Alexis strode down the hall of the courthouse confidently but fully aware of the ring on her left hand. Is it obvious? Maybe if I throw my coat over my arm it will hide it and no one will notice. Wait, it's warm out. I don't have a coat! Taking a deep breath she saw Ric's office straight ahead. He was meeting with Mac Scorpio at the PCPD and offered it to her as a quite place to prepare for an upcoming arraignment. She had to admit that being Mrs. "DA" Lansing had its benefits but she was apprehensive because this was her first venture out in public as Ric's wife. His wife. It sounded so strange. Alexis had been many things to him during the course of their relationship from adversary to colleague to confidant, friend and lover, but "wife" sounded so official and had a connotation of ownership that contradicted the strong, independent woman that she prided herself in being.
But there was an upside to all of this. She'd never felt so invigorated as she did when she woke up that morning in Ric's arms. He was sound asleep but she could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest and hear the reassuring rhythmic beat of his heart. Careful not to wake him, she slowly shifted her position so that she could steal a glance. His mouth was slightly open, expelling a warm wispy breath that tickled her forehead. She admired his slender nose and angular cheekbones and smiled at the tiny mole on his right cheek – his very own beauty mark! His long dark eyelashes fluttered, revealing to her that he was dreaming and she wondered if that particular dream included her. She'd always feared dreams as a child, as they would morph off into nightmares of her mother's murder and she would wake up crying. She imagined that Ric had had his share of torrid dreams as well. Now, watching him sleep, she could tell that his dream was peaceful and she found solace in that.
Alexis realized that she had stopped walking and was standing in the middle of the courthouse hallway staring off into space. Oh god. I'm really in love! Does it show? She looked over her shoulder and put her hand to her cheek to see if it was warm and then yanked it away quickly. Yes. Definitely flushed. She realized that her heart was racing and she could feel her pulse pounding in her temples. Office. Get to the office. She resumed her gait and was just about to turn the corner when she heard someone call her name. Closing her eyes, Alexis composed herself and spun around on her heels with a bright smile.
"Felicia! Hello!"
"How are you?" her friend asked flashing a perfect "cheerleader" smile. "I haven't seen you in ages! Have you been hiding out?"
"Alexis laughed nervously. "No. No I've just been spending some quality time with Kristina." The hand. You've got to hide the hand! She casually curled her left hand up into a fist and placed it squarely on her hip, ringside down.
"I see that you were heading to DA Lansing's office. I was trying to find him to discuss a pending case. Is he in there?"
"Ironically, Ric is actually meeting with Mac this morning."
"He is?" Felicia asked puzzled. "Funny, Mac never mentioned that they were meeting and he knew I wanted to talk to him." She took notice of Alexis's increasingly "skitsy" behavior and couldn't resist the urge to pry. "It seems as though you keep tabs on the DA, knowing his schedule and all."
Without realizing it, Alexis raised her left hand to brush back her bangs and froze. Why do I have to be left-handed? Felicia's deft eyes darted to the sparking diamond ring on her finger and her mouth dropped open, then slowly transformed into a curious grin.
"Alexis Davis, is that what I think it is?"
Alexis immediately brought her hand down, glancing at it nervously and shifted her weight from one foot to another. "It- it is a ring," she confirmed vaguely.
"A wedding ring?" Felicia coaxed.
She rolled her eyes in concession. "Yes, a wedding ring!"
"I didn't know that you were seeing - who's the lucky groom?"
Alexis smiled sheepishly and glanced at the nameplate on the door.
"You married Ric Lansing?"
Biting her lower lip, Alexis shrugged and nodded.
Felicia was floored. "I knew that you had been spending a lot of time with Ric but I assumed that it was business, with Skye Chandler's case and all. I see now that the rounds in the courtroom were actually a courtship for you two."
"Cute play on words," Alexis smiled weakly. "It kind of sneaked up on us. You see, I'm neurotic, he's impulsive, you put the two together and somehow it led to matrimony. Who'd have guessed it, right?"
"Alexis, you're blushing just like a new bride! What does Ned think about this?"
"He doesn't know yet Felicia and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention it to him. I need to tell him myself and it may not be pretty."
Felicia winced as she recalled the runaway bride escapade and reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll keep mum. But you have to tell me, was it a romantic wedding?"
Alexis chuckled as she though about their somewhat humorous ceremony in front of Judge Griffin and a sentimental smile graced her lips.
"I Richard Lansing, take you, Alexis Davis, to be my partner and legal wife. I promise to be there for you at the end of the day when your clients exhaust you ... I promise never to try and change you or control you in any way and to encourage the wonderful, emancipated individual that you are…I promise you more nights by the fire and sailboat rides on the ocean and dancing until you drop. Above all, I promise you honesty and to work together to build a secure and loving home for Kristina. I'll be your escape, your safe haven as long as I live."
"Yes, Felicia. It was very romantic and Kristina just adores him."
"And you?" Felicia gently prodded "Do you love him? I mean, do you really love him?"
She flashed back to Ric's face lighting up at her sudden revelation:
"Alexis, did you just say that you love me?"
Smiling warmly, she answered sincerely, "Yes. I really do."
Felicia reached out and hugged her friend and whispered in her ear "Chloe would be so happy for you."
Alexis's heart ached at the mention of her late friend. She had never been the same after Chloe's death and felt the need to apologize to Felicia for the subsequent distance that had come between them. She broke the hug and placed a firm her hand on her arm as she attempted to explain.
"Felicia, I haven't been the best friend -"
"We've both been so wrapped up in our lives that we've drifted apart. Now that things have settled down - as much as they can – with the girls, I'd like to make a better effort to get together more often. Maybe for ice cream at Kelly's"
"Perfect!" Alexis laughed and raised her fingers in quotation, "I'm an "old married woman" now, so what are a few extra pounds?"
"You'd better not let Ric hear you say that!"
"Say what?" he inquisitively asked, walking up behind them. "Hello Felicia."
"Ric," she acknowledged. "Alexis just told me the happy news. Congratulations!"
He tried to mask his shock and profound pleasure at Alexis's disclosure as he casually put his arm around his wife. "Thank you," he replied. "She's made me believe in second chances."
Felicia could hear an unfamiliar (to her) tenderness in his voice and suddenly wanted to be invisible. "I came to discuss the Pennington case but it can wait. I see that you two would rather be alone," Felicia observed. "Alexis, I'll call you."
"Great. I'll look forward to it. Fudge Ripple?"
"For starters!" Felicia answered lightheartedly as she walked down the hall.
"Fudge Ripple?" Ric asked.
"It's a girl thing."
"Oh," he nodded. "I don't supposed that I get to know about that stuff."
"Nope!"
"Is this where the two of you gorge yourself on pints of ice cream and talk about me behind my back?" he asked, squiring her into his office.
"Maybe," she smirked. "And it's half gallons, not pints."
Ric's eyes grew huge. "In that case I think that we're going to need an exercise bike," he teased. "Or a treadmill…or both!"
Alexis playfully punched his arm and he winced. "On second thought, maybe I'll just get you some boxing gloves and a punching bag and you can beat the hell out of it."
"Promise?" she challenged.
"Better it than me!" he declared as he dropped his brief case on the desk and pulled her into a romantic kiss.
Ric's assistant Connie came into the office and they were oblivious to the staccato clicking of her heels. She was focused on the Palm Pilot in her hand and rambling nonstop. "I've got your schedule for this week updated and downloaded. You'll see that I've cancelled lunch with the mayor and scheduled a meeting with – Oh! I am so sorry!" she cried as she looked up and saw them kissing.
They pulled apart and Ric licked his lips. "That's OK Connie, really. You know Alexis?"
"Yes. Good morning Ms. Davis."
"Good morning," Alexis echoed a bit flustered.
Connie reached out and handed Ric the Palm Pilot. "Like I said, your updated schedule is in there."
"Thank you," he said, taking if from her. "Could you print out a copy for Alexis? And please hold my calls for the next half-hour, oh and I have a new home phone number, which Alexis can be reached at as well. I'll e-mail that to you along with her cell phone number. You'll need to keep that on file in case of an emergency."
Connie nodded systematically with each request then stopped short. "Excuse me Mr. Lansing, but did you just say that Ms. Davis can be reached at your home phone number?"
"Yes. Connie, Alexis and I were recently married."
The room went silent and she looked at them, speechless. When the shock wore off she offered respectfully, "Um, congratulations…to both of you."
"Thank you Connie," Alexis replied noting her astonishment.
"Shall I arrange a formal announcement? The press is will eat this up!"
"No," Ric shook his head and thrust his hands in his pockets. "They'll find out in due time but right now we're keeping it low key."
"Very well," she said and curtly acknowledged Alexis, "Mrs. Lansing," and walked out shutting the door behind her.
Ric immediately looked down at his watch. "You might want to scurry to the court room and do your prep work there instead. In approximately four minutes and 30 seconds, the entire courthouse will know that we're married."
"What?" she cried.
"The administrative network," he admonished her. "Two minutes to get back to the desk, two minutes to type and OK, well – maybe not thirty – more like two seconds to hit "send."
"You have got to be kidding," she deadpanned.
"No. I think that Connie may have broken a land speed record when I asked her to make the dinner reservations the day I took you to The Cellar and, if I'm not mistaken, she sacrificed a nail by typing so fast."
Alexis was mortified. She put on her glasses and grabbed her briefcase and began to rush out the door when she paused and threw a confirming glance over her shoulder. "Four minutes?"
Ric looked at his watch. "Well, three now, but who's counting? Go!"
She flew out the door as he watched her laughing heartily and then sighed and shook his head as the lines on his phone began to light up. It was going to be a long day.
The Corinthos clan was seated around a table at Kelly's, Michael devouring an ice cream sundae and Morgan sleeping peacefully in his stroller. Sonny watched his youngest son's slumber and smiled. She'd be nearly a year older. He imagined Kristina and Morgan growing up together. He could see them going to school, him mercilessly teasing her on the playground and then following her around until she was old enough to put her foot down; and she would put her foot down. She had the best of both Cassadine and Corinthos including her mother's intelligence and stubborn streak and his fight and determination. The combination would be lethal for anyone who dared cross Kristina. Unlike some of the frail ones surrounding her, his daughter would be strong, confident and self-assured. The chirp of his cell phone soon interrupted the idealistic daydream and he shot Carly a familiar "I have to get this" look and walked outside.
"Yeah?"
"Sonny?" Jason's voice sounded faint through the poor connection.
"What…Where are you?"
"Just walking out of the hospital," he answered and as he cleared the sliding doors the phone echo was gone. "I did some checking. The lab tech that ran the paternity tests is no longer here. He left about three months ago and left no forwarding address. In fact, his last paycheck was returned."
"That's strange," Sonny said as he paced around Kelly's courtyard.
"Not really," Jason continued. "I managed to get a hold of an orderly who saw him shortly before he resigned. I'll give you one guess on who the tech was talking to."
"Ric."
"Bingo!"
"He probably got the information he wanted and paid him to disappear," Sonny concluded. "If I didn't hate him so much, I'd like his style."
Jason continued. "I have no idea where the guy is but I'll put a trace on him. I doubt that he's smart enough to know how to disappear."
"Find him," Sonny ordered and clicked the phone shut as his face broke into a mollified, dimpled smile. "Gotcha little brother!"
Ric took another file off the stack that Connie plopped down in front of him and glanced at the clock on the wall. How long was that arraignment? He could see Alexis, glasses perched on her nose just far enough down to see those intense, beautiful eyes as she passionately argued on her client's behalf. He recalled the first time he met her in court and how taken he was with her insecure confidence. It was an oxymoron, but Alexis had proven to be a bundle of contradictions, each one more intriguing than the last. Well, perhaps the last one, her self imposed celibacy, was more challenging than the rest but he intended to ride it out. After all, she confessed that she loved him and where there is love…"
His cell phone rang interrupting his thoughts and he swiftly pulled it out. "Lansing."
"You lied to me!" a familiar but panicked voice accused him.
"What?"
"You said that if I left town that no one would bother me again. You were wrong DA Lansing. Sonny Corinthos's men were at the hospital asking questions!"
"Whoa!" Ric said as he got up from behind his desk and continued to talk, his hand nervously rubbing his forehead. "Exactly who was at the hospital?"
"Jason Morgan."
Ric sighed. His caller was right. Jason's sniffing around clearly meant that Sonny was onto something.
"Look, I'll wire you another ten thousand and arrange for your passport. Then you can safely leave the country. You'll need to travel under an alias and whatever you do, do not use a credit card. Use cash for everything." There was no response on the other end but Ric knew that he was still on the phone; he could hear him breathing. "Hello?"
"Ten thousand won't cut it," the voice nervously wavered. "This information is so hot that I'm sure that Mr. Corinthos would pay more - a lot more."
Ric's heart began to race. How could this be happening? Was a lab technician actually blackmailing him?
"You do realize that extortion is a crime? So is falsifying hospital records."
The voice on the other end was silent again and then he began to chuckle. "You were pretty desperate to get that information and to pay me leave Port Charles ASAP. I don't think that legality has anything to do with this. No, this must be personal. Just what would happen if Mr. Corinthos learns that he is that little girl's father?"
He swallowed hard and he began to perspire. It would be Alexis's worst nightmare and, by being careless, Ric felt that he had put the wheels in motion. Who was he kidding? It wasn't carelessness; it was vengefulness. He wanted to use that information as leverage against his brother as part of the reprehensible vendetta that was so all consuming to him at the time. He didn't know Alexis then. She was an insignificant means to an end and Ric eagerly seized the opportunity to take advantage. It was a long time before she'd led him to the path of redemption but being coerced by this plebe as a consequence to his past made Ric angry and ready to spar. He thought of Alexis sleeping securely in his arms and Kristina giggling as he pushed her on the glider and reluctantly reneged.
"I'll give you twenty five thousand to maintain your silence and enjoy your life from hereon out."
"Fifty," the tech demanded. "And I'm being generous. I'm sure that's a drop in the bucket for Sonny Corinthos."
Ric paused but knew that he had no choice, "Fifty it is. I'll need a little time to make the transfer of funds. Where do I wire it to?"
"Las Vegas," he answered and gave Ric an address, most likely that of a cheesy hotel on the strip. No wonder he needed the money. He'd probably lost it all at the tables.
Ric wrote it down and returned the phone to his breast pocket. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his dress shirt and looked down, angry and ashamed. Alexis was aware that he had known about Kristina's paternity long before their trip to Martha's Vineyard, but she'd never asked nor had he told her just how he knew. The pride and joy he felt as he walked into the courthouse that morning as Alexis Davis's husband was now extinguished and smoldering by regret and guilt. He needed to go somewhere where he could cleanse himself from the self-disgust that bathed him. Picking up the phone, Ric punched in Connie's extension.
"I have an urgent matter that needs my personal attention so I'll be out the rest of the day. If my wife asks, tell her I'll see her at home."
Alexis snapped her briefcase shut, picked it up and was about to leave the courtroom when the court reporter walked by and timidly smiled. "Congratulations!"
Alexis looked at her perplexed. He was serious! The walk from the courtroom to Ric's office was saturated with curious stares and a few stray well wishes and Alexis wanted to sink to the floor and slither undetected the rest of the way. She'd gotten some unwanted attention after her trial and the whole DID fiasco, but this was different. She felt like a tabloid queen but not a tongue-and-cheek one like "Eddie's Angel". These reactions ranged everywhere from sincere to skeptical and a variety of combinations in between. So much for blissful anonymity, she knew that she'd just have to grit her teeth endure it until the interest died down. At the very least she planned to protect Kristina from any gossipmongers and she had no doubt in her mind that Ric would too. Seeing his office ahead, she quickened her pace but just as she was about to enter her phone rang.
"Alexis?"
"Hi! I was just dodging the courthouse paparazzi on the way to your office."
Ric smiled, clinging to the phone on the other end. "I told you so. How did the arraignment go?"
"I wasn't able to convince Judge Connelly not to go to trial but I bought a little more more time for my client."
"50/50, huh?"
"Right!" she chuckled lightly. "Where are you? I thought that we might grab a late lunch before my two o'clock."
" I can't," Ric replied trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. "Something came up and I've got to take care of it."
"OK," she sighed, "I guess I'll see you tonight then."
"Yes," he agreed a little too passively. "Alexis?"
"Yes?"
"Try to get home early."
She clicked her phone shut and tapped her chin with its cool metallic edge before slipping it back into her purse. Maybe she was being paranoid but Ric didn't sound like himself. Checking her watch, Alexis realized that she didn't have time to contemplate much right now; there was just enough time for a quick bite before her next appointment.
Ric keyed into the front door quietly, careful not to alarm Viola. By now his tie was completely off and hanging freely about his neck. He noticed the mail stacked neatly on the hall table and it brought a faint smile. How quickly household routines set in! He passed on reviewing it now and made a note to shuffle through it later and casually flung his suit coat over the back of the couch.
"Viola?" he called and heard no response. Clearing his throat he called again, this time louder. "Viola?"
"Mr. Lansing?" her voice answered from the kitchen. "What on earth are you doing home? You're not ill are you?"
Ric smiled at her concern. This would take some getting used to. The last time anyone asked him that was Sarah after a day of tobogganing with Josh and his sister. He was nine years old and they'd disobeyed her and went to the steep sledding hill that the "big kids" used. Flying down it, they careened off course and tumbled into a snow bank with Ric taking the brunt of the fall. He was covered with snow and by the time they got home his "snow suit" had melted and Ric was soaked to the skin, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. Sarah had a thermometer in his mouth and him cocooned inside a wool blanket before Ric could explain. He didn't have to. The stern look on her face told him that she knew but Sarah never raised her voice.
"No," he answered Viola quietly. "I'm fine. I just need to take care of some things around here this afternoon. In fact, it's a beautiful day, why don't you take the rest of it off?"
She emerged from the kitchen wiping her hands on a tea towel. "Are you sure? You and Alexis have given me a lot of time off recently. Not that I mind, but I feel guilty. I want to earn my salary."
"You've earned it and then some," he assured her. "Alexis has told me how invaluable you have been to her and now I can see what she meant. I promise, we'll work you double time come fall so why don't you take advantage of the waning days of summer?"
She mulled it over and grinned. "Well, if you insist."
"I most definitely insist. Where is Kristina?"
"Taking a nap. She went down early today. I think that she's still excited about the new house so I don't expect her to sleep much longer."
"Don't worry, I'll listen for her."
Viola quickly gathered her belongings and thanked Ric again before rushing out the door, cell phone to ear, calling her friends to tell them that she had yet another day of unexpected furlough.
Finally alone, Ric ventured to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and then climbed the stairs to "his" bedroom to trade his suit for a pair of faded Levi's and an old T- shirt. He was about to go downstairs when he noticed his guitar case peeking out behind several boxes at the end of the hall. The image brought back memories of high school bands and solo performances on the beach on Martha's Vineyard. He loved to play but hadn't since his time in a South American jail cell where the guitar had been his only companion for months. He felt a little guilty for abandoning it. Staring at the case, he hesitated and then grabbed it and hauled it downstairs.
He expertly unlocked it and lifted the shiny nylon stringed Ibanez out and sat down cross-legged on the living room floor. The curve of its body felt at home on his knee and he gently wrapped his left hand around its long smooth neck. It only took a few strums to realize that the instrument was woefully out of tune. Ric mentally set the pitch of "E" and tuned the sixth string, then used the fifth fret on consecutive strings to tune A D and G; slipped back to the the fourth fret on G to tune B and up to the fifth again on B for high E. As complex as it sounded, he did it without thinking and with one downward strum revealed that guitar was ready to play. He launched into a blues rift and closed his eyes. Playing again transported him into another world, one that lauded his creativity and expression. This was a far cry from the left-brained "DA Lansing". Every strum, every chord progression set Ric's spirit free. He played some favorite cover songs and then a few of his own compositions, pleased that he not only remembered them but that his nimble fingers were able to pick through them with few mistakes. Not bad after all this time! After about a half-hour he had a surprise accompanist - the restless wails coming from Kristina's room.
Ric instantly stopped playing and ran upstairs. Kristina was flailing uncontrollably in her crib crying until she saw Ric and reduced her sobs to a light whimper. "Shhh," he hushed her as he picked her up. "It's OK sweetheart, I'm here." He guided her head to his shoulder and paced the perimeter of the room several times rubbing her tiny back until she eventually calmed down. Like mother, like daughter. Returning her to the crib was not an option for she was fully awake by then. Instead, he carried Kristina downstairs and made her comfortable on the couch and resumed his cross-legged position on the floor below her. Ric looked up at her face filled with endearing wonder. How could he have been so careless with that lab technician? He had no idea how Sonny had clued in on his paternity but Ric knew that he was somehow culpable. He was about to drown in his self-pity when Kristina began fussing and demanding his attention.
"I hear you honey," he said softly and wracked his brain for a way to pacify her. He thought back to the things that enticed him at her age and shook his head. "No Barney back then. Maybe Mister Green Jeans, but that's way before your time."
Ric began absently strumming his guitar and watched as she fixated on his hands. After a few minutes, he smiled and removed the caypo. "Kristina, you have a Pooh Bear mobile in your room don't you? Did you know that I once had one too? We have something in common sweetheart. We both love Winnie the Pooh."
Clearing his throat, Ric looked at her tenderly and began to play and sing a Kenny Loggins song that he'd leaned years ago:
(Right click, "save as") .net/alexis/Return_to_Pooh_
Christopher robin and I walked along
Under branches lit up by the moon
Posing our questions to owl and eeyore
As our days disappeared all too soon
But I've wandered much further today than I should
And I can't seem to find my way back to the wood
So help me if you can
I've got to get back
To the house at pooh corner by one
You'd be surprised
There's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of christopher robin and pooh
Winnie the pooh doesn't know what to do
Got a honey jar stuck on his nose
He came to me asking help and advice
And from here no one knows where he goes
So I sent him to ask of the owl if he's there
How to loosen a jar from the nose of a bear
It's hard to explain how a few precious things
Seem to follow throughout all our livesAfter all's said and done I was watching my girl
Sleeping there with my bear by her side
So I tucked her in, I kissed her and as I was going
I swear that the old bear whispered girl welcome home
Believe me if you can
I've finally come back
To the house at pooh corner by one
What do you know
There's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of christopher robin
Back to the ways of christopher robin
Back to the days of pooh
The tune was so soft and melodic that when Ric finished singing he looked up expecting Kristina to be half-asleep. Instead, her small brown eyes were mesmerized and she was looking down at him with the most tranquil and trusting smile. He set the guitar aside and stood up lifting her off the couch and into his arms.
"That's just one of many songs I want to sing to you," he said softly, his voice breaking. "I am so sorry for putting you in jeopardy. I hope that you can forgive me."
Unaware of the magnitude of his words Kristina looked fondly at Ric and hooked her petite arms around his neck. He closed his eyes and accepted her hug. He'd never felt such unconditional love before and with it a responsibility so huge that it made him quiver. He'd faced Alcazar and jail cells and stared down the barrel of Jason Morgan's gun, but this precious little girl had more power over him than any mobster ever could.
"I love you Kristina," he whispered. "I promise you that as long as I live, you and your mother will be safe with me."
"Safe wit me," she echoed him perfectly in that high-pitched voice and Ric smiled.
Alexis's key rattled in the front door and she came in balancing her briefcase and purse with a brown paper bag. Startled, she saw Ric holding Kristina and her face lit up. "You're home! I thought that you needed to take care of some things this afternoon?"
"I did," he answered looking at Kristina. "Right here."
Alexis's heart melted as she realized that he'd taken the afternoon off to be with her - their – daughter and she noticed Ric's guitar leaning against the sofa. "You played for her?"
He nodded. "She's my best audience to date."
"I brought dinner!" she proudly held up the bag, "I'll go put it in the kitchen. Can you believe it? I even know where it is!"
"Score one for the domestic goddess!" he quipped and Kristina giggled.
"Do you want to eat now or later?" Alexis called out. "I had a late lunch so I'm thinking later."
"That's fine," he answered as she came back into the room. She stopped, struck by the desperate way Ric was looking at Kristina.
"Ric? Is there something wrong?"
He kissed Kristina's cheek and then walked over and handed her to Alexis. "Yeah there is," he confirmed quietly. "Why don't you set her up with a video. We need to talk."