I started writing this on February 9, 2007. Carly and Sonny are married because of the Lorenzo witness crap and the hostage situation didn't happen ... and won't happen! Alexis is going through chemo. It's still in progress!!

Love and Marriage

Chapter One

Alexis' eyes fluttered open to the sound of the beating on her door. She didn't want to deal with Ric today. Hell, she didn't even want to deal with Sonny today and that was saying something. Sonny's personality had changed since he found out that she had cancer. He was supportive...insistent that she survive...where was this Sonny four years ago when he was fighting her tooth and nail in the courtroom for custody of their daughter? Alexis looked over to the door -- blinds shut – sh -- she thought. She wanted to shoo the person away and get back to her nap. The chemo wasn't working. They told her she'd have to go through more and she was on the verge of simply giving up...she was going to let the cancer win, but her daughter, the one that slept with her husband, wouldn't allow it. Alexis rolled her eyes at the thought of how close they had gotten. She tried to push Sam away...she wanted to. She didn't want her in her life after what she did, but Sam was persistent to say the least. Alexis' late talks with Spinelli gave her a new outlook on Sam. She'd never laughed as much at her daughter as she did when she was around him.

"Alexis?! Are you here? I see your car! Don't even think about avoiding your ex..."

She flung the door open, immediately wrapping her arms around him, screaming the name "Jax" as they embraced. Thirty seconds ago, she didn't have the strength to stand, but when she heard his voice, she couldn't reach the door fast enough.

"Hello, my wife," Jax mumbled into her neck. She still smelled like vanilla. He thought all along that it was her shampoo, but obviously not, since her hair was long gone.

"Don't let go," she whispered loud enough for him to hear.

"Never," he whispered back. He was holding her up. She was too weak to even stand. He maneuvered her in his arms and picked her up. She held on to his strong shoulders and smiled.

"Carrying me over the threshold, husband?"

He just smiled back and walked her back to the couch. He sat close beside her and helped her get situated.

"Why are you alone, Alexis?"

She sighed her sigh and focused on his eyes to keep from growing nauseous from the sudden movements.

"I'm fine."

"You're a big fat liar."

She let out a hearty laugh, "You just picked me up like you would an eight year old. I'm far from fat."

Jax smiled sadly at his best friend, "Once again, honey, why are you alone?"

"I'm not married, my daughter is out living her life like I told her to, my other two little one's are at their cousin's, being happy ... I have no one else."

"You have me."

"So I'm not alone."

Jax smiled and closed the distance between them to hold her close, "When was the last time I told you I loved you?" He questioned as he held her.

She smiled against his cheek, "It's been a while."

He pulled back and met her eyes, "I love you."

Her smile amazed him. She hadn't lost that, "I love you more, Jasper Jacks, so what are you doing here and where the hell have you been?" she playfully swatted his shoulder as she leaned back to get more comfortable.

"Around ... Jerry needed me ..."

"Now who's the big fat liar?"

Jax gave her a small chuckle and helped pull the covers over her shivering body.

"I'm here now. What do you need?"