Chapter Twenty-One
"Come on Lulu, it's Saturday night," Dillon urged.
"Yeah, but I told Alexis and Ric …"
"Come on, they won't miss you."
"Yeah. Well, they're expecting me home at ten."
"Okay, I'll take you home," Dillon complied.
"Bye!" Yelled out Georgie extremely sarcastically, who was busy flirting with Diego the entire night trying to 'get' to Dillon.
Lulu turned and stared at Georgie, then turned to her 'date', "Dillon, let's stay, give me something to drink, and make it strong."
"I'm not a custody lawyer."
"I know."
"So …"
"… but you're the best lawyer out there. You can do it."
Alexis sighed and stood up, "Skye knows that you are out of the business?"
"Yes. She doesn't care. She doesn't want me involved."
"She doesn't have a choice."
"That's what I said."
"Mr. Alcazar … Lorenzo … she has every right to protect her child …"
"But I'm not in the business anymore. That's all over. My life isn't dangerous anymore, Alexis. I gave it up for this child."
Alexis looked at him for a long minute, "Look, I'll visit Skye tomorrow and see what's going on."
"That's all I'm asking."
"Okay."
"You okay? I saw you at the memorial and …"
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern."
"If you ever need anyone …"
Alexis smiled.
"She has me," Ric interrupted, walking in the office.
Lorenzo looked over at Ric, "I apologize. Yes, she does." He looked back over and smiled his dazzling smile to Alexis, "Thank you, Mrs. Davis." He put an emphasis on 'Davis'.
"You're welcome and thank you," Alexis said, looking at Ric.
Lorenzo showed himself out.
Alexis walked toward Ric and wrapped her arms around his neck, "You're jealous." She didn't question … she stated, kissing his neck.
"No I'm not." Ric stood strong. She was weakening him though, as she traveled down his chest, "Well … maybe a little."
--
Lulu was drunk, and it was one o'clock in the morning.
"Uh oh," she said, stumbling in the living room.
Alexis and Ric were sitting on the couch in their pajamas, not looking happy. They had shifted the couch to where it was facing the front door.
Alexis stood up, shaking her head, walking over to Lulu.
"So … did you have fun?"
Lulu burst out laughing and almost fell. Alexis caught her, "Yes."
Alexis held back a smile, "Good. We'll talk tomorrow. Early. I need you to wake up at 5:30 to help me with some yard work."
Lulu's eyes widened and she laughed again. She lightly tapped Alexis' head, "You don't do yard work, Alexis!"
"I'm thinking of taking it up. See you at 5:30 sharp," Alexis replied, setting Lulu down on the seat and walking into her room. She really didn't walk into her room, so she stayed in the hallway out of sight to make sure Lulu got to bed okay.
"Uh oh," Lulu said again to Ric.
"Yeah," he agreed.
"Why didn't you guys come get me at … like … ten-thirty or something when you realized I wasn't here?" She was reeeeally drunk.
"Oh, she called Alice. She knew you were okay. Alice made sure you got here safe?"
"Ha! Edward drove me!" She continued to laugh.
Ric nodded. "Lulu …"
She grew deathly serious, thinking of her father, "I don't want a lecture. I know! Look, I'm gonna get it tomorrow … and…"
"You won't remember anything I say tonight," he said calmly.
"Yeah. Okay, where's my room?" Lulu asked, stumbling off the seat. Ric stood up to help, but by the time he reached for her, Alexis was helping her up.
"Oh, hey!" Lulu smiled, hugging Alexis so tight, "I love you, Lexis."
"Awe, I love you, too, hey. Come on." Alexis laughed.
"You're laughing."
"Yes honey, I'm laughing now 'cause you're silly."
"You're not gonna' be laughing tomorrow!" Lulu sang, stumbling with Alexis holding her up, heading towards her room.
"You won't either," Alexis replied, dropping Lulu onto her bed, "I'll see you at 5:30."
Lulu grunted when she hit the bed and fell fast asleep. Alexis smiled down at the girl and tucked her in, leaning down to give her a kiss on the forehead, "Night Lulu, your father would be so proud," Alexis joked, remembering her friend.
She turned the lights off and joined Ric back in the living room.
He held his hands out to embrace her and rubbed her neck, "You didn't have to stay up, baby. You have to get up in four hours to punish her."
"Punish. I hate that. Do I have to?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she was told to be here at ten!"
"She's eighteen!"
"And she was drunk."
"Did you drink at eighteen?"
"Did you?"
"No."
"Alexis, please."
"I didn't!"
"Yeah, okay …"
Alexis was frustrated. She knew that she had to do something, but she could understand why Lulu was doing this.
"Look, what if this were Molly or Kristina or Sam?"
"Okay. Lulu's in pain, Ric. It hasn't even been a month ..."
"I know," Ric interrupted. He wanted to change the subject. As they headed to bed, he wrapped her in his arms and said, "She's going to go stay with Elizabeth and Lucky for a week, Michael, Kristina, and Morgan are going to Sonny's, and you are coming with me."
Alexis smiled up at Ric, "Where?"
"Not skiing."
She smiled even bigger, "Where?"
After they removed the pillows on their bed, Ric walked over to Alexis and wrapped his arms around her tightly, "Anywhere but here. Alone. Just me and you…for a whole week."
"You know I'm going to have to call here five times a day."
"You won't have time to call home." He kissed her and led her back to the bed.
--
"Alexis."
"Carly."
"Hi, my boys! Did you miss me?"
"Yes! Yes!" Michael and Morgan replied to their mother, with just enough enthusiasm … like Aunt Alexis told them to use.
"Kristina."
"Hi."
"Hey!" In walked Sonny, and all three kids ran as fast as they could to him.
"Daddy, guess what!? Mommy and Daddy Ric are going on vacation and they aren't bringing ME!!" Kristina tattled on her mother.
"Awe, sweetie, Mommy and," he corrected, "'UNCLE' Ric just need some time to relax. They aren't going to have any fun though without you," Sonny assured his daughter, looking up at Alexis and smiling that dimpled smile.
Alexis looked back and blushed. Oh yes she would.
"Okay babies, I love you. You be good for your Daddy and Leticia okay!"
"Love you!" Replied Michael and ran up to kiss and hug Alexis, followed soon after by Morgan.
Kristina left her father and walked sadly up to her favorite person in the entire world. Alexis bent down and picked her up, looking at her daughter's beautiful face, "What's wrong, darlin'?"
"You'll come back?"
Alexis squeezed Kristina tight, "Yes. I'll be back in one week. You'll be good, my love?"
Kristina nodded.
"Have fun, okay."
"I'll try."
"I'll call you tonight."
"Okay Mommy … have fun."
"I'll try." She kissed Kristina and put her down, letting her join her brothers in the living room.
Alexis watched the three for a moment, and then sadly turned away, to face … Carly.
"You'll be getting something from my lawyer soon."
"Wonderful," Alexis replied sarcastically.
"I want my kids back."
Sonny interjected, "Carly, go home. The kids are here with me. I said that you could come visit, but you aren't going to yell at Alexis instead. Go visit your children, or leave."
Carly's jaw dropped, "Sonny…"
"Carly. The kids are in the living room."
She brushed past him angrily.
Alexis eyed Sonny, "Why are you taking up for me?"
"I wasn't."
"Okay, whatever, thank you for taking them for the week."
"I'm the one who asked."
"Yeah, thanks anyway."
"Alexis. Are you okay?"
Alexis looked back at Sonny.
"What a question. I'm sorry," She said genuinely, "I should have asked you if you were."
"I'm okay. The therapy and medication are helping. You know that I forgot the past…what? Five? Six years?"
"Yeah, well, I was…out of town when you went missing. You remember it all now though, that's what matters."
"Ric wasn't around for me then, neither was Emily, Jason…or Carly."
"You were abandoned Sonny. I'm sor…"
"Don't apologize! I did it on my own," he said proudly, "I did it, Alexis, all of it, by myself. I didn't need my brother, or Carly and Jason, or Emily, or…you. Well, I did, but I did it anyway."
"You didn't need me."
"You would've helped."
"How?"
"Remember the jail cell?"
"How could I forget? That was probably the best conversation we've ever had."
"Yeah, I agree. I thought of you outside that jail cell talking me through it. I just imagined that you were there at Shadybrooke, talking me through it."
Alexis smiled, feeling the tears welling up, "Sonny, I wish…"
"I know." He looked at her softly and walked up to embrace her. They stayed in each others arms until Carly walked in, clearing her throat and looking like she was about to shoot fire out of her ears.
"Sonny!"
Sonny slowly backed away from Alexis and looked at Carly.
"What?"
"Aren't you going to come in here with the kids?"
"You mean with you…Carly…with you," replied Alexis, butting in, "Carly, this is why I have your children. You use them as pawns to get what you want. You never think about them…it's about who they can get you. Sonny, thank you again, Carly, I'll be waiting eagerly for a visit with your lawyer. Sonny, we'll talk more when I get back. Please, take care of OUR babies." She emphasized OUR, looking over at Carly. She headed to the living room door and said her final goodbyes, and then walked out.