Cameron was having a particularly difficult day. He had sat through the staff meeting from hell, he had been forced to listen to the whining of his least favorite patient and several of the nurses
on his floor had hit on him relentlessly. They were pleasant enough women. However, Cameron knew that they were only asking him out because Zander and put them up to it, but not one of
them could hold a candle to Alexis. Cameron realized that the relationships would never work. It seemed as if everywhere he turned, he was confronted by the fact that the woman he loved was married to another man. Every song he heard reminded him of Alexis. Every woman he
encountered was automatically compared to Alexis in his mind. Every time he looked in a shop window he saw something he wanted to buy her as well.

In order to try and clear his head, Cameron decided to cut through the park on his way home. He was nearly half-way through, enjoying the fresh air, when he stopped to take a breath. He had stumbled upon a wondrous sight. Alexis was teaching Kristina how to ice skate on the frozen pond. The two of them were floating across the ice as Alexis held onto her daughter's hands. They were both spinning around and around like toy tops and their laughter filled the
air. The scene was infectious and it made Cameron both dizzy and giddy at the same time. An
involuntary smile spread across his face. He could have spent the rest of his life drinking in the site of the two skating angels. He felt his mood lift as he watched the scene before him. Alexis and Kristina were like those Zoloft bubbles from the television commercials. Just watching them had lifted a month's worth of bad moods. He didn't want to intrude on their blissful moment. Instead, he intended to watch them for a few minutes and then sneak away quietly. Before he could slip away, Kristina saw him and called out his name.

“Camerun!” She excitedly called out as she raced towards the edge of the ice.

She reached out for him to pick her up. He gave Alexis a sheepish, apologetic look. he thought he saw her blush when her eyes met his, but it could have been the cold that caused her cheeks to turn a lovely shade of pink. In her excitement over seeing Cameron, Kristina forgot that she was wearing skates. Consequently, when she hit the edge of the ice, she feel flat on her face. Both Cameron and the little girl's mother had to suppress a laugh. Kristina gave him a lopsided grin and indicated to be picked up again. Once in his arms, she rested her head on his shoulder. Kristina kicked her still skated feet against his chest and although it hurt, he didn't mind. When he held Kristina, he always felt as if he were holding a piece of Alexis. It felt like he was holding a
piece of heaven. Alexis noticed him grimcing and reached for the blade guards for her daughters
skates. In order to place then on the blades, Alexis had to hold onto Cameron for support. He felt as if he were going to melt from her touch and judging from the intense look Alexis was giving
him, she felt the exact same way. Alexis was the first to break the spell.

"Kristina, honey, you're hurting Cameron by kicking him. If you want him to hold you, we are going to have to put you shoes back on." She gently insisted.

Kristina shook her head.

"No!" She protested. "Camerun skate too!"

Alexis gave him an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, but once she puts on those skates I usually have to wait until after she goes to sleep to take them off of her."

Alexis placed her hand on his chest. Cameron hopped she couldn't feel how fast his heart was beating. It was nearly pounding out of his chest.

"I hope she isn't hurting you too much." Alexis stated as she quickly pulled
her hand away.

"Camerun skate!" Kristina insisted once more.

Cameron reluctantly drew his eyes away from warm glow of the little girl's mother and cast his gaze towards the cold hard ice.

"I'm afraid I must decline your invitation to go skating." He replied.

"Are you afraid that they don't rent them in your size?" Alexis teased and then placed her hand over her mouth in an embarrassed gesture when she realized the implication of her joke.

Cameron wished that she would stop censoring herself around him, but he just smiled and played the gentleman.

"I am afraid I wouldn't need skates at all, because I would spend the whole time flat on my backside."

"It is such a nice backside." Alexis gave him a sultry look.

"I prefer not to get it bruised. I can do many things, but skating is not one of them. It was not a very useful skill in South Florida." He reminded her.

“That’s blasphemy!” Alexis protested. “Every child should learn how to ice skate. Cassadine children learn how before they learn how to walk practically. I’ll let you in on a secret, the real reason my father froze the world was so that Cassadine children could practice their figure 8’s in
the middle of July!”

She gave him a generous smile.

“I thought he was just a control freak?”

Cameron causally replied.

“That was a joke.” Alexis frowned.

Cameron studied her carefully.

“I realize it was a joke. I’m just trying to process it without over analyzing it too much.“ He replied.

“I can teach you how.” She offered.

" You are going to teach me how to process without overanalyzing. Isn't that
much like the blind leading the blind over a cliff.” He grinned.

"Most likely, that is exactly what would happen. I was talking about teaching you how to ice skate.” She gave him a frustrated look.
Cameron considered her suggestion for a few seconds and decided that her scenario could only lead to harm. Not just physical harm, but the emotional type as well. Being on the ice with Alexis would mean he would have a legitimate excuse to be close to her, to sense her heart beating, to feel her breath on his neck and to gaze into her beautiful eyes. On the other hand, he seriously doubted that he could be that close to Alexis, breathe in her scent and feel her in his arms, and not do something drastic. Cameron was contemplating the last time he had said no to Alexis and actually meant it. She must have mistook his silence for hesitation, because she placed a
reassuring hand on his shoulder. “

Cameron, I’m a very good skater.”

I don't doubt that and I don't want you to think that I'm out of shape or trying to avoid exercise or anything.” He defended.

Alexis eyes wandered up and down Cameron's body, making him a little uncomfortable.

“Cameron, there is no doubt in my mind that your are in great shape.” She gave him a longing look

"I'm not afraid of exercise, Alexis. I take vigorous hikes during the warmer months!” He insisted.

Alexis frowned as if he had just uttered a 4 letter word.

"Oh please, Alexis you are acting as if I have just said something foul.” He gave her a good natured smile.

"As far as I'm concerned the word H.I.K.I.N.G is a 4 letter word.” She wrinkled
her nose in a most adorable fashion. as she nervously played with the tassels on the skates Kristina was wearing. Alexis had slipped her skates off and put her shoes on before sitting on the bench. The skates were nearby, in case she could talk Cameron into going out of the ice.

" You have never been hiking with me!”

Cameron insisted as he moved a little close to Alexis and her daughter. He could tell that he was making Alexis nervous by being so close. She refused to look him the eyes and continued to play with the decorations on the ice skates. Alexis nervously reached into a bag and pulled out a juice box and some Goldfish crackers for her daughter.

“I should count myself lucky! Cameron, exercise is exercise and it is not something I do!”

She protested as she tried to move away from him. Cameron smiled and moved even closer. Kristina seemed unaware of the mating dance that was going on beside her as she happily enjoyed her snack. Alexis maneuvered the Kristina so that the child was between Cameron and herself. Cameron reached over and took one of the goldfish from Kristina’s lap. She looked up at him for a second and rolled her eyes. He smiled at the child and with a twinkle in his eyes, he gently kissed her on the forehead. Cameron turned his attention back to Alexis.

“Given the chance, I know I could change your mind about hiking. I know an easy trail a few miles up from the cabin. In the spring and summer you can walk up the canyon beside the river and opens up to a waterfall and the greenest evergreens on the planet. You can hear the sound of the water and smell the trees and wildflowers. It is beyond anything the imagination
can create. We can swim for hours in the pool beneath the waterfall and no one will bother us”

A wistful look crossed his face. He wanted to go there and he wanted to take Alexis with him.

“It sounds very relaxing. I suppose you take a picnic lunch and your swim suit?” Alexis inquired.

Cameron laughed, which caught her off guard.

“It is heavenly, but who said anything suits? I was serious when I said that no one will bother us. It will just be you and me with the water washing over our naked skin.” He gave her a mischievous look.

“Us?” She gasped.

Alexis, I intend to take you there the minute it warms up and believe me, we will not
be taking swimsuits!“ He gave her another seductive look and maneuvered himself closer to Alexis. So close that he could feel her breath quicken. She nearly feel off the bench she was sitting on.

“Cameron! She protested as he reached out to grab her right before she fell to the ground.

“Alexis!” He countered with a twinkle in his eyes.

“What you are suggesting would not be proper, considering the fact that I’m married to another man!” Alexis gave him a sleepish look and bit the side of her top lip. Cameron wanted to yell at her to stop doing that because it was driving him crazy with desire and making it almost impossible to resist reaching out and grabbing her and kissing her until both their mouths were numb and their lungs were depleted of oxygen.

To hell with being proper and since when is Ned considered a man anyway!” Cameron
announced as he lunged for Alexis. She jumped up off the bench and he nearly landed
on Kristina. The little girl gave him and exasperated look and rolled her
eyes once more.

“Cameron, please don’t use that kind of language in front of my daughter!”

Alexis requested as she moved around the bench to get away from him. Cameron chased after her with great zeal.

“I’m sorry Kristina. However, your mother does things to me that make my emotions hard to control.” He explained as he continued to chase after Alexis.

Kristina looked as if she could care less and was now playing with the crackers and waiting for the adults to decide to go skating again.

“So you have feelings? Control them!” Alexis insisted.

“I don’t want to control them anymore! What I want to do is kiss you Alexis. Not just on your gorgeous mouth either! I want to cover every inch of you body with kisses!

Cameron insisted with great feeling in his voice.

You’ve got to stop saying things like that!”

Alexis replied as her voice rose a few octaves.

“Why? I’m only speaking from the heart. Why should my heart be silenced?”
Cameron protested.

Those are words that can hardly be coming form your heart! She lightly
scolded.

“They are so from the heart and there is more where those came from. I want
to make your body burn from my kisses and I want to make you gasp until you
are breathless!”

“C.A.M.E.R.O.N!” She protested once again.

“Yes my darling?” He gave her an adoring look

.
“Stop talking that way and for Gods sake stop chasing me around this park bench! I thought you were a gentleman?” She pleaded, which only made him more determined to do the opposite.

I used to be a gentleman until I met you and started feeling all of these ungentle-man type feelings!” He continued to chase her with great fervor. “As for your first request. I will stop chasing
you around the park bench when you stop running away from me and let me kiss you!”

Alexis gave him an exasperated look.

Unless of course I’m making you feel uncomfortable by describing you as a sensual woman? If you would rather, I could describe the feelings that you arouse in me Alexis!” Feelings that I had forgotten existed!” He made one more lunge towards her and lost his footing in the process. Both he and Alexis fell together in a crumpled heap on the ground. This finally got Kristina’s attention and piqued her interest. She applauded happily.

“Do it again!” Kristina demanded, as if they were trained seals performing for her entertainment. Her appreciation broke the tension that was mounting between the two adults.


“At least someone finds us amusing.” Cameron shrugged as Alexis laughed. In one swift move he was back on his feet and had helped Alexis to her feet as well. He could feel her running her hands up and down his arms. Her touch sent chills up and down his spine, but at the same time, it caused a heat to spread throughout his body. Maybe she was right and he wasn’t thinking with his heart after all. One thing he knew for sure was that Alexis was causing a reaction in another part of his body. He felt fortunate that it was winter and he was wearing a long coat.

“You are in very good shape!” Alexis exclaimed as she sat down on the bench with a thud.

Cameron was somewhat glad that she had let go of him.

“Then I have nothing to prove and I’ll just be on my way.” He pulled away from her and started to walk off.

Alexis looked down at Kristina and gave her an knowing look.

Sorry honey, Cameron obviously has something more important to do than spend time with us!”

Kristina looked like she was about to cry and Cameron knew Alexis well enough to know that she was upset as well.

“So, do you have a hot date with a beautiful woman? Is it someone you work with or a woman you met in a bar?”

The questions were flying fast and furious. Alexis was jealous and feeling slighted, that much was clear. She turned to Kristina and shrugged. Then turned and glared at Cameron.

“I’m so sorry that my daughter and I have held you up. Please, don’t give us a second thought. Just go, move along. Nothing to see here!” She waved her hand in a dismissive fashion.

Kristina sat down on the ground and pouted.

Cameron looked from one of the females to the other and back again. It almost made him want to laugh. Alexis and Kristina had him so tightly wrapped around both of their fingers that he could hardly move on his own. He didn’t laugh though. What he did was to unexpectedly grab Alexis firmly by both arms kiss her with the kind of breath-stealing passion that most woman only read about in books. The kiss both fierce and passionate. At the same time it was desperate and longing. They continued to kiss with unguarded desire and fervor, exploring each other's mouths as their hands explored each other's bodies. He moved his mouth to hers again and finally felt her give in completely. She kissed him back with more vigor and enthusiasm than he had felt in a long time. They pulled apart only to breath and then kissed again, even more passionately than before. He loved the feel of her body against his, the way that her pulse raced and her heart beat a little faster when they touched. It was electric and sensual. Alexis affected him in ways that no other woman ever had or ever would, and on so many different levels. Being near Alexis ran so much deeper than fulfilling a physical need. Because she completed him on an emotional level. She made him feel complete in ways that he never thought were possible. Then she pulled away and glared at him. She looked like she might hit him, except that Kristina was watching her closely with eyes as big as small saucers.

“How dare you dismiss me like that and then kiss me like that and then go off and see another woman!”

Alexis shouted angrily.

“You dismissed me, Alexis! As for other women? There are no other women. There is only you Alexis and this aching need I carry around in what remains of the tattered pieces of my heart.”

“Then why won’t you stay and go skating with me and my daughter?” She demanded in a perturbed voice

“If you must know, I don’t think I could stand to be that close to you and not want you, Alexis. I want all the time anyway, but touching you and not being able to totally have you would drive me
crazy. Besides, I would no doubt spend most of my time flat on the ice. I’m sure Alexander would come along just in time to laugh at his old man. Most importantly, I would rather not look like a fool in front of the woman I’m in love with! So sue me!”

He threw up his arms in frustration.

Alexis stood in place with her mouth open in shock.

“You’re in love with me?” She finally asked.

“Yes of course, you know I love you.” He shrugged.

Cameron, I know you love barbequed chicken wings. I know you love long walks in the
mountains. I know you love winning an argument and you love being right. None of those things is remotely the same as telling me that you’re IN love with me. When did you first realize this fact?”

She tilted her head in bewilderment.

“I think, I just now I realized it would really hurt for you to see me as less than perfect. I never really cared what you thought of me before. Now I care and I can only surmise that I care because you mean more to me that I can find the words to express. I’m in love with you and that is all I know for certain.” He shrugged. “Now, will you excuse me while I go find ice skates before Kristina chooses them for me and I end up a pair with purple tassels on the heels.“ He
turned to walk away, noticing the look of shock on her face.

“Cameron, we need to talk.” Alexis insisted, calling after him.

“We can talk later.” Was his response.

“You can’t tell me you are in love with me and then turn your back on me.” Alexis pleaded.

“I’m doing no such thing! I’m going to go rent a pair of ice skates, so you can teach me how to make figure 8’s. Because that is what you want me to do and you should have figured out by now, that I can’t deny you any request.”

He turned again to leave.

“You sound as if you are mad at me or something.”

Alexis lowered her voice to nearly a whisper.

I’m not upset at you. It is not your fault that I fell in love with you. Of course, it might be easier not to love you if you were a little less wonderful and loyal and beautiful. However, I don’t blame you for being all of those things. My God! I’m rambling!”

He threw his arms into the air in exasperation and went off to find skates. He came back in a few minutes with and embarrassed look on his face. In fact, he was as red as a tomato.

“They don’t have any in my size.” He whispered.

“What was that?” Alexis teased.

“They don’t have any skates in my size!” He repeated a little louder.

Alexis burst out laughing.

“Well, that tears it than. I guess Kristina and I will go on home and you can go on your merry way!” Alexis lamented as she stood up from the bench. She winched in obvious pain and doubled over onto the bench.

Cameron was at her side immediately.

“Alexis, darling, what’s wrong?” He asked as a look of sheer panic spread across his face. He exchanged worried looks with Kristina as well.

Chapter 8

Alexis looked at Cameron and Kristina as if she thought they had lost their collective minds.

“Alexis, what’s wrong?” Cameron repeated in an urgent tone. He was holding onto her arm so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

“Mamma’s hurt?” Kristina looked at the two adults with fear laden eyes.

“I’m fine sweet pea.” She assured her daughter, “I must have twisted my ankle when I fell.” She glared at Cameron.

Cameron let out a sigh of relief, then tensed up again as a new fear overtook his senses.

“Are you sure it’s just twisted? It could be broken! I’ll call an ambulance and have you taken to General Hospital for X-rays!” Cameron insisted as he pulled out his cell phone.

“Cameron, I don’t need to go to the hospital in an ambulance.” Alexis insisted.

“Fine, then I’ll carry you to my car and drive you to the hospital myself.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and prepared to pick her up.

“Cameron, where is your car?” Alexis asked.

“Parked outside my apartment.” He reluctantly admitted. “You know, it might be faster if I ran over there and got my car and came back for you and Kristina. It will take me 10 minutes tops!” He promised as he started to unbutton his suede trench coat.

“Cameron what are you doing?”

“I don’t want you to go into shock while I get the car. Here put this on.” He draped the coat over her shoulders. She shrugged it off and it fell on the ground.

“Alexis, that coat cost me a months salary!” He insisted, as he picked it up off the ground lovingly.

“Then put it back on!” She insisted. “Cameron, you’re going to freeze and catch a cold and you’ll blame me! I’m not going into shock and I don’t need to go to the hospital. My ankle only hurts when I put pressure on it! I‘m not going to the hospital”

She insisted in a determined manner which made Cameron want to sweep her into his arms even more. He loved her sprit and her independent drive. But, a part of Cameron wanted desperately to play hero to Alexis. To be her white knight in shining armor. To be the person she needed most in her life. He ached to be needed by Alexis.

“Fine, no hospitals! I’ll carry you to my apartment and I’ll call Reginald to come and pick you up from there.” Cameron suggested, but Alexis gave him an exasperated look and he knew it was no sale.

“That would go over real well with Ned! He is still angry because of that stunt you pulled on our wedding night!” Alexis reminded him.

“I don’t remember you complaining that night as I held you and comforted you in the emergency room! Why are you yelling at me now?” Cameron protested

“You broke his foot!” She commented dryly.

“I was protecting your virtue, Alexis! He told me he was going to go upstairs and... God, I can’t even bring myself to say it out loud!” Cameron lamented sadly.

“Cameron, he’s my husband. What exactly were you trying to protect?”

“You and Ned aren’t are you? Please tell me you’re not!” Cameron had a pleading look in his eyes. It made both his heart and head ache at the idea that Alexis might be intimate with Ned.

“We’re not.” Alexis replied. “I told you before I married Ned that this would be a marriage without privileges. Cameron, I’m in love with you! I was then and I still am. But, I have to live with Ned and there are ways that you can make that easier. Taking me back to your apartment is not one of them.” She reminded.

Cameron sighed, he knew she was right.

“How about a compromise, because there is no way I’m just leaving you and Kristina here in the snow.”

“I can compromise.” Alexis promised.

“Fine, I’ll carry you to Kelly’s and we can all three have hot chocolate while you and Kristina wait for Reginald to come and pick you up.”

“Hot chocolate sounds good. Kristina, doesn‘t it sound good?” Alexis asked her daughter.

Kristina nodded her head in gleeful agreement.

“Good than it’s settled. I’ll carry you to Kelly’s and you’ll wear my coat so that there is no chance of you going into shock.” Cameron rubbed his hand together.

“I’ll walk with your support!” Alexis frowned.

“How about if I fling you over my shoulder and take you back to my apartment anyway!” Cameron countered in a domineering fashion.

“I would like to see you try!” Alexis replied. “Caveman!”

“Martyr!” He responded. “You can’t run away this time!” He gave her a wicked smile.

Alexis sighed in defeat.

“You win, only because you knocked me to the ground and caused me bodily harm! You may carry me to Kelly’s, but you have to wear your own coat!” She waved a finger in his face.

“Mamma have an owie?” Kristina asked.

“Yes, baby, Mamma has a hurt ankle.” Alexis softly replied.

A bright look crossed Kristina’s face.

Camerun kiss it and make it better!” The little girl grinned.

Cameron’s eyes begin to twinkle and a grin spread across his face.

“Don’t even think about it!” Alexis warned.