A/N: I had a really hard time writing this chapter...so forgive me if its cheesy or it sucks! Thanks everyone for your feedback; it really helps to keep me going!
Jason had just laid Cameron down. He took out his vibrating phone. The light was blinking indicating two new messages. He covered the little boy with the blanket and walked out to the hallway. As he shut the door he dialed into his voice mail. The first one was from Carly.
"I don't know what the hell is going on...but you were right about Ric. Anyway call me, you know whenever you get back from your oh so secret trip. Just remember I loved you first"
He smiled as he hung up...Carly was the thorn in his side, but also his best friend and the person he knew he could always count on.
The next message came from an all to familiar voice whose tone still tugged at his heartstrings, "Jason this is Sam...um...listen you probably know this...but...Ric...he is on board a flight to Martinique...I guess that is where he thinks Sonny is...so yeah...um...I guess I will talk to you later" she said before he heard the click.
He couldn't help that part in the pit of his stomach that still hurt. He had never meant to cause Sam any pain...but he had and for that he was truly sorry...but he didn't feel regret...not for what happened between he and Sam, nor he and Elizabeth...it just seemed as if the stars were aligning for all of them.
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Across the threshold they stood simply staring at each other. Brown eye met blue both puddled with unshed tears. Sonny thought for a moment to interrupt but instead decided to let nature take its course.
Elizabeth finally spoke first, "hi" she said almost shyly.
This seemed to wake Alexis from her trance, "oh I'm sorry, come in" she said swinging the door wide.
Sonny took off the younger woman's coat as Alexis looked on...it was when she saw the baby bump that she she closed her eyes to keep the tears in.
"How was your trip" he asked taking the pressure off Alexis.
She smiled, "it was fine...we took a commercial flight in, but Cam slept the whole way..."
"Why did you take a commercial flight?" Alexis questioned.
Jason was almost down the stairs and decided to answer, "Ric seemed to be hot on the trail...so we had the jet fuel up...and Elizabeth and I took a commercial flight...Jax and Carly were decoys on the jet and it looks like Ric did stop them."
Sonny nodded rubbing his chin and Jason spoke again, "and Sam called...looks like he boarded a flight to Martinique"
Alexis winced at hearing the name. Sam...her daughter, not...she couldn't help the residual feelings she harbored for the girl. She had wondered aloud with Sonny that maybe biology or lack thereof was the reason her and Sam never were able to bond as mother and daughter...simply because they were not meant to...as much as it may have been true it didn't take away from the fact that Alexis had grown to love the girl and worry about how she was doing. As she looked at her real daughter she hope things would go different this time around.
As she looked at Liz she once again gazed at the small baby bump protruding from her tiny frame. She thought of her mother...the person her daughter got her eyes and her stature from...she wondered why she didn't notice it before.
"Are you tired? Did you want to go rest?" she asked softly.
Elizabeth smiled at her the butterflies in her stomach still fluttering about as she looked at Alexis, "I slept on the plane...but actually, if it's not too much trouble...I'm kinda hungry"
This seemed to ease some of the tension as Alexis turned to Sonny, "well I guess that is your calling"
Sonny and Jason both turned to Liz, "Alexis can't cook" they said in unison.
She laughed, "nothing at all" Liz asked.
Alexis waved her hand at the men smiling, "like I have said before if I ever choose to try my hand at cooking...I am sure I will be wonderful at it, but for now"
"She sticks to microwave popcorn" Sonny finished smiling.
Liz smiled, "Don't worry...I can make a mean batch of brownies...but that is the extent"
As they sat down in the kitchen things started to feel normal...almost
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"Lansing is chasing his own tail running down to Martinique...I am sure Corinthos isn't down there...too easy. But I'm not worried about him"
Skye had come downstairs with Lila Rae for a bottle when she heard Lorenzo on the phone. She wasn't planning on listening but something made her. And for a second when Lorenzo paused she thought that was was going to finish the statement with something good...maybe staying out of things in order to protect her daughter. Instead she got chills listening to Lorenzo speak.
"Morgan is the reason my son is dead...now he will know what its like to have something precious taken from him"
Skye bit her lip never expecting the next words.
"Well it looks like Morgan is going to be a father in a couple of months...Nurse Webber is with child...yes I agree it is a very interesting turn of events"
It was at that moment Skye felt sick...Lorenzo had a sordid history with pregnant women and his enemies.
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Sam woke up to a beeping cell phone, "hello" she answered groggily.
"Sleepy Beauty lives...now the question is...is she hungry" came the gruff voice over the phone.
She smiled wide, "wanna share your donuts with me"
"As long as you don't take the sprinkled one...that's mine" he said chuckling.
"Deal...meet you downstairs in ten minutes"
She got ready fast doing just the essentials. She was about to walk out the door when she saw a reflection of herself...then turned around to put some mascara and lip gloss on for good measure. As she touched down the bottom of the stairs she saw Cruz at the corner booth a mug of coffee already. She wasn't expecting to see him in the faded blue jeans and soft charcoal sweater.
"Left your uniform at home?" she asked pulling up a seat.
His eyes crinkled as he grinned, "it's my day off"
"I feel so special you spending your day with me"
Cruz shook his head, "I'm the one who should feel special"
To that Sam cast her eyes downward...and he spoke again, "so why don't you start out by telling me what happened to make you so sad"
Sam almost laughed if it wasn't so ironic and she looked up with tears still in her eyes, "how much time do you got" she said almost expecting him to be scared off.
Instead he leveled a gaze at her, "as much time as you need"
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Sonny busied himself chopping ingredients for omelets as Jason disappeared off in the shadows. He silently watch the two women at the coffee table...watched how easy they seem to fall into comfortable conversations.
"And then he tells me that he maybe swallowed something he shouldn't have...turns out he swallowed all the monopoly pieces so that his brothers wouldn't play without him"
Sonny smiled as Alexis laughed during the story. It was nice to see her laugh, but he noticed Jason from the corner of his eye beckoning him. As he walked over to the younger man Jason relayed information.
"Ric's plane landed in Martinique...looks like he checked into the hotel...word is he is asking a lot of questions and throwing money around...I told Miguel to keep an eye on him; make sure everyone knows what to say"
Sonny repeated the story, "Mr. Corinthos landed alone, and is conducting business on the island"
Jason nodded but both knew they were on borrowed time.
Liz watched as Alexis told her a Zander story...it was nice to have someone to share stories about him with...and the truth was Alexis could have been talking about nothing, but it would have been enough. She tried to see everything she hadn't noticed before...and that was when she spotted it...the thing she had always credited for Cameron getting from Zander...they were from her. Two sparking toffee colored orbs that sparkled...her son had received those eyes from his grandmother. Speaking of son in the middle of a story she heard two little voices.
"Mommy did you know there is another kid here" Kristina asked holding a bashful Cameron's hand.
Both women's heads whipped around, "Cammy, I didn't know you were awake...come here" Liz said as her son ran into her arms, "this is mommy's...friend...Alexis"
"Nice to meet you Cam" she said looking intently at the boy.
"Hi!" he said with the smile that made her heart swell.
Kristina had made her way over to her mom crawling onto her lap and tucking her head under her mother's chin.
"Kristina is my early bird...she gets that from her daddy" Alexis said smiling.
Liz smiled, "well Cam must get that from Zander...cause I am definitely not a morning person"
Alexis smiled looking at two of her daughters, "Kristina, you remember Elizabeth right"
Kristina nodded, "hi" she said bestowing a smile on her.
"Hi Kristina...this is Cameron"
The kids got acquainted for a moment until Sonny came to the table with plates.
"Oh, I see I got two more...do you want omelets, or do you want me to make you some pancakes?"
In unison they cried out pancakes as he took them to go help. They watched as Kristina taught Cameron how to stir the batter. Liz just looked at her little sister...she was not just adorable; there was a beautiful spirit that radiated from her.
"She is an amazing little girl" came from Liz.
Alexis nodded, "I want to tell her about you...but I don't want to confuse her right now...she thinks Sam is..."
Liz could tell the subject was sore and without noticing she place a calming hand on Alexis', "don't worry about doing anything right now but getting better...we will tell the kids when the time is right"
As they both sat silent that is what they wished for...time...time to get to know each other, time for things to work themselves out...but would time run out?
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Ric spent the first couple of hours running into brick walls...and sometimes men who looked like brick walls. He was steadily tiring of the Island...he just wanted to find his daughter and leave.
He was questioning another group of people who kept feigning ignorance, "Corinthos, Sonny Corinthos"
Even when he pulled out a wad of money they still shook their heads except a light haired boy, "you looking for Sonny Corinthos?" he asked in accented english.
Ric rolled his eyes, "yeah"
"That wad of cash for helpful information?"
"Useful information" he answered snidely.
The boy nodded and looked around, "well you are looking in the wrong spot...Corinthos hasn't been to the island in months"
Now he was interested, "are you sure?"
"Yeah, everyone knows when Mr. Corinthos is in town...and it isn't now"
Ric felt the vein in his head willing itself to burst as he threw the money into the kids hands, "thanks kid" he said before he ran off.
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Elizabeth had gone for a nap after breakfast but as the sunlight broke through the window she crawled out of bed and walked downstairs. She heard voices and crept down to look.
"You are such a cheater" Alexis said as Sonny showed her his hand.
He smiled, dimples ablaze, "prove it"
"Ugh" Alexis answered before throwing the cards at him.
Liz watched them...she didn't know this about them...the way their eyes lit up around each other...and the comfort level...it reminded her of something familiar...it reminded her of the way she felt around Jason. For a moment she thought to leave them but Sonny caught her before she could sneak back.
"How was your nap"
Liz smiled and finished her trek down the stairs, "it was fine...although I feel stiff"
Alexis spoke next, "Jason took the kids to the lake...would you like to take a walk?"
The butterflies started up again and Liz just nodded her head...a couple minutes later they were on the way through the corn fields in back both silent.
"I know you said you don't have any questions...but there are certain things I want to say; so I am just going to say them" she said.
Liz just nodded and she continued, "I didn't want to give you up...it may have been the decision that has haunted me all my life...but I was 16 and pregnant, and my uncle...well father I found out later told me that was the best decision...so I did...I remember the night after they took you I wanted to tell him that I changed my mind...that I loved you...and I...but he told me he was proud of me, and I..."
At this point both women had tears in their eyes, "shhh, don't...I know...you gave me an amazing life...please Alexis...don't ever doubt that you made a decision that was necessary...for the both of us...I don't hate you for it...I understand" Liz said turning to her.
Alexis looked at her daughter, "thank you"
Liz couldn't hold back as she hugged the woman who gave her life, "no thank you...thank you for trying to give me the best life possible"
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Jason never expected the phone call he received but when he heard Skye Quartermaine's voice on the other end...he knew it was important. Immediately he wrapped up the kid's trip to the lake and practically flew back to the house.
When they walked in Alexis and Liz sat on the couch quietly talking.
"Where is Sonny?" he asked breathless.
Alexis eyed him worried, "in the kitchen making lunch"
"We all need to talk" he said.
To that she nodded her head, "well guys how was the trip to the lake" she asked the kids.
"How about we all go lay down for a little bit before lunch" she said ushering them upstairs.
Liz caught on, "come on Cam, how about a nap she said grabbing Molly from her mother's arms"
Sonny came in to see Jason's eyes lit as he told him the problem Sonny felt his stomach drop to the floor. When the two came back downstairs he turned to them.
"We have a problem"
Alexis groaned, "another one"
He nodded, "Alcazar knows that Elizabeth is pregnant with my child...and it sounds like he may be planning something."
As Alexis looked from the two men to her daughter she knew one thing...she wouldn't let anything happen to her girls...not from Ric and certainly not at the hands of another Alcazar.
