jax..."

"I know..."

Kristina began to gather the pictures up

"Hey maybe we should finish the tree tomorrow" Alexis suggested knowing they both werent in the mood

"Yeah ok... I should get ready for bed anyway"

Alexis looked so sorry that she made her daughter sad

%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Alexis had went to bed herself. She lie there holding notes she had taken earlier from a case she was working on

She was holding the notepad not reading, she was staring in to space

"Mom"

Alexis looked up to see her beautiful girl standing in the doorway

Alexis opened the covers inviting her in

Kristina got in bed beside her

"Im sorry about earlier... I mean if I made it sound like I didnt love it being just the two of us"

"Baby, I know you want to see Ned but..."

"Mom dont, you dont have to explain. I understand you two had an agreement..."

"Kris Ive made mistakes, I cant change some things and everyday Im sorry for them"

"Please dont be. Hey, weve gotten this far! Right!"

Alexis gave a disheartened smile

"Mom, youre right Christmas will be great"

Alexis wrapped her arms around Kristina

"I dont know what I did to deserve you but I thank God everyday"

"God knew you needed me" Kristina said grinning

"He must have" Alexis said giving her a goodnight kiss

"Ill let you get back to your reading"

"Sweet dreams baby girl"

"You too"

Alexis intentions were to get back to her reading, instead she could only think about Ned

It happened to her from time to time

Kristina was right she did miss Port Charles, it had become home to her and she did miss Ned

Alexis got up and closed her bedroom door and sat back down on the bed and opened the drawer to her bedside table. She pulled out a picture of she and Ned. One that Kristina held in her hands only a few hours ago... Alexis had managed to slip it in her back pocket

He had his arms around her waste, his cheek pressed against hers... he always held her that way

Alexis studied it intently

So intently she could feel him

She got back in bed

Still holding the picture

"Ned Ashton" she whispered to herself

She looked for her organizer that was buried under her work

Alphabetical order

His name was first

Alexis ran her finger back and forth across his number. Before she realize it she held the phone in her other hand

She pressed the on button, a dial tone

She pressed the button off

"What am I doing?"

She took a deep breath in for courage

She pressed the button again and she began to dial his number. It was already too late to call... she didnt stop herself

One ring, two rings

Before the third

"Hello?"

No words came to her not even a hello

"Hello?"

"Ned" She said before he hung up

"Yes hello?"

"Ned its..."

"Alexis!"

"Hi" She said sounding very shy

"Hi... is everything ok?"

"Yeah, yeah everythings fine I just um, called to..."

She wasnt explaining herself very well

"Im glad you called"

He knew her, it made it easier

"Is it snowing there?"

Ned was stumped by her random question

"Uh yeah, yeah it is... its not too bad

"Oh oh good"

He could tell she didnt care abut the weather

"Snowing there?"

"Um... I know its been too long... she let out a nervous laugh "too long to have this conversation"

Alexis had forgotten about talking about the weather

"Alexis"

She left a long pause

He could hear her take short breaths

He could hear her hesitation

"How about we just talk" Ned suggested

Alexis again, let out a nervous laugh

"Um Kristina and I were going through pictures today... she asked why we couldnt see you for Christmas. I didnt have an answer much less a good answer"

"And you cant spend..."

"Ned" Alexis interrupted

"So are you afraid of me or this town?"

"You know the answer to that"

"Youre right I do"

"Every once in a while she brings up her father, you"

"Alexis you dont have to protect her from me. You know that"

"I do know that... its just, youre right Im afraid of that town. I afraid it will do to her what it did to me"

Ned understood

They talked for what seemed like forever that night. Alexis at one point caught herself in tears that she was talking to someone that understood her, that did truly know her by heart

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"Kris youre going to be late for school!"

Alexis stood in the hallway with Kristinas backpack and lunch in hand

Kristina came out of her room, shoes in hand and sat down on the floor in front of her mother

"Kristina you need to hurry"

Kristina tied one shoe and was reaching for the other

"You look tired mom"

"I didnt sleep much last night"

"Everything ok?"

Kristina stood up now almost eye level with her mother and Alexis handed Kristina her things

"Are you sure?"

"Everythings fine... I just stayed up last night thinking about some things..." Alexis thought again about the excuse she was giving "I have a meeting first thing this morning"

That was mostly the truth

Alexis kissed her daughter

"Mom remember I have ballet right after school and Lizs mom is bringing me home afterwards..."

"Ill be home by then, my meeting should just take the morning"

"Ok... good luck"

"Thank you and have a good day at school"

Alexis hurried back to her bathroom to finish getting ready

She heard her cell phone ring and she went through the house trying to follow the ring

The kitchen counter

"Alexis Davis... Yes hello...yes, yes oh uh sure no I understand. Im a parent myself these things come up. No everythings fine, well reschedule... Merry Christmas to you too"

Alexis sat on the edge of the bar stool, her meeting was cancelled. She had scheduled this meeting and then planned to start her Christmas vacation.

She went to finish getting dressed. She was going to shop after her meeting. She would go earlier instead.

The doorbell rang

Alexis expected it to be the surprise Jax promised Kristina via FedEx

She looked through the peep hole

An oversized cardboard box

"Kristina Ashton-Davis?"

"Im her mother"

"Where do you want me to sit this?"

"Oh uh right theres fine. Thank you"

"Sign here"

Alexis scribbled her name on the electronic signature pad

The deliver man stepped out of the way of the door

"Have a good day maam"

"Thank you, you too"

Alexis looked down at the box. She was reading the return address not paying attention while she was shutting the door

"Hi"

The sight of him stopped her in her tracks

She starred at him

"Oh my God, what are you doing here?"

He let out a slight grin, not really sure what expression or answer to give

She began to grin back at him

She fell into his arms

He held her tight

Neither allowed that moment to be awkward

They just reacted to the moment

"I cant believe youre here!"

"I didnt sleep last night"

"I didnt either"

"I couldnt stop thinking about you and Kristina"

"I couldnt stop thinking about you"

"We shouldnt make this so hard"

"I know, I know"

"Coming here, it was the right thing to do wasnt it?"

"I wanted you to come I just couldnt ask, I couldnt take the chance at disrupting your life"

They stopped spouting their explanations

"Im sorry, come in come in" Alexis said finally realizing they were still standing in the doorway

They again stood there looking at each other before Alexis let out another one of her nervous laughs, this time a good nervous laugh

"You look wonderful, happy... beautiful"

"You dont look so bad yourself.... Actually a sight for sore eyes"

"Is she at school?"

"Yeah... she left not too long ago"

"I actually was hoping I missed her, I didnt want to just show up and not let you have a say so in whether I saw her or not"

Alexis was biting at her bottom lip

Ned let her think it over

"She needs you... If you wanna do this"

"Thank you" was all he said

Ned followed Alexis to the kitchen. She poured him a cup of coffee and hours later they were still sitting at the kitchen table

She was so easy to fall in love with, and so very, very hard to fall out of love with

"Shell be home soon"

Ned followed Alexis to Kristinas bedroom so he could get a glance of what his daughter was like

Pictures of her with her friends, trophies, and dirty ballet slippers. A picture of the same boy torn out of different magazines a dozen times over. Honor role certificates, cheerleading pompoms, a worn out but very familiar little stuffed lamb...

"Shes as tall as I am and she loves the color purple" Alexis said referencing the pale purple walls "she loves ballet, she didnt get her gracefulness from me. Shes smart..." Alexis wasnt sure what else to tell him

"There was no doubt she would be" Ned said grinning

"You dont know how much Im regretting taking her out of your life"

"It was your decision"

"I just have to remind myself shes alive, shes here with me. Thats all I wanted. Thats all Ive wanted for her"

"Dont regret protecting your daughter"

"But you were right last night when you said I didnt have to protect her from you..."

"She obviously a happy, well adjusted...now teenager!"

Alexis eyes widened at the thought and then caught herself smiling at Ned

"She should be here any second"

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"Im home!"

Alexis met her halfway as she watched her drop everything at her feet and in the doorway

"Hey people have to walk there"

Alexis would let on nothing

"How was school?"

"Fine... Liz and Caroline are going to the movies with Chris, Jay and Robbie the day after we get out for Christmas break. Can I go? Please!"

Kristina was one step ahead of Alexis as she headed straight for the kitchen

"I dont know youll have to ask your father"

"What?" Kristina said not understanding

She looked to the other side of the kitchen, her mouth hung open

Kristina actually backed away from him and into Alexis

"Honey, its ok"

"Hi" Ned said finally

"Hi" Kristina said sounding stunned

"Heard you were wanting us to be together for Christmas"

"Uh hmm"

Kristina wasnt usually speechless

"Do you mind if I give you a hug?"

She hurried across the kitchen floor into his arms, not hesitating for a second

She was crying

"Its ok sweetheart, its ok"

Alexis, still standing in the entrance to the kitchen, was trying to wipe her own tears away

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"Shes out like a light"

"Pretty big day"

"Im never gonna get her to go to school tomorrow"

"Shes perfect, just like you"

Alexis looked at Ned grinning

"I agree she is perfect. But Im far from it. Today proved that if anything"

Ned caught himself running his hand over Alexis. She noticed too but she didnt stop him

"Im still a little stunned youre here. I think Im still waiting for this to all crash and burn... you know me, the internal optimist"

"Everythings fine"

"I really want everything to be. I want everything to be perfect for just once"

"Then I hope I dont make it the least imperfect by doing this"

He leaned in and gave her a sweet gentle kiss

She tasted him on her lips

God, remembering the way that perfect kiss felt

"Maybe I shouldnt do this..."

Ned waited for her to finish her sentence instead she kissed him. This time not as gentle, not as sweet

This time he tasted her lips on his

The perfect taste of her kiss

The snow was falling, the air warm from the fire

The tree still had no ornaments, only lights. But that night was so different from the last

"I cant believe you just dropped everything and left home, especially since its Christmas"

Ned placed the palms of his hands to her face

"Dont you know the saying home is where the heart is

She had tears in her eyes

"I know I just...."

"Alexis... Alexis" he said making sure he had her attention "My heart is right here"

The End