True Love Never Dies

A General Hospital Fan-fiction

Disclaimer: The only characters I own are the ones I've created. You'll know them when you see them because they've never been on GH.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Home for the Holidays

It was a little after eight in the morning on Christmas Eve when Susan stepped off the elevator at the Harborview Towers. Johnny's smiling face greeted her. "Hello, Miss Hornsby, welcome home."

Susan smiled back. "Thanks Johnny, it's good to be home," she sighed as she set her suitcase down. "But please, call me Susan."

Johnny smiled. "I'll try to remember that," he promised, "you want some help with your bags?"

"Yeah, thanks," Susan replied.

As they headed towards penthouse one, Susan asked, "Is anyone up yet?"

Johnny shook his head. "Mr. Corinthos usually is but they've been keeping late hours at the hospital with Zander."

At the mention of Zander, Susan became thoughtful. Her mother had told her the news that Zander was her brother but it was still hard to believe. All these months Zander was living in the penthouse and now they find out he was her mother's son.

For most of her childhood, Susan remembered seeing Angel sad one day out of the year and always wondered why. She was 8 years old when Angel told her and her brother about the baby she had given up for adoption. Susan had always wanted an older brother and began to fantasize who he was. Would he protect her from the bullies and mean girls who used to tease her because her parents were divorced? Would he include her when he went off with his friends or would he push her away? She shook her head to clear her mind as she unlocked the front door.

As the door closed behind them, the elevator doors opened again and a man stepped out. He looked around as if searching for someone. He was a tall, handsome man dressed in a tailored suit. He found Sonny's door and stepped toward it.

As he raised his hand to knock on the door, the door to penthouse two opened and Jason stepped out. He had moved back in three months before after Alexis had finally acquiesced to Ned's request to move into the gatehouse. He noticed the man and called out. "Who are you?"

Startled, the stranger turned around and saw Jason with his hand tucked into his jacket. Raising his hands defensively, "whoa, I'm not here to hurt anyone."

Jason withdrew his hand and stepped closer. "Who are you?" he repeated.

"My name is Ric Lansing," he answered, extending his hand, "I'm here to see Mr. Corinthos."

Jason glanced at his hand but didn't offer his own. "Mr. Corinthos doesn't take meetings at his home anymore."

"Oh, it's not a meeting, I assure you," Ric told him, "It's not anything like that."

Jason became suspicious when he realized that Ric knew who Sonny was.

"I just need a few minutes," Ric continued.

Jason shook his head. "Not going to happen. You need to go now."

Ric stared at him, trying to read the man. Finally, he turned away. "Alright, I'll try again later."

As Jason watched the elevator doors close on Ric, Johnny reappeared in the hallway. Jason nodded at him, "where were you?"

Johnny nodded toward penthouse one. "I was helping Miss Hornsby get her suitcases upstairs. Did something happen?"

Jason nodded curtly. "There was a guy out here when I came out. He's gone now."

8888

At the hospital…

Zander walked gingerly out of the bathroom in his room and climbed back onto the bed. He lay back against the pillows, on top of the covers, and closed his eyes.

His rest was interrupted as Monica walked in. "Hi Zander," she greeted with a smile as he opened his eyes. "I didn't mean to wake you."

He shook his head. "Nah, it's okay, I've been awake for hours."

"Oh, really?" Monica reacted. "Are you in any pain? Did you get any sleep?"

"Oh, no, don't worry, it's nothing like that," Zander reassured her. "I was just anxious because you told me I could get out of here today."

Monica laughed. "I see. You feeling a little restless, are you?"

"A little," Zander grinned. "No offense."

"Oh, none taken," she replied, "I understand. Your recovery has been remarkable. There's nothing more we can do for you that you can't get at home."

Zander's smile faltered a bit. "Yeah, home."

At that moment, Emily joined them. "Hi, what's going on?"

Zander's eyes lit up when he looked at Em. "Hey, what are you doing here so early?"

"Do you even have to ask?" she teased him. "You're getting out today." She turned to her mother. "When do you think that'll be, mom?"

Monica smiled. "As soon as the release papers are all signed. Speaking of which, Zander, I'll get started on that. See you both later."

She left the room as Emily joined Zander on the bed. "So, what do you want to do first when you get out?" she asked him, laying her head on his shoulder.

Zander wrapped his arm around her to draw her closer. "Oh, I don't know. Anything, as long as it's with you," he said, tilting her face upward, as he kissed her.

Back at the penthouse…

Angel opened her eyes to peek at the clock. 8:15 am. Sighing inwardly, she snuggled under the covers, wrapping Sonny's arm tighter around her middle.

Sonny responded by burrowing his face in her hair. "Mmmm, you smell good," he murmured.

Angel smiled as rolled over to face him. "Good morning to you too," she purred as she kissed him deeply.

"What time is it?" Sonny asked when they parted.

"Past eight. I can't remember the last time I slept past six," Angel remarked.

"Yeah, you are an early riser," Sonny agreed, "You even beat me a few times."

Angel shrugged. "That's the price I pay for being a single, working mother."

"You're not working now," Sonny reminded her, with a grin. "There is absolutely nothing forcing you out of this bed at the moment."

She saw the twinkle in his eyes and the deepening of his dimples. "What do you have in mind, Sonny?"

Sonny lowered his mouth to hers. "Oh, nothing much," he said as he kissed her lightly before trailing kisses down her neck. "Just a little of this." His mouth lowered to the space between her breasts. "And a little of this."

Angel sighed as her eyes closed. "Sonny."

Sonny slipped his hand under her nightshirt, actually his as she had a habit of sleeping in his t-shirts, and traced little circles across her belly.

Angel touched his hand, stopping the motion. "Don't start anything you can't finish, Corinthos," she warned.

Sonny grinned. "Baby, I always finish what I start." He moved his hand down to spread her legs. "Question is this, can you say the same?"

Angel answered by pulling his face toward her and kissing him soundly. She pulled the shirt over his head and threw it on the floor.

Almost an hour later…

Angel stood in front of the bathroom mirror wearing Sonny's robe. She was applying moisturizer to her face when Sonny walked in. He was carrying a tray filled with breakfast. "It amazes me that even with that stuff on your face you're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen,"

He said to her reflection in the mirror.

Angel smiled at him through the mirror. "You made breakfast?"

Sonny smiled. "Come eat, before we leave," he invited, walking back into the bedroom.

Angel followed and sat on the edge of the bed. "It smells good. I'm starving."

"That's what I like to hear," Sonny said as she forked a piece of waffle into her mouth.

After they finished eating, Angel continued dressing. Sonny was downstairs going over a contract when she descended the stairs. "Hey baby?" she called to him. "I need help with the clasp in this necklace."

She handed the necklace to him and turned around. As she lifted her hair, Sonny drew the delicate chain around her neck. "This clasp is so small," he remarked as he secured the necklace. "There, let me see you."

Angel turned to face him and he planted a kiss on her forehead. "Pretty."

Angel smiled. "Are you ready to go? Zander should be released by the time we get to the hospital."

As they stepped out of the penthouse, Angel turned to Sonny. "I just want to check on Nicky before we go."

Sonny nodded. "I need to talk to Jason," he told her, "I'll be out in a minute."

Angel went inside the penthouse and as Sonny was about to knock on Jason's door, he heard her scream. He burst open the door. "Angel!"

Angel was hugging Susan. "Sonny, look who's home!" she enthused.

Sonny walked into the room. "Hey, welcome home," he said as he kissed her cheek. "We didn't expect you."

"Thanks, Sonny," Susan replied, "I decided I couldn't spend Christmas without my family."

At that moment, Nicholas walked out of the kitchen, munching on a breakfast burrito. "Hey mom, Sonny."

"Hey, I was just coming to check on you to see if you were up," Angel told him, "Sonny and I are going to the hospital to pick up Zander."

"Oh, cool, can I come?" Nicholas asked.

"Actually, I have an job for you," Sonny told him. "You think you can go with Johnny and Max and pick out the perfect Christmas tree?"

Nicholas' eyes lit up. "Yeah!"

Sonny laughed. "Well, alright then."

Sonny and Angel left soon after. Susan decided to accompany Nicholas in getting the tree and then they would set up a combo 'welcome home/tree-trimming' party in Sonny's penthouse since it was slightly bigger.

When they arrived at the hospital, they ran into Monica at the nurses' station. "Monica, hi," Angel greeted.

Monica looked up from the chart she was reading. "Hi, you two. If you're here to pick up Zander, you're just in time. I just signed his release forms."

"Thank you, Monica, for everything," Angel told her. "I knew Zander would be in good hands with you."

"Well, thank you for your confidence, but I think most of his recovery could be attributed to one thing…Emily," Monica admitted, with a smile.

They left Monica and continued to Zander's room. Emily was coming out as they rounded the corner. "Hey guys," she greeted them. "Zander's getting dressed and then he'll be ready to go. Mom signed his release papers already."

Sonny nodded. "Yeah, we saw Monica already."

Emily sighed. "I'm so glad this is over and Zander's alive."

Angel rubbed her arm. "I know, Em," she whispered, "I am too." She looked at Sonny, who nodded. "We both are."

After waiting a few minutes, Zander opened the door. He was dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt underneath an open flannel shirt. He was surprised to see Sonny and Angel. "Hey."

"Hi, you look like you're ready to go," Angel said, as she walked inside and hugged him.

"I didn't expect you to come," Zander admitted.

"Of course we came," Angel insisted. "You're coming home today. That couldn't be a better Christmas present."

Amy Vining showed up then pushing a wheelchair. Zander shook his head. "I'm not riding in that thing."

"Hospital orders," Amy chanted.

"Yeah, Zander," Emily reminded him. "It's the rules. Everybody has to ride in it when they leave."

Zander sighed heavily. "Fine, but I'm wheeling myself out of here."

Emily laughed. "Oh, no, I'm pushing you."

They trooped through the corridor, with Emily teasing Zander and Sonny and Angel following behind.


(A/N: Okay, sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I had a little trouble stretching it out cause I decided I wanted the next chapter to stand alone. Coming up…"Christmas at the Corinthos".)