Chapter Ten
"Hey man."
Sonny walked down the stairs to meet with Jason, tears wiped clean off his face, but Jason could tell that he had been crying. Jason knew that every time Sonny left Alexis, his heart broke a little. If Sonny weren't so busy with the business … if Sonny weren't so claustrophobic, he'd stay in the room with her twenty-four hours a day.
"Everything all right?"
Sonny avoided eye contact, "Yeah … um … yeah, it's okay. So, sorry it took so long, but um, we need to talk about Benny."
"Everything seems to be in order. Alcazar seems to be in agreement, the Escobar's don't seem to have a problem with it … "
"That's what worries me, Jase … this just seems too easy."
"Benny's setting up a meeting."
"With?"
"All of them. The Succatta's, Escobar's, Alcazar, and Sopenia's. Tomorrow night in Wherehouse 3. You want me to go alone?"
"No, man, no, I'll be there. This needs to be handled fast."
"You're sure about this?"
"As long as you are."
"Have you told Alexis?"
"No … she um … I'll tell her when it's over."
"She'll be happy we're out."
"You can say that again."
"Okay, well, I'll call you … "
"Where are you headed?"
"I'm taking Liz to dinner, just to talk about some things … "
"She gonna move in?"
"No. Oh, you mean next door?"
"Well yeah."
"No, I don't … I don't think so. She's fine with her grandmother for now."
Sonny nodded, looking to his friend. He wasn't envious of Jason's situation, but he knew that he almost was in that situation six years ago with Alexis. Not a day goes by when he sees Kristina that he doesn't think about what he would have done if he'd known from the beginning. Jason walked to the door, stopped by Sonny calling out for one last thing.
"Hey … "
Jason turned, "Yeah?"
"She said 'yes'." Sonny watched Jason take in the news … shocked. When he told Jason that he was going to ask Alexis to marry him, Jason acted surprised that their relationship had blossomed so quickly. Sonny admitted that it wasn't so quick.
"Alexis?" Jason questioned, still processing.
"Yeah."
"Oh my … wow … Sonny, congratulations!" Jason walked over to his friend to give him a quick celebratory hug. "Man, that's great!"
"Yeah," Sonny beamed.
"And she said 'yeah' while you're still in the business?"
"Mmmhmm," Sonny smiled.
"Man, that says a lot."
"Doesn't seem like something she'd do, huh?" Sonny joked.
Jason shook his head, "She loves you."
Sonny nodded, looking down.
Jason looked to Sonny and shook his head back and forth slowly, "Two years ago, would you ever have imagined … "
"No. Not in the least."
Jason smiled, patted Sonny on the shoulder once more, and headed out to meet Liz.
Sonny sat alone in his living room, thinking of her. She said yes. Alexis was going to be his wife. His wife. Sonny Corinthos and Alexis Davis. Alexis Davis-Corinthos … or Alexis Corinthos-Davis … or just Alexis Davis. He had to start thinking of ways to convince her to take his last name and combine it somehow with hers. Sonny smiled to himself.
"Daddy?" Kristina had been watching him sit there smiling for the last two minutes.
"Yeah, baby girl."
"I'm not a baby."
"You're my baby … come here." He held his hand out to her, beckoning her to come sit in his lap.
"Well then I'm Momma's baby too."
Sonny took her in his arms and pulled her onto his lap, holding her close. "Yes you are."
"I'm happy that I get to talk to her everyday Daddy, but … "
"Hey!" Michael bounded into the room with Morgan close on his heels. Kristina rolled her eyes at her brothers and listened to them yell, "Let's go!!"
Sonny had forgotten that he promised a day at the movies. "Oh, yeah! All right then!" He stood up with Kristina still in his arms. "Are you all ready?"
"Yeah!!" Michael and Morgan yelled together.
"Okay then … let's get going!!" Sonny said happily, noticing the sad look on his daughters face. "You okay princess?"
"Oh, yeah Daddy, I just … my stomach kind of hurts. Is it okay if I stay here with Viola and Molly?"
"Ah, well sure honey, come here, let me get you some medicine," he said, starting to walk to the kitchen.
"I already took some. Viola gave me some a minute ago."
"Okay, then … great … well let me go tell her we're off."
Kristina had to think quick. "I already told her. She knows. I told her that I wasn't going."
Sonny looked at his daughter curiously. "Okay … well, then, boys, you ready?"
Getting the same response as earlier, he plopped Kristina lightly down on the couch, kissed her goodbye, led the boys to the door, and watched Kristina as she walked back to the kitchen to Viola. Then they were off.
Kristina walked toward the kitchen, but hid from view behind the door until she heard her father's limo drive away. She leaned toward the kitchen to hear Viola answer the phone as she fed Molly.
"Hello? Leticia, hey … yeah … they went to the movies … right, Sonny, the boys, and Krissy … I think they're going to watch two … right, take your time, I've got Molly until then … right, okay … see you tonight."
Kristina thought, 'okay, Viola and Molly in the kitchen, Jason gone, Robin gone, no cousin Nik, no uncle Jax, no Carly, Daddy and the boys gone, Milo and Max were arguing in the foyer … she was on her way. Kristina snuck out from behind the door and ran quietly to the stairs, up the stairs, around the corner, down the hallway, to the door. The forbidden door.
Kristina was a good child. She always did as she was told, but she was fed up. This was crazy to not see her mother for a month. She creaked the door open to the dark room and softly closed it behind her. She usually was afraid of the dark, but she knew her Mommy was in the room, so she couldn't have felt safer. Once her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw the bed. She walked slowly up to it and saw her mother's form lying there, breathing deeply. She was asleep. Kristina was overjoyed. It had been too long since she was able to lay in bed with her mother. She softly crawled up on the bed and scooted ever so quietly to her mother. There was a soft light from the curtains peeking through the dark room. Once her eyes adjusted, she saw her mother. Alexis told Kristina that her hair was gone, but Kristina didn't realize that she would have a bandana on her head. It wasn't actually a bandana, but Kristina didn't know what it was called, so she stuck with bandana. Kristina shrugged her shoulders and crawled under the covers and up against her mother's warm body. In sleep, Alexis unconsciously wrapped an arm around her baby and breathed in with the smallest smile. Kristina looked up at her mother's face. She was skinny. She was pale from what she could see, but she was still the same beautiful mommy that Kristina was used to.
Looking up at her mother, Kristina grew worried that she would sleep the entire visit, so she moved and touched Alexis to try and wake her gently. She wanted to get caught.
Alexis' eyes fluttered open, then shut. She had felt the other presence in the room immediately, but it didn't register with her that the presence shouldn't be here … until she opened her eyes again and saw two deep brown eyes looking back up at her. A huge smile formed immediately when she saw her daughter's face light up.
"My angel," Alexis whispered and pulled Kristina to her. They lay together in silence for the longest time, Alexis stroking her daughters' hair, Kristina holding her mother's free hand, running her fingers through her mothers'.
After a few moments, Kristina scooted back to look up at her mother.
"Are you awake?"
"Yes baby." Alexis looked down to her beauty. "You broke the rules." She smiled.
Kristina looked away shyly, then back to Alexis. "The rules were stupid."
Alexis leaned to kiss Kristina's forehead. "I see that now. I feel much better with you here."
"Are you very sick?"
"I was. I'm getting better every day."
"I love you, Mommy."
"I love you more, baby … "
Kristina grinned up to Alexis and settled in closer, smelling the scent that was her mother. They lay there for hours, talking about everything, school, the boys, Molly, Daddy, Jason, Carly, Sam, the cancer, then Kristina asked the question.
"Where's Daddy Ric?"
Alexis pulled Kristina once more to her, hiding her own face from her daughter. What was she supposed to say? She couldn't say that he was dead. Kristina knew that Ric would never have just up and left her and Molly. Alexis started to panic, her heart beating faster. Kristina, of course, sensed it and could also feel her mother's heart start racing, so she leaned back once more.
"Never mind Momma, I don't care."
Alexis looked at her confused, "You don't care?"
"He hurt you."
"How did you … "
"Well, we went to Daddy's that night, you came home from the hospital with Daddy Ric, then the next day, you were back in the hospital and he was gone. I bet he hurt you."
Alexis' heart sank, "Krissy, you don't need to think about that okay, everything's okay now … "
"No it's not," Kristina interrupted.
"It's not?"
"I want to see you. Every day. I want to come in here and lay with you every day until I can help you walk out."
Alexis tried to hold back the tears that were forming. Her little girl was already so strong, smart, independent, and already very, very assertive and 'to the point' of letting people know what she wanted.
"Deal."
"Deal?!" Kristina's face lit up.
"Yeah. You make me feel better."
"Well I coulda told you that I would've done that!"
Alexis smiled down to her then grew serious. "It doesn't frighten you to see me like this?"
Kristina was five. She liked that her mother used bigger words with her … 'frighten scare' … "No, Mommy. It scares me to not see you."
Alexis nodded and pulled Kristina to her for the last time. They lay like that for another hour, both falling in and out of very restful little naps.
Sonny came home with the boys hyped up on candy, popcorn, and coke from the movie and smiled inside, knowing all to well that it was Carly and Jax's night to take them. The boys ran immediately to their room to play and Sonny walked into the living room greeted by none other than Molly.
"Tunny!!" She yelled in her perfect baby voice.
"Molly!!" Sonny sang back to her. He scooped her up in his arms and flew her around the room, delighting in the squeals of her laughter. Viola smiled at the two in front of her and looked to the door. She had seen the boys run through, but no Kristina.
"Where's Krissy?"
Sonny stopped … Molly in mid air in front of him and he looked quickly to Viola.
"What?"
"Where's Kristina?"
He handed Molly to Viola and loomed over her, "She's not with you?"
Viola started to panic, "No, Sonny, she told me she was going to the movies with you guys."
Sonny freaked, making a beeline for Max, "Max! Have you seen Krissy?"
"No boss … " Max looked to Milo who shook his head. Sonny mind was racing … he remember so easily the scream of Brooklyn from the upstairs room where Kristina was kidnapped. Sonny looked around the room, gathered his thoughts quickly, and finally realized what had happened. He breathed a sigh of relief, but still ran up the stairs.
"Vi, bring Molly to Alexis' room," he ordered.
Viola quickly assessed the situation and understood, collecting up some of Molly's stuffed animals and hiking them up the stairs with the giddy little girl.
Sonny stood outside the door, listening in on his girls' conversation.
"Yah, I'm having fun living here. Michael's a great big brother. He's showing me how to tie ropes now."
"Oh, ropes … okay." Alexis was sitting up now, with Kristina right by her side.
"We only do that in the tree house though, Morgan and Molly can't come in there, so it's just me and him."
"Oh … "
"Uncle Jax came up there once … he's silly."
"Yes he is. What about Daddy?"
"No, he hasn't come up there yet, he's been in here."
"Oh, that's right." Alexis grew sad, "I'm sorry that I'm keeping Daddy so busy."
"It's okay Momma, I would rather be in here than in the tree house, but don't tell Michael that."
"Okay." Alexis kissed her forehead and wondered whether or not to tell her, decided to anyway, "Has your Daddy said anything about me lately to you?"
"He says you're getting better."
"I am, but did he tell you that we're together now?"
Kristina looked up to her mother confused. "Together? Like … dating?!" she smiled.
"Well I guess so - we can't really go out on dates yet."
"But you're kissing and stuff."
Alexis laughed. "Is that okay?"
"It's kind-a gross." Kristina made a face.
"No it's not!!" Sonny opened the door, letting in the light from the hallway, both girls squinting, smiling at him. Alexis looked to him, then back to Kristina.
"Well," she joked, smiling up at Sonny, "it's not that gross."
That made Kristina giggle her giggle that they loved to hear. Sonny pretended to be hurt. He stuck out his bottom lip and pouted. Kristina continued to giggle at her Daddy.
"Ooooh, Daddy, she was just pickin'!!"
Sonny smiled and wobbled over to Kristina, tickling her belly until she had had enough. He sat on the bed with Kristina in between them and looked to Alexis. Now this is what he'd always wanted. Alexis thought the same thing and smiled back. Viola knocked softly on the door with Molly on her hip and stuffed animals draped around them.
"Care for another visitor or two?"
Alexis' face lit up as she opened her mouth and held her hands out to her growing baby girl.
"Mama!!" Molly cried out and smiled the biggest smile Alexis had ever seen on her baby. Viola placed the very enthused toddler on Alexis' lap gently. Alexis attacked Molly's face with a thousand kisses before Molly grabbed the 'bandana' on her head and pulled it off, sending it flying to the floor. Alexis grew serious, suddenly worried about Kristina's reaction. She looked to her daughter, who immediately knew that her mother was uncomfortable.
Kristina wasn't scared. She wasn't 'grossed out' as Michael would say. She sat up on her knees and placed a hand on top of her mother's head, rubbing it gently. She looked to Molly.
"Look Molly, Mommy's head is so cool!"
Molly smiled at her big sister and placed her hand on top of Mommy's head just like Kristina. Alexis held back the tears by shutting her eyes and smiled. Sonny took in the moment. He breathed in deep and settled against his girls. This was another good day.
--
"Where are you going?" Alexis asked, waking up to see Sonny pulling on his black pants over his boxers.
"I have a meeting," he said, smiling down on her.
"Oh. What time is it?"
"Almost four."
The girls had spent the previous night with Alexis in the room, so Sonny felt left out, staying up all night so he could sleep the next day with her. He actually regretted not sleeping because he and Alexis did everything but sleep.
"I was wondering when you'd come see me," Alexis said, situating herself up on the bed as he walked in, both smiling at the other.
--
"Am I late for our rendezvous?"
She laughed. He loved that laugh. He took off his pants and shirt and crawled in next to her, immediately wrapping his body against hers.
"You feel so safe," she whispered, kissing his neck up to his earlobe. She felt horrible every time they lay together. She didn't want to tease him, but him here with her, no shirt, no pants, only his boxers and her silk nightgown between them … she just couldn't help herself. She remembered their first night together. They had been best friends. There was such love there already and she was afraid that it had been ruined forever after that night. These days … her in this bed … him taking care of her every need … well, every need except one for now … this showed her that their friendship … their love … had never ended. It had just been put on hold as they both fought the world alone. Five years they were apart from each other. Without Kristina, she wondered if she would have remembered how much time had passed. She would have. Everyone, including Sam, had yelled, accused, fought with her about her love for Sonny. They always threw him up in her face when she came across him or one of his associates in court. They said that she was only trying to get his attention … she was trying to get him to 'notice her'. They were wrong. Then, she felt nothing but hatred for Sonny. He was a horrible man with no feeling left in his heart and he agreed on that matter. He agreed that when they were apart, he was bitter … he was unhappy. But now … he knew he had it all.
After making out like teenagers for the longest time, he pulled back, "You sleepy?"
"A little," she replied sadly.
"Here … " he situated himself to where she was laying her head on his chest.
"I … "
"Alexis, don't." He knew that she would try to apologize for getting him all 'worked up'.
"I just … "
"It's okay, baby. This is all I need."
She tilted her head so her eyes met his, "You're sure. I mean … I can't … you know, but … "
"Alexis … I told you baby. This … this right here. You with me. This is all I need."
She smiled up to him and kissed his chest. She propped her chin up and smiled, "You're so good to me."
"And when you're better, I'll expect payment in full for being 'so good to you'." he smiled, dimples and all.
"Oh, payment."
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do, and I'll drive you crazy, Sonny Corinthos."
"I can't wait," his hand running down her face, stopping to outline her lips with his fingers, "Alexis Davis-Corinthos."
She smiled. It lit his heart that she didn't correct him. He lay there, she now settled against him. He was tired, so was she. He held her close as they both drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
--
"When will you be back?"
"After the meeting."
Alexis smiled, "Funny."
"I'm sorry. I'm not sure how long it'll last."
Alexis sat up. Her strength was finally returning thankfully. She finally felt comfortable with nothing covering her head after yesterday with the girls and the glorious day with him.
"Be careful." She looked at him worried.
Sonny dropped his shirt that he was about to put on and crawled next to her on the bed, leaning in, but not kissing her yet.
"Soon, baby, you'll never have to tell me that again."
Alexis breathed in from witnessing him crawling to her with no shirt and getting so close. She loved this man so much. When his words finally sank in, she grew curious, but she wasn't going to waste him being this close … she leaned in and grazed his lips with hers, smiling up to him. He settled in closer and took her face in his hands, lowering the kiss. He remembered how she tasted that first night they were together. She was a revelation to him then and she had never stopped. She was gorgeous. On her worst day, she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Finally breaking the kiss before it got too heated, he looked back lustfully into her eyes.
He whispered, barely audible, "God, I want you so much."
Alexis' eyes fluttered open and brightened to his face. She smiled sadly, regretting the words that were about to come out.
"I'm sorry, Sonny."
Sonny was taken aback, "For what?"
"For this," her hands motioning to her body lying there in the bed. "for being sick. You … "
"Alexis! Baby, it's okay." Sonny kissed her one last time and took her hands in his, tears forming in his eyes, "Listen to me. I'm going to say this twice and only twice … " Alexis looked to him baffled by his emotion, "In sickness and in health." He looked at her seriously, "Got it?"
Alexis tucked her lips in to control her reaction and finally agreed, nodding, "Got it."
"I love you," he said and stopped her from returning the phrase, "No, Alexis … " he moved his hands to form her face, "I am so in love with you, it hurts."
Alexis couldn't stop the tear from falling down her right cheek, but he did. He wiped it away with his thumb, "It hurts me so much to see you like this. It hurts me to see the girls with you when you can't chase them around the room. I never got to see you and Kristina playing … I mean … playing when you were able to tickle her to the floor … carry her to bed … I wasn't able to see you fly Molly around the room in your arms. It hurts me to see you just lying here … and I know you're doing better. I know your strength is returning baby, but, I want it back now." He kissed the tear that fell down her left cheek softly and looked back into her eyes. "I don't ever want to hear you apologize for this again. This isn't your fault. What happened with Ric, isn't your fault. What happened with Sam and Ric, isn't your fault. Alexis, you aren't perfect … I know that. It's very hard for me to see you as normal, because I think you're perfect. It's hard for me to see you weak, because you're the strongest person I know. Even like this. Even sick in bed for months at a time, you have more strength than I'd ever dream of having. I love you and I lied."
Alexis caught her breath and questioned him, "You lied?"
Sonny smiled at her beautiful face, "I told you I'd say that only twice. I have to say it again now. I said it a minute ago, I'll say it at our wedding … which, by the way baby, is going to be the biggest, most extravagant wedding you've ever seen … and I have to say it now. I will love you in sickness and in health. For better or worse. More better than worse. I want so badly to make love to you Alexis, over and over again." They laughed together, "but I would give that up in a second. That's how I know this is real. I would just give it away … the opportunity to make love to you for the rest of our lives … I would give that up for the promise that you would live to spend the rest of our lives with me."
Alexis couldn't speak … but that only lasted for five seconds, "Sonny?"
"Yes, baby?" He smiled to her.
"Your vows … when you say them at our extravagant wedding," they laughed together once more, "they'll never compare to that." She brought her hands up to form around his handsome face and brought his lips to hers. Looking to him after, she said, "I love you so much … but, anything I say now will just sound ridiculous after that." They beamed at each other, dimples everywhere.
"You could say: 'Hey … let's send the first wedding invitation to Sam,'" said the person they were oblivious to, standing in the doorway.
There she stood … Alexis gasped, not smiling at all, Sonny wanting to burst into laughter … Sam … in the flesh … in the doorway … with decorations in her hands for the room to look like the Bahamas … a huge smile … those bright eyes … tan skin … and absolutely no hair on her head … Sam was completely bald.