Author's Note: Five Years. Five years ago this weekend...the magic that is Sexis reached its highpoint. Do you realize how unvelievably sad and hard to believe that is-that it has been that long?-That it has been five years since we have seen Sonny and Alexis truly together, that in November, Kristina will be five?!? (A little dramatic, I know)...
So, in tribute, I know I have been meaning to update, but the time I have to write has been diluted as of late, but I needed to make time for this. So, to all of you out there...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
...And here's to any Sexis to come...
"But Mommy..I'm not tired."Kristina whined as Alexis carefully tucked Kristina into bed that night.
Alexis laughed, offering a smile. "I know, honey. But you need your sleep. You don't want to be grumpy tomorrow, do you?"
"No."Kristina said, cuddling lamby pie. "Can you tell Daddy to come in so I can tell him 'night?"
"I sure can. Good night, Kristina."Alexis replied, planting a kiss on her forehead. Stepping outside of the room, she saw Sonny in the hallway. "She wants you to go in...say goo night."
"I can do that."Sonny replied, nodding. "Are you-Are you feelin' okay?"
"Of course."She answered. "Why?"
Sonny shrugged, knowing what he had to tell her. "No reason. Um-So I'm gonna go in. I'll meet you downstairs."He said, watching as Alexis continued down the hall before entering their daughter's room. He studied her, eyes closed, smiling on the bed. She seemed happy, content-because as far as she knew, everything was right with the world. He couldn't help but wish that it was that way for him. "Well, you're asleep, so I'm just gonna go now-"
"Daddy..."Kristina said, laughing as she grabbed his hand. "I'm not asleep yet."
"Oh. Well, in that case-"He said, sitting next to her. "I came in to tell you good night. Is that okay?"
Kristina nodded, her brown hair wrinkling against the pillow. She sat up, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "I love you, Daddy."
The move caused tears to fill Sonny's eyes. She had said it before, but in that moment, with Ric back in town, with her hugging him the way she was, the reality that he and Alexis were to marry-he wanted things to be perfect, to be right. They had to be. "I love you, too, Kristina. So much."He offered a squeeze, before pulling back. "You're getting to be a big girl, you know that, right?"
"Uh-huh. I'm almost as tall as Mikey now!"Kristina exclaimed.
Sonny chuckled, shaking his head. "Not quite, sweetheart. You've still got a way to go. But if you keep eating all of your vegetables, drinking your milk-"
"I'll be nice and strong?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah, 'cause Mommy said-"
"Wait..you're taking nutrition advice from your mother?"Sonny asked, joking.
Kristina shifted on the bed, pushing her hair out of her face. "No. She just said the other day that I needed to eat my peas. Peas are veggies, right?"
"So you have been listening to her. As long as you don't adopt her popcorn diet, I'm sure that everything will fine."Sonny said, sighing. "Now...I think it's time that you get to sleep."
"Okay..."Kristina said, reluctantly laying back down.
Sonny stood, giving her a kiss. "Sweet dreams."
"You know, she's more and more like you every day."Sonny said as he walked downstairs.
"Really? And...you're complaining?"Alexis asked with a smiled.
He shrugged, walking towards her. "No. But you have to be aware that I will steadily be sneaking vitamins and fruits and vegetables into your daily diet."
"Why?"
"You know...health. No, big deal or anything."
She laughed, enjoying the free spirit she was feeling at the moment. The fact that they were able to joke, to just be themselves in a moment of trouble was proof enough that they would last, that it was meant to be. "And why is my health a sudden cause of concern?"
"It's not a sudden concern, Alexis. I've always cared about you."Sonny replied, his arms linking around her waist.
Alexis smiled, nodding. "Good to know. So-I hate to...heavy the mood, but how did-"
"That's...actually what I want to talk to you about."Sonny replied, feeling his happiness sink. Sitting on the couch next to her, he gratefully took her hand in his, running his thumb over her palm.
"Sonny?"
He nodded, trying to choose his words carefully. "I realize how upset you have been over the past few weeks...how you would desperately like to be happy, but with your nephew's son missing, I know it's put a great deal of stress on you. Especially if your...If Helena was the one responsible."
Alexis eyes grew darker, she herself dangling on what Sonny was saying. "What happened?"
"Nothing. At least that pertains directly. But something...someone, actually-"Sonny stopped, realzing that perhaps it wasn't as dramatic as it would seem. "Ric landed on a plane in Port Charles early this afternoon."
"What?"
It scared Sonny to think that what he said would actually cause Alexis to feel any further threatened. "It doesn't have to mean anything, Lex. He could be back here for a logical reason. But, judging the past-"
"It doesn't make sense. The way that he left, so sudden..."Alexis paused, unconciously chewing her lips. She turned her head towards Sonny, her eyes widening. "Sonny, you don't think-"
"Alexis-"
"No, Sonny. You know as well as I do that it's a possibilty. Not that it's truth, but we are coming up fruitless here. We need something to help us, and Ric could be it."
"...You want Ric to help us?"Sonny asked, suspiciously.
"Are you kidding me?"Alexis asked, the thought seeming foreign to her. In the short time that she and Ric had been married, it had been nothing but a rocky road, and the thoughts still worried her. Though he stayed in town, his visits quickly became less frequent, and Molly was eventually handed over to him. "Sonny, I want us to be safe. I want to live in a world that doesn't mean guards at every corner, sweeps of a building before we can even enter, a top notch security system that costs more than the actual price of the house. I just-I want safety."
Sonny put an arm around her shoulder, trying his best to reassure her. "And you do. I swear to you, if Ric comes anywhere near here, I will call the PCPD, or have Max take care of him...something to get him out of here."
She was quiet, as if she were contemplating. Alexis stared at the wall, deep in thought before Sonny saw her eyes avert back to his. "He has my daughter, Sonny. He has my daughter, and I don't-I can't-"She stopped, willing herself to keep control. "What if he was the one who took Nikolas and Courtney's son?"
Knowing the question was coming, Sonny should have been prepared with an answer. At a loss of words, Sonny shrugged his shoulders, trying to grasp at words to concole her. "He might have been."
"And where was he coming from?...How do you know?"
"Stan."Sonny replied. "He was...He ws coming back on a flight from Athens."
"I assume you don't mean Georgia?"Alexis asked, trying to hope otherwise.
He nodded. "Yeah."
A little surprised, but clearly seeing the connection, Alexis cleared her throat in an attempt to break the tension. "The Cassadines have a house in Greece. A mansion, actually. But a house."
The night ended on an anxious note, questions still lingering in the air. They had continued their conversation, barbing back and forth about the possibilities. Alexis was happy that she and Sonny could be open with such topics, but at the same time was wary, knowing that Ric was back in town. Sonny realized perhaps even more how much he loved her. Hearing the nervousness, the fear in Alexis' voice at the mention of the Cassadines struck something deep in him. He didn't want it to happen again. He wanted it to go away, to rid Alexis of the fear that was still rooted within her.
The next morning, Alexis was in the kitchen, frustratingly trying to cut a pancake that Sonny had cooked for Kristina. Seeing the issue, Sonny walked behind her, carefully resting his hands on her wrists. "Hey-"He whispered in her ear. "Let me take care of it."
Walking to the fridge, she poured herself a glass of orange juice, sitting at the table. "Today I'm going down to the courthouse."
"Why?"Sonny asked, concerned.
"To get a restraining order. Actually, I'm going to speak with a colleague of mine as a sort of consult. Despite everything that has happened in my life, I am still an attorney."
Setting a cup of coffee in front of her, Sonny sat on the side closest to her, opposite of Kristina. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Taking a sip, Alexis closed her eyes momentarily, breathing in the aroma. "Perfect."
"Timing or taste?"Sonny asked, reaching for her hand.
"Mmm...a combination of both. Is this a new blend?"She asked.
Nodding, Sonny laughed as syrup dripping from Kristina's lip. "Well, it's more of a twist on an original."
"Going back to basics?"
"They're what are important."
Alexis had to agree. In the midst of things, she needed to believe that, if anything, she had Sonny and Kristina to help her get through.
As they finished breakfast, Sonny spoke of what he and Kristina would do that morning, barring any weather problems. Meanwhile, Alexis focused on studying them, thinking to herself how lucky she was, coupled with the ideas she had to discuss once she arrived to the meeting.
On her wait out, Kristina squeezed her tight, giving her a kiss goodbye. "I'll be back in a while. Do you want me to call?"Alexis asked, for safety reasons.
"It's no problem, really. Kristina and I will be fine here."Sonny replied, telling her goodbye. "Just take care of yourself. It's a tough world out there."
"Trust me."Alexis replied, giving him a kiss. Sh let her lips linger, sighing in content. Walking away, she stopped at the door. "I know. But I'm a big girl. I am fully able to take care of myself."
Sonny watched her leave, knowing full well that it was true. He had known Alexis for a long time now, and through the process of their relationship, he knew she was anything but purposefully dependent on others. And as the man she loved, Sonny wouldn't have it any other way.