Chapter 6

After standing outside the door for five minutes, she mustered up enough courage to knock lightly. The door flew open almost immediately. Alexis stood there with a huge grin on her face as though she was expecting her, but as soon as she saw the person standing there, she became serious again.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else,” she said, blushing. She was expecting Ned to come by that morning, and was now thankful that she hadn’t chose to answer the door in her nightgown!

Elizabeth smiled weakly, her heart pounding in her chest so hard that she was sure Alexis could hear it. None of the pictures she had did the woman justice. She was beautiful, and Liz was scared to death all of a sudden about revealing herself to her.

Alexis looked at the girl on her doorstep. She looked like she was nervous about something. “Um.. can I help you?”

Liz looked down at her hands for a moment, not sure how to introduce herself. Finally, she looked up and cleared her throat. “I’m Elizabeth Webber, but I think you know me better as Raina... Davidovich.”

Alexis gasped. Could this girl really be her daughter? Sure, there were some resemblances, but how was it possible? She stepped aside so Elizabeth could get out of the hallway, then closed the door behind her. “You said your name was Elizabeth, right?” Liz nodded. “Please forgive me, but why do you think you’re Raina?”

Liz had expected something like this, so she reached into her purse and pulled out the letter. It was slightly worn on the edges and at the folds from being read so often. She handed it to Alexis, her hand shaking, and waited nervously for some reaction.

Alexis gingerly took the letter, knowing what it was before she even read a word. She scanned it quickly, recognizing her handwriting, still able to remember every word she wrote as though it was yesterday. That day, 18 years ago, had been one of the worst of her life.

She sighed and handed back the letter. “I’m sorry...” she began.

Liz’s face fell. This was what she had been afraid of. Alexis didn’t want to know her, didn’t want her in her life. “Um, that’s okay, I just..”

“No, wait, you didn’t let me finish. What I was going to say was that I’m sorry for giving you up like that. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, and it killed me to let you go. I’ve always wondered if you had a good family, if you were happy. That’s all I ever wanted for you, was your happiness and safety.” Here eyes were tearing up, and she had to stop talking before she started to cry.

Liz couldn’t believe her ears. Alexis didn’t hate her! She had been so sure that she would turn her away, she wasn’t prepared for this. She cleared her throat quietly and looked up at her. “Um...why did you do it, then? Give me up, I mean.”

Alexis thought her heart would break when she heard the pain in Liz’s voice. “Do you know anything about my family?”

She nodded. “I know you’re a Cassidine, if that’s what you mean. I ran into someone last night who told me this story about how terrible they all were, but I can’t believe that anyone could be that bad. He must have been exaggerating, right?”

Alexis smiled. “It depends, what did he say?”

“That they tried to kill him and his father, kidnapped his mother, faked his grandmother’s death, and tried to freeze the world.” She laughed a little, still finding it all so absurd.

Alexis chuckled and nodded her head. “Something tells me your source was Lucky Spencer, am I right?” Liz nodded. “Well, unfortunately, he was right. This is probably going to be a long story, so why don’t we sit down?” She led Liz over to the couch as the phone rang. She groaned and answered it quickly.

“Hello? Oh, hi, Ned. Um, actually, can we reschedule? Something important came up. I’ll explain later, I promise. Thanks, I love you too.” She hung up and sighed, turning back to Liz.

“I’m sorry, you had plans. I didn’t mean to intrude,” she said, getting up to leave.

Alexis blocked her path and smiled. “You’re not intruding, trust me. Now will you stay, so I can explain everything?” Liz nodded and sat down again, and Alexis sat next to her. “Before I say anything, I should clear up that not all Cassidines are as evil as the Spencers like to make them out to be. In fact, out of the ones still living, Helena is the only one that is bad, although bad is an extreme understatement. She’s the reason I had to give you up. See, I’m the illegitimate child of her husband, Mikkos. He had an affair with an opera singer, my mother. After was born, Helena killed her by slitting her throat. I was later raised as a distant cousin, and not as her stepdaughter. I grew up with Stefan, not knowing he was my brother, and it was only recently that I learned all of this.

“Anyway, Helena ruled the family with an iron fist. Everyone feared her, and no one dared to go against her. When I became pregnant, she flipped out. She wanted me to get an abortion, but back then that wasn’t as simple as it was today. Plus, she didn’t want the scandal, so she decided the next best thing to do was to torture me by forcing me to give you up for adoption. She knew that it would kill me to do so, which just made the whole thing much more enjoyable for her. She’s always hated me, and is constantly reminding me that any day now she could kill me, just like she did my mother.” She stopped to take a breath and noticed the fear in Liz’s eyes. “Oh, don’t worry about her right now. She got bored with Port Charles and moved back to Greece last year. I haven’t heard from her since.”

Liz was speechless. How could one woman be so incredibly hateful? She looked up at Alexis and smiled. “I always thought there was something missing in my life, that I didn’t quite belong with the Webbers. In fact, I used to joke about how I didn’t think I was their real daughter. When they gave me your letter a few months ago, I finally felt complete. I was angry with them at first for not telling me sooner, but I realized later that they were just doing what you asked. I did some research and found out that you lived here, which was funny, because this is where my grandmother lives. Once I graduated, I came straight here to live with her, and well, here I am. I don’t expect you to suddenly be my mother or anything, I just wanted a chance to meet you, let you know that I’m okay, that I’m happy.”

“Oh, Elizabeth, I’m so happy you came here. I would like the chance to get to know you, if that’s okay with you. I’ve missed so much, and I know I can’t make up for the years we lost, but I’d like a chance to share some of the future ones with you.”

Liz felt a tear run down her cheek. “Really? Oh, that would be so wonderful. I was so afraid when I came here that you would turn me away, I never expected that you would actually want to know me!”

On impulse, Alexis reached over and hugged her as her own tears began to fall. “Oh, honey, of course I want to know you! You’re my daughter, and nothing will ever change that!” They held onto each other for a few minutes until their tears ebbed, then pulled back and smiled at one another. “Hey, would you like to join me for lunch?” Alexis asked, wiping her face.

“Sure, that would be great.” Liz said. They stood up and headed for the door. As Alexis was reaching for the knob, Liz stopped her. “Wait, let me.” She smiled as the door opened on its own, and Alexis laughed.

“I see you’ve discovered your powers,” she chuckled. “How is that going?”

Liz shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I used to play around with them a lot when no one was home, move things around, stuff like that. It was hard not having anyone to ask about them, but I managed.”

Alexis smiled. “Well, feel free to pick my brain at lunch. I grew up without my birth mother, too, so I know what it’s like to learn everything on your own! Now, let’s go down to the Grille. I’m starving!”

They left the suite and made their way to the elevator, mother and daughter, finally reunited.

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