Chapter Four

She stepped off the plane and there were four limousines in front of her. She looked at her daughter, "Is this some sort of joke?"

"They're all here. Take your pick, Ma," Sam disappeared back into the plane and Alexis stood and watched as each man, one by one, stepped out of their perspective limousine.

Ned was first, holding a large bouquet of red roses. Alexis smiled as his smile warmed her. Jax stepped out, with a small velvet box in his hand, a grin spreading brightly across his face. She grinned back as their eyes met. Sonny then stepped out of his limo with an bouquet of gardenia's and his dimples blazing. Alexis blushed as she saw the compete lust in his eyes … something stirred inside her. Then there was Jerry, standing simply with a single white lily in his hands. He stood confident, looking amazingly handsome in his tuxedo.

Alexis looked down and realized that her comfortable outfit had now morphed into the most beautiful dress she'd ever worn. She felt amazing as she walked down the stairs, looking from one, to the other, to another, and then to him. She focused on him last. Seeing them all before her … looking at each face and remembering each man … thinking about what she could have with each one, she knew that he was the one. He was it for her and had always been. Being with everyone else in her life was nothing compared to what she would have with him. He was her and her children's future.

She stepped up to him as the other's disappeared, and he handed her his gift, "I love you, Alexis."

"I … I love you … too," she responded and melted into his arms as he leaned in to touch his lips softly to hers.

"Mom …" Sam whispered, gently shaking her mother awake.

"Hmm?"

"Wake up, we're almost there …"

Alexis woke from her dream feeling even more confused about her situation. She knew now who she wanted, but she was afraid that he wasn't there. If it wasn't him at the end of the plane ride, she'd feel horrible. She'd feel completely let down and it would show in her reaction to the one there.

"You okay?" Sam noticed the confusion in her mother's face.

"I had a dream … it was … insightful," Alexis gave a quick smile and sat up.

"May I ask the details?"

"They were all there waiting. Ned, Sonny, Jax, and Jerry … and I looked at them all. I saw them all and the only one I could really see …" Alexis looked down and nervously bit her lip, "I know who I want now," she looked into Sam's eyes and received a smile.

Sam's heart began to race … her mother knew … it was about time. Even if it was a different man, Alexis knew and she would tell him … things were about to change.

"Who is it?"

"I don't want to jinx it, Sam …"

Sam's face fell, "You won't tell me?"

"I'm petrified, honey, that it's not him at the end."

"Who?" She pushed.

"Sam … I … just give me a minute," Alexis didn't mean to snap, and she began to walk back her comment, "I'm sorry … I just … I need to think."

"Momma, I'm sorry for pressing the issue, but I'm nervous … excited … happy for you and I can't wait to land."

They were interrupted by the pilot's voice booming over the loudspeaker, announcing their arrival.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God …"

"Mom … if I can't say that phrase over and over, neither can you," Sam joked.

"Sam … oh my God," Alexis stood, beginning to pace.

"Come on Mom, we have to get the kids … buckle them in … we're landing in a few minutes."

"Oh my God."

Sam took her mother's shoulders in her hands and gave her a little shake, "Mom … take a deep breath … come on … there you go … now look into my eyes … good girl," Sam laughed at her mother's expression, "Breathe."

"Breathe …" Alexis repeated, and did, in fact, breathe.

"Sam …" she whispered, light-headed.

"Yes, Mama," Sam smiled.

"I believe that I … um … I'm a little nervous," she sat on the couch and closed her eyes as she leaned back. His face appeared in her mind and she sucked a deep breath in. This was about to happen. This was really about to happen, "What if it's not him … Sam!?"

"Mom, look at me …"

"Hmm?" Alexis finally focused on her daughter.

"Worst case scenario … it's not him … and you find out that someone else loves you. You can do two things with that information … give him a chance, or apologize, saying that you're in love with someone else. I've already discussed this with him. He'll back off … he knows the risk he's taking by making you choose. When we go back home, you can tell the guy you chose how you feel, or not. I won't pressure you, although you know that you should."

Alexis let out a frustrated groan, "God, Sam … I don't want to do this anymore … I don't want to play this game anymore …"

"Mom … you have to grow up and be strong about this," Sam said harshly, yet still jokingly, and stood, "I'm going to bring the kids in to buckle them up, and then we're going to land. We'll take it from there, alright?"

"Bossy," Alexis took another panicked, deep breath in.

"Yeah, yeah."

Alexis watched as Sam brought in the kids and buckled them up for the landing. She smiled at Kristina and Molly and thought that their lives were about to change as well. It had to be him at the other end. She couldn't deal with this if she was in love with a man who didn't want her … it had to be him.

The plane was on the ground ten minutes later and was crawling to a stop. When Alexis saw the limousine sitting out on the side runway, she nearly fell out of her seat, oh God oh God oh God …

"Mom, breathe …" Sam smiled as her heart thumped loudly in her chest. She couldn't describe the feeling she was experiencing. When the plane finally stopped, the limo was still unmoving … he was waiting.

Sam stood and helped the kids unbuckled, "Hey guys … will you do me a favor and stay in your play-room for a little while more? Momma and I need to get some things ready."

They agreed and happily returned to their toys. Sam now stood over her mother and held out her hand, "Mom, unbuckled your seatbelt."

"No."

"Mom …"

Alexis closed her eyes.

"Okay, well I'll do it, then," she reached down and unfastened the seatbelt, letting it slide away, still looking in her mother's face. She held out her hand again, "Take my hand, Mom."

"Oh God …" Alexis reached out her hand and was helped up by her daughter.

"Look at me," Sam commanded and Alexis obeyed, "Now listen, I can call him right now and tell him to drive away. We can enjoy our vacation and you can find out when we go home. I can tell you right now who it is and I will tell him to leave or stay. I can do whatever you want me to do."

"No."

"What?"

"I can do this. I'm a big girl."

Sam nodded, "Yes, you are and you'll be fine, Mom … I promise."

Alexis walked to the door of the plane as it opened. She looked out to the limo and saw that it was still just there. He was still waiting.

"Is he going to get out?" Alexis questioned, annoyed.

"When I give him the signal to, yes."

Alexis took Sam's hand and expressed slowly, "Sam … thank you …"

"For what? Freaking you out? Making you almost have a heart attack?"

"For caring about me. For wanting me to be happy."

"You're welcome, Mom, you deserve to be happy."

"I love you, Sam."

She wanted to cry, "I love you, too, Momma."

Alexis shut her eyes quickly, and then peered over again to the limo. When the door began to open, she jerked her head back to her daughter and met her eyes, "Oh God …"

Sam simply smiled, "So, Mom … what's your final verdict?"

Alexis released the lip caught nervously in between her teeth as she also released a long, overdo breath. Her eyes glanced slowly away from her daughter to the cement path, up to the front tire on the limo … to the door … and then to his face. His eyes … his smile … her breath caught in her throat and she swallowed hard, curling her lips up to match his brilliant smile. Her life was about to change.

She brought the smile over to her daughter and squeezed her hand, finally answering her question, "Him," she said softly as she released her hand so that she could descend the stairs to begin the rest of her life.

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The End