Alpha Fade Issues

i am trying to get a prototype for a client ready and have ran into a problem.

i got everything working except an _alpha issue.

i have leaves blowing off a tree at random and then duplicating based on a max leaves allowed on stage variable.

what i can't seem to get figured out is this:

i want the leaves to fade away and disappear based on a _x position on stage. i have set up an array that picks random spots on the stage for the fade away to happen.

the problem is when the leaf fades away, it keeps fading - _alpha and when it duplicates you can't see it because it's _alpha is below 0. this is what i need to get working. have the leaf fade away and a new leaf to duplicate with it's _alpha at 100, then fade away when it reaches the _x array value assigned to it.

i have attached my prototype fla file. there is code on the leaf_mc, in the 1st frame of the root and inside an empty mc on the stage.

Please someone help, thanks!