Hi everyone. This is the last chapter (plus an upcoming epilogue). Thank you all so much for reading and for the wonderful replies.

SUN N.Y. – Chapter 28

After leaving Todd, Alexis spent the next fifteen minutes trying to find Sonny. She ran into Jax just as Mike called from the hospital with the news that Taggert had been shot. Jax volunteered to drive her and they departed immediately. At the hospital she knew where she'd find Sonny: the chapel. She sat quietly beside him.

His voice was barely a whisper as he spoke. "So, I guess you've heard: Taggert is my brother."

Slipping her hand into his, she remained quiet.

"I don't know how I'm going to get past everything with Mike…or Taggert."

Seeing the worry on his face made her want to hold him until she made it better; instead, she kissed his cheek. "It will make for an interesting Thanksgiving."

He laughed. She could always make him laugh, even during the worst times. Turning his body to face her, he took a deep breath. "I hope I can count on you to be there, holding my hand through it."

"Sonny," she paused, "I really need to tell you something first."

He dropped his head. "You chose Manning." His hand slid over his forehead then down over the rest of his face. "Don't do it because of your baby, Alexis. I don't care that it's Manning's. I'll love the baby because he or she is a part of you. I'll even find a way to get along with Manning." He thought of Starr before he added, "I'll get along with both Mannings."

Alexis shifted uncomfortably, "I'm not back with Todd. I told him tonight that I wasn't going to pretend to be engaged to him anymore…because I'm in love with you."

Sonny smiled as he felt the thousand pound weight he'd been carrying for the last several months ease from his shoulders. He caught his breath. Apparently, God was listening to his prayers, which meant maybe Taggert might be okay and maybe, just maybe they could learn to be civil with one another. "Manning was okay with this?"

"Todd's not actually a bad guy. I've always been honest with him about how I felt about you. In fact, I've been honest with him about everything." She looked deeply into his eyes. "Sonny, there's something I have to tell you about the baby."

"Is the baby okay?" Alarm quickly spread over his face.

"The baby is fine. I think, at least I feel like it's a girl. I've been waiting to find out until…" her voice dropped off. She took a deep breath before she began again. "Sonny, I've wanted to tell you this for a long time, but I haven't known how: the baby isn't Todd's; it's yours. I found I was pregnant before anything ever happened with Todd."

The words blurred in Sonny's mind as he processed what Alexis told him. "Mine?"

"Yes, we're going to have a baby. I know you're probably furious, but I hope you can forgive me because all I want is for us to be okay."

He was going to be a father. As much as Sonny wanted to be furious about the months he'd gone without knowing the baby was his, he couldn't. After Carly's betrayal, he knew he was being given a second chance. He couldn't even be angry with Manning. If it weren't for Todd, Carly would still be living with him and she'd still probably be trying to pass off Jason's baby as his own. Now, he'd just learned that Alexis was having his baby.

"Aren't you going to say something?"

Before Sonny could speak, Mike entered the chapel. "Michael, the doctor has news about Marcus."

Alexis looked at Sonny. She swatted at a few errant tears that had fallen. Sonny looked as though he was being pulled in five different directions. After all their months apart and the Taggert drama, she had no desire to be a source of stress to him. "Sonny go. Go be with your family."

He stood up from the pew where they'd been sitting together; Alexis remained seated. He extended his hand, "Alexis, aren't you coming? The only way I can be with my family is if you're with me."

Outside of Taggert's hospital room, Alexis held Sonny's hand as he, Taggert's Mom, Florence, and Mike listened to Taggert's prognosis. Apparently, the bullet had just missed his kidney and the surgery to remove it was successful. After some rest, he would be okay. Gia and Nikolas were out of town when the news broke. They arrived just as the doctor finished relaying the good news. A few minutes later, Mike, Nikolas and Taggert's mother and sister disappeared into waiting room. Sonny suspected they were breaking the news of Taggert's parentage. That was a conversation he was more than happy to miss.

"We should get you home so you can rest." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek. "I think you and the baby have had enough excitement for tonight."

"That's it? You're not going to give me a speech about how I've betrayed you?"

Sonny thought for a moment. "I can be mad or I can enjoy having everything I want for once in my life."

"This really is unlike you." Alexis continued to look at him quizzically.

"Someone recently told me that because I'm not perfect, it's unfair for me to expect perfection from anyone else. Actually, given my line of work, it's ridiculous for me to expect perfection from anyone else. As much as it pains me to admit it, he was right."

"Who told you that?"

As he heard Candyboy's voice in his head, he chuckled. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He placed his hand on her stomach. "I can't wait to spoil you rotten…both of you."

Sonny kept his word. Back at his Penthouse, Sonny made Alexis an extraordinary meal that consisted of all her favorite foods, which were a mixture of Greek and Russian cuisines: chicken kiev and a cold soup called, botvinya. For desert he made karidopida, a walnut cake.

"Sonny," Alexis gasped. "How did you know how to make all this? How did you know these were my favorites?"

"You once told me a story about a big Christmas dinner your mom made for you. So, I did a little research and found a couple of recipes."

Leaning toward his side of the table, she whispered, "I love you."

"Good because you and this baby are my life." He kissed her. "I love you both."

Sometime after dinner, Alexis fell asleep on the sofa. When she awakened, she found a note from Sonny in which he indicated he was headed back to the hospital to be with Mike. After a few minutes, she decided to go across the hall to check on Starr and Todd. When she opened the door, she heard Kristina's voice.

"Todd, you and Starr really don't need to leave in the middle of the night. At least wait until Alexis comes home."

Alexis wrinkled her nose. For a moment, she felt the panic set in. "You're leaving? Now? Why?"

"I don't like long goodbyes Alex. Besides, Blair was so angry when I told her I didn't want to get back on the crazy train with her she's probably suing me for full custody in the morning."

Alexis felt her heart drop. She'd promised Todd she'd help him. "Todd, if you come across the hall with me, we'll get started on a petition for custody right away. I know Sonny won't like it, but he'll understand that I promised to help you."

"Don't worry, Alex. I already hired an attorney and Delgado's as good as you. That's why I gotta head back tonight." He marched to the steps and hollered, "Shortie, hurry up and get down here and say goodbye to Moonbeam and your almost stepmother."

Starr marched angrily down the stairs, which reminded Alexis of one their earlier encounters. She felt herself get choked up. Once at the bottom of the stairs, Starr flung body against Alexis's and held her tightly. "I'm going to miss you so much, Alex."

Alexis lost her battle with the waterworks. "Me too, Little One." She called Starr by the name she once reserved only for the baby she carried. She did it because the truth was Starr felt like she was her own. "You can come visit me any time."

Starr released her hold on Alexis and then bid "Aunt Moonbeam" goodbye.

Todd walked to Alexis then patted her on the shoulder. "Later, Alex." As he walked to the door, Alexis's voice demanded, "Freeze Manning."

Her voice softened as she came closer to him. "There is no way I'm letting you walk out of my life without a hug." Obediently, he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tightly. "You better keep in touch."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Alex." He wiped at a tear that crept from the corner of his eye. "Hey, tell that slumlord, Corinthos to get you a maid. I think I'm having an allergic reaction to the dust in here."

"I'll miss you, too." Alexis smiled.

As he left, Todd called out, "Later Moonbeam."

Kristina and Alexis plopped on the sofa. Kristina combed her fingers through Alexis's hair. "You know, I'm actually going to miss them."

"Yeah," Alexis said, sadly as she thought of exactly how much she'd miss them. "Me too."