Next Installment, Chapter 4
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Sam paced around the living room as she checked her watch repeatedly wondering when her mother would arrive back from Wyndemere so she could explain to her the details of her date. She was nervous that Ric's visit would put a damper on their plans but when she heard the car drive away she knew that her mother had decided to go through with the date. She had never been more happy or scared. She knew her mother deserved happiness and if she could find it with anyone even if it was the mysterious James Bronson who was doing business with Nikolas at Wyndemere then so be it. Her mother deserved the best that life had to offer.
The door opened slowly as Kristina came running in with a smile split with joy. If nothing else from the recent divorce of Carly and Sonny it made her happy to see that Sonny was taking a more vested interest in the welfare of his daughter and devoting more time to her. It had made for a happier Kristina and she was always out for what was best for her sister.
Running to the stairs she scooped up the girl in her arms and walked to the couch as she listened to her sister detail the events that occurred during the day even as Sonny and the bodyguards came trailing in with the bags from her outings.
Nodding once at Sonny she devoted her attention to her sister who talked nonstop even as Sonny searched almost frantically for Alexis. "Where's Alexis?"
Sam looked up and gritted her teeth, she didn't want Sonny to know that her mother was currently on a date which might start an inquisition into her whereabouts and that was something she was not prepared to do and especially not in front of her sister.
"Kristina, I'll tell you what….get dressed and ready for bed and I'll see your Daddy out. Give him a big hug and a kiss and say thank you for everything."
Sonny eyed Sam over his daughter's head as he scooped her into his arms and squeezed her in a gentle hug, "I love you princess be good for your mom and sister."
Setting her down he watched as she zipped up the stairs and then he turned his attention back to Sam and repeated his earlier question, "Where is Alexis?"
Sam started to pick up Kristina's bags as she looked at him through wary eyes, "She's on a date."
Sonny stopped dead in his tracks as he practically growled out the words, "She's where? And with who?"
Sam crossed her arms as she looked at the man in front of her, "James Bronson, although I don't even know why I'm telling you this…my mother is a grown woman who is free to date if she so decides. He invited her to dinner and she was happy to get away and especially after…."
Sonny stopped as he picked up on the last of her statement, he was seething inside that James had gotten close enough to Alexis to ask her out but knew that he should've continue pressing for her to accompany them in their outing but after she had pleaded exhaustion he knew he didn't want to go any further without appearing suspicious, "After what? What happened Sam?"
Sam rolled her eyes, "What's gotten into you Corinthos? Why are you acting like you care all of a sudden what happens to my mother? You haven't before and if you are showing concern its just out of a misguided sense of loss you feel for the void left by the typhoid terrier that you call an ex-wife and since that appears to be the case my mother needs to be the last thing you worry about."
Sonny growled pissed that she was incorrectly judging his motives for the reason he had suddenly started appearing more in their lives but refusing to give her the response he was so desperate to say, "What happened McCall? I don't have time for your attitude; I'm worried about Alexis here."
Sam sighed exhausted and not up for a fight, "Ric, your brother is what happened. Mom was about to leave on the date when Ric showed up and started saying all kinds of crap that upset my mother but fortunately James was here to put him in his place so there's nothing to worry about Sonny."
Sonny sat on the edge of the chair as he tried to figure out a game plan, he was not going to allow Alexis to get involved with a psychopath and he also had to put better restraints on his brother.
He stood up and said, "When Alexis gets home have her call me."
Sam crossed her arms and said, "Why Sonny? What do you need to discuss with my mother? Can't you let her be happy? Haven't you destroyed her life for enough in this lifetime? Let her get a little happiness it's the least she deserves."
Sonny didn't speak to her accusations instead storming out of the house and heading for his home.
& - Break
Next Morning
Sonny had a fitful night full of nightmares from the Metro Court. He couldn't imagine what he was going to do to get Alexis away from that man but whatever it was it had to be done quickly. As he walked down the stairs he pondered over the last couple of weeks and the fun that he had spending time with his daughter and to a lesser extent Alexis.
They were so wonderful together that he didn't want to ever have them separated.
As he poured himself a glass of water and reached for his pill bottle he looked up as his door came flying open and Nikolas Cassadine entered the room. He grimaced as he shut the door with a loud sound and stalked over to him and spoke accusingly, "What part of keep Alexis away from Craig didn't you understand Corinthos? Robin and I get home last night and he's stroking Alexis's hair while she slept. She spent all night at Wyndemere with that murderer keeping watch over her, my hands are tied but I need your help."
Sonny cursed under his breath, "I know okay Nikolas. I know and it wasn't in my plans for her to go out on a date with him, she begged off spending time with Kristina and me because she said she was still feeling weak from chemo I didn't push."
Nikolas sat down as he put his face in his hands before uttering a quick oath, "I'm sorry Sonny. You don't have the blame for this, I'm just frustrated. I'm at the mercy of a madman for my day to day life and now this same madman has taken a liking to my aunt who is oblivious to the fact that he's dangerous. I don't know what I'm going to do if something happens to her because of me."
Sonny nodded as he passed the young man a bottle of water before saying, "No apology needed. We are all stressed, are Robin and Patrick any closer to finding out the antidote?"
Nikolas shrugged, "We just barely got away with a vial of my blood which I guess was fortunate that he was out wooing Alexis at the time but it will still take time to locate all of the poisonous compounds and what drugs to use to counteract them with….I hate this Corinthos."
Sonny nodded and said, "I hate this too but you're doing all you can, I'll talk to Alexis today and I will make her see that she can't continue this way."
& - Break
After dropping her with a small kiss on the cheek her date left her on her front door the next morning. She opened the door slightly and peeked in and laughed aloud when she saw her daughter Sam curled up on the sofa with a blanket draped around her shoulders. Closing the door behind her, she leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her brow startling her awake.
She stretched as she looked at her mother who was sporting a healthy glow and said, "How was your date? Now I told you to not do anything I wouldn't do but getting back at 8 in the morning? That's definitely something I would do."
Alexis sat down next to her daughter on the sofa and sighed happily, "I had a wonderful time. James is nothing but a gentleman and a wonderful cook it seems. Unfortunately I'm a horrible date because halfway through the main course I fell asleep, this cancer is taking more out of me than I expected."
Sam leaned over and laid her head on her mother's shoulder, "I'm sure he understood that you have limitations besides the important part is that he asked you out in the first place isn't it?"
Alexis nodded with a soft smile, "I guess you're right. Was all quiet on the front after Kristina got home?"
Sam stood up as she folded the blanket nervously between her hands refusing to meet her mother's gaze so that she could tell her about the problem, "Sonny wasn't happy you were on a date with James. He demanded I tell him where you were and who you were with, he was definitely jealous."
Alexis snorted as she reached for the magazines on the table and started to straighten them out nervously before looking at her daughter, "How dare he? I mean he's allowed to switch partners like I switch wigs but heaven forbid I get involved with a man he goes caveman on me!"
Sam laughed at her mother's expression imagining her shuffling wigs the way Sonny shuffled dates but then said, "He wanted you to call him when you got in from your date, I'm pretty sure he's not going to be happy that he doesn't get a return call until this morning."
Alexis looked at the clock and said, "Well I'm going to shower, have breakfast with my daughters and then face the beast. I have a feeling that it might go easier for me if I meet him face to face."
& - Break
James Craig looked up as the visitor was escorted into the living room and he smirked when he realized he was in for another confrontation with the mini mobster of this town.
"Mr. Corinthos, you wanted to see me?"
Sonny sat down in front of the man he currently despised more than his own brother and said, "What will it take to make you walk away from Alexis? She's been through enough hell in her life so she shouldn't have to deal with you stalking her and not being honest of your true identity."
James smirked at the man who demanded he leave the woman he was currently enamored of alone and shook his head with determination, "You don't have to offer me anything Mr. Corinthos that is not a current offer on the table. I find that during my short tenure in Port Charles I haven't met a woman who's more brilliant, witty, and inviting than Alexis Davis. The fact that she is currently battling cancer just makes her more appealing to me. She has overcome many odds for me to ever look at her with anything but admiration."
Sonny growled under his breath, "You are just using her as a pawn in your game against Nikolas. How do you think she will feel if she finds out that you are the reason her nephew is fighting death on a day to day basis? Or you're the reason that he can't find happiness with the woman he loves? Do you think any of these will be a reason you will endear yourself to her?"
James sighed as he lay back, "You are correct, I didn't foresee the magic that she would suddenly bring to my life which is why I'm working on away to repay her for the trouble I'm currently putting her family through."
Sonny grimaced as he stood up, "Payback for her trouble? What is this grand idea that you are planning on using to help Alexis?"
James ignored the hint of disbelief that came out of Sonny's voice as he matter-of-factly stated, "I plan to remove the obstacle of Ric Lansing from the life of Alexis and have her retain custody of her daughter once and for all."
Sonny paused as he listened to the statement and wondered how to proceed. Ric was his brother and even though at times he loathed his very existence he was still family and you protected family even if they didn't deserve it. But snatching Molly away from Alexis had been one of the reasons he knew that he and his brother would never be friends again so did he dare interfere in a plan to right a wrong he personally believed had occurred? "How do you propose on doing that?"
James smirked, "By killing Ric Lansing of course? What else is there?"
& - Break
Alexis paused at Sonny's door wondering if she was making a huge mistake in deciding to proactively confront Sonny about whatever his problem was with her relationship with Mr. Bronson.
As the door opened and she was ushered quickly into the living room she couldn't help but believe that she had made the correct choice in confronting the problem dead on. If she allowed him to believe that she was afraid of him than that would give him the upper hand something she wasn't ready to concede to him just yet.
She sat down and stared at the man that was currently talking quickly on the phone in Spanish and wondered how differently her life would've been if she had remained by his side against all odds. Would Kristina still be alive? Would they still be best friends? Would he still be the only man she ever….She reprimanded herself for the thought as she remembered the heartache that came with loving Sonny Corinthos. You never had it easy because he never let you in, not completely and when he did it wasn't without strings.
As he ended his call he turned his full attention to her and Alexis squirmed in her chair, it almost felt like she was on trial for a crime and was about to be cross-examined by the best prosecutor in the land.
"Sonny, I received a message from Sam that you wanted me to call you. I didn't get until late and since I was already on my way out I decided to drop in to see what I can help you with."
Sitting down across from her he noticed the gaze she met him with as if daring him to say that her actions of late had been wrong, he wasn't in a position to judge but he didn't want her anywhere near the psychopath and since trying to fill her schedule didn't work he was left with no other choice, seduction.
He knew it wouldn't be a problem seducing her but the problem would be in her feelings once this whole charade ended, would she resent his very presence or would she be grateful that she had been saved in the long room from even more embarrassment.
He knew he had no other option so he plunged forward, "I don't want you seeing anyone."
The unbelieving snort that came out of Alexis's mouth was enough to know that he had set her off; it was purposefully what he wanted to do. One thing he could never resist was her in fight mode, when she fought him about decisions, when she fought him about his sexist remarks or when she dared him to do more she was irresistible.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that Corinthos and leave."
Alexis rose when Sonny repeated his earlier statement again, "No more dates Alexis I mean it."
Alexis turned on her heel and met his glare with one of her own, "Or what Corinthos? Or what? I don't understand this sudden urge to review my dating habits but it's unacceptable. I'm a grown woman with 3 daughters I don't need anyone telling me who I can or can not see."
Sonny strode forward and pulled her arm to him and said, "This isn't a game Alexis. I don't want you with anyone."
Alexis walked to door after grabbing her purse and said, "You're crazy. Me they diagnose with DOD so I can get off with but the father of my second born, no he's just a sexist pig. I will see who I want when I want and you are the last person who can tell me anything."
He walked in front of her effectively shutting out her chance for escape, "I allowed you to go back to Ric because I knew you were just hiding from me and your feelings for me but this guy is taking it too far you don't want him he's just a pawn to you."
Alexis raised her hand as to slap him but he caught her hand within his as he jerked her to his side and brought his mouth to her and swallowed her protest. She immediately started struggling but after a few seconds was caught up in the explosive chemistry that is always present whenever they are together, not being able to help herself she dropped her things and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back full-force.
As the kiss ended and she pulled away and stepped back her chest was heaving in fright and disbelief but she wasn't too unaware to recognize his games even though Sonny was too thunderstruck to stop the hand that came across his face as she slapped him with all of her might and spat out, "You bastard. You won't do this to me, not again."
Trying to compose herself she grabbed all of her things and rushed out of his house. As she leaned against the brick the tears that she had been holding at bay started running down her cheeks as she ran a soft hand across her lips in remembrance that still were tinged with the taste of him. She stepped away and looked back at the house and turned to her car, frightened. He was still in her heart, he had never left and all it took was just one kiss for all of those feelings she thought she buried to come running back to the surface. She needed to be as far away from this place as soon as possible.
Meanwhile Sonny wasn't doing much better, he had imagined he had successfully suppressed all of those feelings from before, denial had become the word he had lived by the motto that helped him sleep at night. He had denied to Carly and to his best friend, Jason that she meant anything. But all along he knew he had known that those sweet lips of hers could always and would always make his pulse jump and everything inside of him shake. She was back in his skin and damned if he knew what to do now.
Kinda shocker, but kinda not huh?
