I don't want to assume that everyone read "Alexis the Surrogate". So this story may start off a little slow to give some context (including tying up some loose ends from the last story) and introduce the additional characters. And I promise more Alexis & Sam after all babies have been birthed. LOL Patience, Grasshoppers. And thanks for reading. :)

Chapter 2

Ric and Lorenzo were cleared to enter the villa. As they got closer to the main house, Lorenzo slowed down with regret for even taking Ric up on his offer to tag along. Lorenzo knew that he had some explaining to do to Alexis in his role of taking Kristina and he really didn't know how to explain it, which is why he rehired Ric—more as a buffer than an attorney. Ric had a used car salesmen way about him with complicated cases like Lorenzo. Ric could make the sticker price look like a deal.

He looked back at Lorenzo pretending to take in the sights of the courtyard filled with red, pink, and white roses. "You coming or what?"

Lorenzo took a seat on a wooden bench and sniffed the roses. "I think I'll stay out here. Kind of reminds me of Lila's garden. I don't think it gets more peaceful then this."

"Suit yourself." Ric continued on to the main house.

Wandering down the walkway away from the main house an older, pudgy woman sized up Lorenzo as if she knew him. He averted his eyes to the ground not sure what her intense stares meant. For all he knew, she was possibly sent by Anna to scoop him up and extradite him to Port Charles. But she stopped her walk to her quarters forcing him to make eye contact.

"May I help you?" He asked.

"You. The handsome man with the beard and blue eyes she talks about. Only when she's drunk." Korina spoke with determination in her voice.

Lorenzo turned behind him to see if she was speaking to someone else. "Who is she?"

"Natasha!" She shouted. "I tell her give young Mikkos food. He gives you love. No food. No love."

Lorenzo squirmed in his seat. "This conversation is going places I don't want it to. I don't know nothing about breast-feeding no babies." He smiled.

She touched his face. "And your smile. You are the one she should marry!"

"Marriage?" Lorenzo's curiosity was piqued. "Do tell."

She pointed at him. "You're the father. So you should marry Natasha."

Lorenzo bulked. "No no no. I'm not the father of Mikkos. You got it all wrong. But I agree the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Are you and Natasha good friends?"

Korina put her hands on her hips. "Korina. I'm her confidant. She tells me everything. I knew Natasha as a teeny little Alexis Davidovitch." She sat down and ran her fingers through Lorenzo's hair. "You're from Argentina?"

"República Bolivariana de Venezuela." Lorenzo rolled the words off his tongue as he was flattered by Korina's flirting. "Tell me more about the things Natasha says to you under the duress of drunkenness. You do know that alcohol is the universal truth serum?"

Korina touched her cheek. "There is a Sonny Corinthos?"

Lorenzo sighed. "She talks about him too?"

"And Johnny Za…" Korina struggled with his name.

"charra. Johnny Zacharra." He rolled his eyes. "He's a boy-child."

"And there's a Ned Ashton that she says is a Lord?"

"Have you ever heard the phrase that 'rulers make bad lovers'? Plus, I'm South American. We've got the romance and rhythm down pat. Who else? Bring it. I'll swat them all down."

She thought some more. "Ric Lansing?"

"You just passed him. Brother of Sonny Corinthos and my attorney. I can't speak for his bedroom skills, but he's quite charming. Charming enough to screw mine and Natasha's daughter while he was married to Natasha. So he's also a bit of a dog. Keep 'em coming Korina. Nobody holds a candle to me and don't let her tell you otherwise." He grinned.


Alexis wanted nothing more but to sleep, but the most comfortable she could get was almost dangling off the side of her sofa in her office and staring at the ground. She looked across at Lamby-Pie on the floor as if the stuffed animal had been tossed out of Mikkos' bassinet stationed in the corner of her room. She rolled over onto her back and looked at her watch. "It's practically lunchtime. I'm getting too old for this." She pulled herself up and realized it was quiet—almost too quiet. She touched her chest housing her pounding heart and hoped it wasn't another one of those nights. The thoughts of dread left her almost paralyzed.

Ric walked into her office without bothering to knock. "Hello Sunshine. I'm here to take the girls back to Port Charles." He leaned over and kissed Alexis on the forehead. "Do not tell me you're just waking up?" He went over to her picture window. "Look at this day! Look at this pool! How do you feel about skinny-dipping?"

Alexis rubbed her tired eyes and finally gathered her equilibrium to stand up. "With whom?"

"You and me. Let's embarrass the girls." He kissed her again and went back to checking out her view.

"You're actually going to see Sonny?"

Ric decided to help himself to Alexis' coffee-maker. "Nope. I'm dropping Kristina off as you requested and flying with Molly to LA. I got plans for us at the zoo." Ric's eyes widen after taking a sip of coffee. "Whoa...what is in this?"

"It's spiked just a little." Alexis took the mug from his hands.

"No wonder you're always awake. That's like cyanide." He wiped his mouth and looked over in Mikkos' bassinet. "Where's the baby?"

Alexis sipped on the coffee. She paused. "Ok. Wait. I know what happened. I had the most ridiculous night. It was out of control." She handed Ric the mug and went over to Mikkos' bassinet as if she hadn't heard him. "Where is Mikkos?" She looked at Ric.

Ric shook his head. "You're asking me? Did you check his nursery this morning? What about his nanny?"

Alexis grabbed her turning stomach. "His nanny is off today. Will you come with me to his nursery? He has to be there."

Nikolas met Jason at the entrance to the villa. "How was your flight?"

Jason was worn out but even more anxious for his first visit with Mikkos. He followed Nikolas through the villa's main corridor. "I dropped Brenda off in Rome. She says hello. Sam is due any day now so I can't stay long."

"I'd like to fly to Port Charles to see Sam if you'll keep me updated." Nikolas nodded to Andreas standing guard at Mikkos' nursery door.

"Good day Mr. Cassadine. Mikkos is with his mother. She took him last night."

Nikolas signaled Andreas to move aside and opened the nursery door. "Here is his humble abode. That's Andreas. He stands guard."

Jason stepped inside in exploration mode. His eyes meet with the sheep bordered along the walls. "Sheep? He likes sheep?"

"I don't know that he actually enjoys the sheep. The sheep were Molly's idea."

Jason bent over and rummaged through his bag. He pulled out a big colorful story book. "Michael…after he was shot, he forgot about this when he lost his memory. He pretends it means something to him to not hurt my feelings. I used to read it to him all the time."

Nikolas took the book and flipped through the worn pages. "Ah, a book on safari animals?"

"Africa. Sam and I would like to try and finally go after the baby is born." Jason tinkered with the toys that decorated Mikkos' nursery. He poked at the large stuffed animals on the floor. "Where is Alexis?"

Nikolas laid the book down on the table. "It's been hell around here."

"I don't understand." Jason was confused.

"Nothing. Nevermind." Nikolas thought better of saying anymore.

Ric poked his head inside the nursery. "Hey. Nikolas, can I see you out here?" He tried to peer over Nikolas' shoulder to see if Mikkos was in his crib.

Nikolas followed Ric outside and closed the door. "What's the problem? Where is Alexis?"

"Alexis is going nuts in her office. Mikkos is missing. I don't see him in the crib and he's not in the bassinet in Alexis' office."

Nikolas groaned. "Andreas, go with Ric to find the kid. I gotta keep Jason occupied here."

Ric ran down the walkway to the rose-filled courtyard with Andreas not far behind. He spotted Lorenzo relaxed and laughing it up with Korina.

"What about Jasper Jax?" Korina was occupied and amused by Lorenzo's charisma.

Lorenzo waved her off. "Please. I think she prefers dark over blondes if you ask me. But don't ask me about this thing she had with Jerry Jax his brother. She seems to have a thing for brothers. Did I mention that she killed mine?"

Korina touched her chest. "In the bedroom?"

Lorenzo shook his head. "No. She actually murdered him. Pushed him off a his balcony. It's a sore subject."

Ric got to Lorenzo and Korina out of breath. "Ok. Emergency. Mikkos missing."

Lorenzo darted up. "Missing how?"

Korina hit Lorenzo's arm. "No worries. It happens all the time."

Ric was shocked. "Excuse me? Happens all the time?"

"Natasha has bad dreams and she takes Mikkos and hides him. I find him. Andreas finds him. No big deal." She shrugged it off.

"Where does she hide him?" Lorenzo asked.

"Depends on the dream. Just ask questions and it comes to her." Korina said in a frivolous manner.

Jason sat down in the rocking chair and observed Nikolas on edge. "Is Mikkos on a date or something?"

"Jason, I don't know how to say this…"

"Alexis is having some issues." Jason ran his finger across his lips and remained calm. "Are you afraid to tell me for a reason?"

"It's just that I don't know what her issues are. It's pretty erratic. Honestly it began when Franco threatened her and then it got worse after Mikkos was born and now since Stavros it's like I'm communicating with a different person than the Aunt Alexis that I grew up with here. Stefan has promised that he'll go to Port Charles to seek help for her if we had another incident."

"Is Dr. Jackson around?"

"Yes. But he's only good with dealing with Mikkos. What's going on with Alexis isn't physical. It's not something that we can see. That's the problem. If it was a broken leg, I'd know how to fix it."

Alexis curled up in her blanket and tried her hardest to remember. She was composed believing she could recall her dreams of the night before. Ric and Lorenzo found her lost in her own world.

"Alexis?" Lorenzo went over to her but she wouldn't acknowledge him.

"Alexis, Korina and Andreas are looking for Mikkos." Ric's tone was that of a pushy cross-examiner during trial. "You need to tell us where you think you left him."

Alexis picked at the snags on her blanket. "When he cries it sounds like Kristina; my sister Kristina."

Lorenzo searched the office looking for any indication of what might have happened.

Ric kneeled down to Alexis. "When was the last time you heard your sister Kristina crying like a baby."

"When…I think before my mother was killed. Kristina and I were in a rocking chair. I was holding her." She pointed towards the door. "That rocking chair in Mikkos' room. That belonged to my mother."

Lorenzo looked down by the bassinet and noticed particles of hay. "Alexis, why is there hay near the bassinet? Do you have horses?"

Ric looked back at Lorenzo annoyed. "I need her to focus." He smiled at Alexis and touched her face. "Go on."

"The necklaces…they're gone?" Alexis cried.

"Alexis, we need to find the baby. He's missing too." Ric prompted her. "The last time you heard Kristina crying?"

Alexis wiped her eyes. She grabbed at her neck. "My mother let me wear my half of the necklace that night. I begged her to let me have my half of it. She entrusted it and Kristina in my care and I lost all three of them that night."

Ric signaled her to continue.

"My mother told me to hide Kristina in the stables and she would be safe there from Helena."

Andreas walked in holding Mikkos who was clueless but content. Alexis got up and gathered the baby in her arms.

"Where did you find him?" Lorenzo asked.

"In the stables…" Andreas said with a heavy sigh. "My apologizes for not being more attentive."

Ric covered his nose. "Yes. He was in the stables alright. Was he ok?"

Andreas nodded. "Quite happy aside from the horse shit. But the stables were the last hiding place." He left the room and closed the door.

Alexis snuggled Mikkos. "I'm so sorry."

Ric and Lorenzo both looked at each other not sure what to say next. Nikolas and Jason walked into Alexis' office.

"I couldn't hold him off any longer." Nikolas' face was colored with chagrin.

Alexis pulled it together for Jason's benefit and acted as if nothing had gone wrong. "It was a rough morning for all." She held tight to Mikkos not wanting to let him go. "When the nanny isn't here, we never know what kind of day we're going to have."

The room was silent with everyone in it knowing Mikkos' mishandling was a close call in light of recent events. Lorenzo nudged Ric and Nikolas to follow him out leaving Jason alone with Alexis to break the uncomfortable silence that penetrated between them.

Jason held up Michael's Africa book to break it. "Remember this?" He asked.

The dimness in her eyes lit up from seeing something familiar from home. "It's Michael's story book. He let you take it?"

"I don't think he remembers it. It was one of the things I used to try to jog his memory. I think he pretends to remember it."

"How is he?" Alexis sat down and continued to coddle the baby.

"He's having trouble doing therapy in the same hospital as Franco. I can understand that. I think Carly is going to find him another place to go until they sort this whole thing with Franco out."

Jason sat down next to Alexis. He couldn't take his eyes off of Mikkos. "I think he looks like Sam."

Alexis leaned the baby to Jason. "Really? Have you seen baby pictures of Sam?"

"She showed me one. You won't believe who gave it to her."

"Who?"

"Helena." Jason picked up Lamby-Pie from the ground.

Alexis handed off Mikkos to Jason. "Sorry he smells like horse manure."

The memories of holding baby Michael and Jake flooded back to him. He remembered both times being the most prideful and trying times of his life. Mikkos settled right in feeling safe in Jason's hands enveloping his tiny body.

"Do you remember the day I picked up Michael from the hospital? You were there." Jason said.

Alexis tapped her temple. "Yes. I believe I went to the hospital to speak to Luke about our plan to kill Helena. He and I were looking at the babies. Michael was a preemie. And you showed up in your leather jacket all tough guy.." She laughed. "I overhead the conversation between you two. It was scary and I wasn't even a mother...that I knew of..."

Jason chuckled. "Me and Luke plotting out how we were going to take care of this newborn baby without his mother. Thank God for Bobbie."

"And I went to you and told you that I wanted to represent you to ensure that you kept custody of Michael. I believed in you. I believed that you adored that kid."

Jason moaned. "But yet he calls Sonny his dad. I don't think he remembers me."

"Memories are funny things. Michael and I both seem to remember all the bad." Alexis got up and went to her desk. "I know that I am sucking right now at motherhood. But it is beyond my control. So if you choose to use anything you've witnessed today against me, I don't know that I'd blame you."

Jason took Mikkos and placed him in his bassinet. "After seeing the way you beat up Skye?"

"When Skye took Kristina, it was like putting her in the stables all over again for someone to take her away from me. The thoughts about it make me agitated."

"Is that a recurring nightmare for you?" Jason asked.

"Of course. I came back from the stables to Helena ripping a knife across my mother's throat. Have you ever had to sit across from your mother's murderer and be forced to finish your duck soup when you can keep nothing down? That was the day after my mother was killed." Alexis sat down at her desk. "Helena made me sit in a chair facing her at the dinner table. My posture had to be perfect or she'd force me to stand and eat. But nothing about me was ever perfect so I stood a lot. My eyes had to look into hers. It was like hypnosis."

Jason could tell it was difficult for Alexis to discuss. "You don't have to talk about this. I want to hear you talk about it, but this has to be really difficult for you. I haven't thought about my own mother's murder in a while."

Lorenzo and Ric took a walk back to the courtyard. Ric noticed Lorenzo chomping at the bit. "What's your problem?"

Lorenzo grabbed at his hair. "I don't think it's a good idea for Jason to be alone with her after what just happened."

"I don't believe in enabling." Ric said.

"Really? And you're perfect since when?" Lorenzo was annoyed by Ric's indifference.

"This is why Sonny is the problem that he is. Everyone's dancing around what's wrong. It's clear to me that Alexis needs to deal with some of her monsters."

"Ric, what if your monsters are literally running around driving you crazy? Where is Stavros? I want to know."

"And then what?" Ric asked. "You're gonna kill him? You can kill Stavros, but you still need to get the Helenas and the Francos or any other of the many villains that have plagued all of us."

"Stavros took my daughter away from me. I don't know that for a fact, but I know that somehow he banked on Sam and me crossing paths again. You and I worked together to almost destroy Sam. I'll never forgive myself for that. And somewhere in those caves Stavros is laughing."