Author's Note: Thank you so much to those who reviewed the last chapter. I'm glad everyone likes the Nikolas/Alexis interaction, it's something the show doesn't utilize enough in my opinion. Anyway, here is the next chapter. I'm not really sure if there's that much progression really, but it's definitely putting wheels in motion. As always, I hope that you enjoy, and please...leave me a review!

Moonlight slicing a clear line through the curtains, Alexis stirred in her sleep. It was a rarity, and as her face settled against the pillowcase, the peaceful expression that graced her features was a tell-tale sign that it wasn't riddled with nightmares like in the past.

The music wafted effortlessly through the doors as the faint smell of salt hung on the breeze. Just overhead, clouds parted to reveal a full moon, and the palm trees rustled.

"I've missed dancing with you, you know."

A smile. "I suppose I could say the same."

Sonny's fingers laced through hers as an arm held her to him. Weaving them in and out of the crowd on the patio, he watched the eyes of the woman with him. "Suppose? Is that an insult, Alexis?"

"Trust me, if I was insulting you, you would know." Alexis brought a hand to his neck, fingers dancing along his dark curls. "I love you."

Her whispered words greeted him as another song came to a close. Couples dispersed, but he still held Alexis close, pressing his forehead to hers. "I love you, too."

There was an air of complete easiness as Alexis felt his arms wrapped around her. A safety that she couldn't help but relish in. "I had a wonderful evening."

"Who said the evening was over? There's still the matter of dinner, right?" A grin crossed Sonny's dimpled face as he took her hand, slowly leading her down to the beach. Just above the shoreline, a candelit table sat complete with wine and food.

Unshed tears threatened to fall as Alexis stared at what lay before her. "Sonny, there's no way that-"

"Shh-" A finger pressed against her soft lips, urging her to stop speaking. "-we have all the time that we need."

"But we-"

Sonny's lips came softly against hers, his hands supporting her head as his fingers intertwined in her hair. A need carried through as his lips repeatedly met hers, tongue whispering against hers. "Now, I think it's time for dinner."

A blush crept against her cheeks as Alexis slowly sat across from him. A chilly wind ran by, and though she shivered, she seemed not to notice. There was something about Sonny that always made her feel at ease, and as she felt his fingers brush hers as he handed her a glass of wine, she knew that there would be no letting go.

The blanket fell off of the bed as Alexis stirred, consequently waking her up. She was surprised to find that the sun was already up, and coming in from downstairs, she could hear Carly and Michael. A quick search of the room told her that Kristina was up as well.

Sighing, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, reaching her arms up to stretch. She was headed for the living room when Morgan called her name in the hallway. Turning around, she frowned. "Morgan. Is something wrong?"

The boy rubbed at his eyes, clearly still asleep. "Is my mommy downstairs?"

"I think so." Alexis said, not understanding why he had called her. "Morgan?"

"I had a bad dream." He said, tears sprouting at his eyes. "Uncle Jason came and...and he said that Daddy wouldn't come back. He said that Daddy was gone, but I didn't want him to go."

"Morgan, sweetheart..." Alexis said as the boy hugged her waist. A sob crept up in his throat as she hugged him tightly. "Your Daddy loves you very much, you know that? You know that he would do anything to come back to you, Michael and Kristina."

Morgan nodded, clutching her pajamas tightly. "Uh-huh. But...but the dream-"

"It was just a dream. That means that it wasn't real." Alexis replied, at a loss as to how to consult him. In truth, she'd woken up to a few nightmares as well, but feeling comforted and renewed by the good dream she had just woken up from, she knew she had to help the boy. A hand froze in his hair as the reality hit her. Sonny's son, therefore, he was her stepson.

Carly came up the stairs, sighing a little as she saw them. "I thought I heard someone up here. What's wrong?"

"Morgan had a nightmare." Alexis confessed, freeing Morgan from her grasp.

"Oh sweetie-" Carly sighed. "Come here." She pulled Morgan as close as her swelled stomach would allow, running a hand through his hair. "You know that dreams are just dreams, right? At least the bad ones. Come on, there's cinnamon buns in the kitchen." She continued, trying to cheer him up.

"Cinnamon buns?" He asked.

Carly laughed, shaking her head. At least momentarily his mood seemed to be better. "Mommy had Max go and get them for us, okay? Don't worry...I didn't make them."

Alexis smiled, leaning against the wall as she watched Carly and Morgan walk down the stairs. She walked back into the room to find that in the midst of everything, Molly woke up. "Molly...good morning." She cooed, reaching in to pick her up. "And how are you, Miss Molly?"

The little girl gurgled, a hand reaching to rest itself flat against Alexis' cheek. Obvlivious to what was going on, Molly seemed content with the fact that her mother was there.

"Come on, let's go see about getting us some breakfast." She finished before heading downstairs.

"That's not fair, how could you beat me again?" Michael asked as he and Kristina were deep in a video game.

"Is something wrong?" Alexis asked, concerned.

"Michael's mad 'cause I beat him at the game again." Kristina said before laughing and turning to stick her tongue out at Michael.

Alexis shook her head. "Kristina, be nice to your brother." She amended before heading into the kitchen. "It's like world war three out there."

"Max brought it for them this morning, I guess he thought that it would help." Carly said as she poured Morgan a glass of orange juice.

"Well, I guess it's working." Alexis replied, setting Molly into her highchair. "It's good to hear them laughing."

Carly nodded, sighing as she watched Morgan carry his food to the table. "I'm just so worried about Jason and Sonny though, you know? I mean, it's been a few days. You'd think that they'd get word to us somehow."

Knowing how she felt, but understanding why the had to stay away, Alexis drew a steadying breath. "They're doing what they feel is safe, I guess that's all that we can really ask for."

"Yeah, but for how long? Sonny knows how much those kids need him, Alexis, and Jason...well, he's got Sam." Carly shook her head, at a loss of what to say.

"Carly..." Alexis warned, already sensing a plan formed in the blonde's head. "As much as I don't like being here, as much as it's driving me crazy not knowing what is going on...I know that we have to wait."

Running a hand over her stomach as she felt the baby move, a sad smile crossed Carly's face. "I guess you're right."

"I had to take a break." Michael said as he came in the room. "Kristina's doing some test trial thing on the game, so I came to get some juice."

"So she really beat you, huh?" Alexis asked, crossing her arms.

Michael shrugged as he pulled out the juice carton. "I mean, it's really not that hard. I just...went a little slower than I normally do. She was starting to get upset when she was losing, and I didn't want to see her get all sad." He said as he poured himself a glass.

"Well, thank you for letting her play, Michael." Alexis said, running a hand through his red hair. "I'm sure she enjoys it."

"You sure this is what you wanna do?" Jason asked, settling a hand against his hip. He took a look at his best friend, knowing how much everything had to be killing him. His fave remained unshaven, and a darker hue hung underneath his eyes. Though he tried to keep up spirits, Jason knew that the last week had taken its toll on Sonny.

"It's what we've gotta do. I'm not just gonna sit back and let him take hits on my family. If he wants control, we're gonna let him think that he's getting it." Sonny said, running a hand across his face.

Blue eyes met brown as Jason nodded. "So everything's in order, then? The meeting?"

Sonny nodded. "Tomorrow night. He thought I'd retaliate, but truthfully, all I want right now is answers."

Answers. Jason sighed as he shifted his feet. "Mac is in on this?"

"Vaguely. He knows that I'm meeting up with Alcazar at the docks. If we get a confession out of him, PCPD will know, but won't make an arrest right away. It'll take a while, but we're doing this the right way." Sonny said, knowing the implications of what he meant. "I'm just...sorry I ever had to drag you into this."

"I'm here because I wanna be." Jason said sternly. "That doesn't mean I don't regret some of the things I've done. But Sonny? We'll find a way to get through this, man."

Sonny nodded, wishing he could believe the words himself. He turned toward the glass doors, staring out into the garden that just a week before had been the setting for his wedding. "If we have time, we need to get word to Alexis, Carly and the kids. If I know Carly, she's probably going stir-crazy, and Alexis..." He sighed, closing his eyes. "She's trying her best to keep it together."

Remembering the frantic version of Alexis Davis he'd been privy to just a week before, Jason knew what Sonny was getting at. "This'll all be over soon enough, man." He said. "I'm gonna go speak with the guards...make sure everything is set."

Sonny nodded, though not really hearing him. He knew what he was doing, but knew at the same time that mistakes could be made. It had taken a few days to truly sink in, but he realized in that moment just how big of a step he was making. He just prayed that in the end he wouldn't regret it.