Chapter 25: From One Former Quartermaine Wife to Another…

"I guess you're feeling better," Lois said after Sonny had left the kitchen. She took another sip of her coffee and seemed to contemplate that thought further. "Or maybe you aren't and that is why you're lashing out at me," she added.

Alexis glared in Lois's general direction and hated that she was right. At least about most of the last part. Her head still felt like it was going to split in two, but the physical pain wasn't what had annoyed her so much about Lois's comment. Alexis couldn't face any of that though. "You really are sensitive, aren't you? I used to think Mark was overreacting or projecting about that but now I see he wasn't," she said.

"Well, Mark sees himself as the protector of women and small children. It may be why he still was concerned about me after Ned and I divorced, but it was also why he married you in the first place, right?" Lois asked.

Alexis winced. She grappled for a ready retort but couldn't find one.

"I know you manipulated Mark's grief to get what you wanted. I should hate you for that, but, since I didn't exactly deal kindly with Ned's grief at one time, I suppose that would be hypocritical. I will not let you do the same thing to Sonny. So, if that is where this is going, then just don't."

"That sounds like jealousy."

"It isn't. It is concern and compassion. Sonny will always be a part of my life. Ned learned that the hard way. I have no problems with teaching you the same lesson."

"You don't know what you are talking about."

"You're forgetting that Ned and I don't just share children we share at least two mutual best friends. One of them shares a child with Ned as well, how convenient, actually we've made it that way over the years. She and Mark also share a few mutual best friends, so I know exactly what you said to Mark to get him to claim your child eight years ago. You know how to go for the jugular, I'll give you that. Edward might have been proud, but Lila wouldn't have been."

No, Alexis didn't think Lila would be proud of much she had done. She also still thought Lois was missing a few details, however, those details would only paint her as more of a monster Alexis decided. "Lila always adored you," Alexis finally said.

"She did, and one of my biggest regrets will always be the time that Brookie and Lila missed out on. That is my guilt to own. I messed up with the Quartermaines there and my daughter paid the price. Someday soon you will have to look back on how the choices you have made have impacted your daughters' lives as well."

"You had daughters plural too when you divorced Ned, Lois," Alexis said. But once the words were out and she saw the stricken look on Lois's face Alexis wished she could take them back.

Lois took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Do not you dare pull that guilt trip with Sonny," she said quietly before she set her coffee cup down on the kitchen counter and left the room.

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Sonny saw the tears that Lois tried to hide as she opened the door. He shifted Molly to the other hip. "I'm sorry," he said. He was sorry because he hated to see her unhappy. He hated more to think he had played a role in her unhappiness. He was just unsure exactly what he was apologizing for. Leaving her alone with Alexis? Whatever Alexis had said? Whatever had been going on at PCGH when he had seen her following Dr. Gina Williams and Dr. Patrick Drake into a trauma room?

"You don't have anything to apologize for. I've got to go though I've got to pick up some stuff at Pathmark and get home and hug my kids. I'm on call until 8AM tomorrow and I have a feeling that kid I left in a Pentobarb coma is going to need to go back to the OR, so I'll probably have to go back in for that. Anyway, I have to go. Why don't you call me after the girls go home?"

"After the girls go home, or after their mother does?" Sonny asked.

Lois cracked half of smile. "Either, I guess. You're family, Corinthos, don't forget that," she said and then she slipped out the door.

Sonny closed the door and looked at Molly. "Let's go find some pancakes," he said.

When he walked into the kitchen and set Molly down in her highchair Alexis looked up at him warily. It was almost as if she was daring him to ask about the conversation that had sent Lois away in tears. Ally would have told him in gloating fashion and then been frustrated when he wouldn't take her side, and, honestly, he never had been able to, not against Lois. Maybe that should have told him something. Of course, when Lois and Ally had sparred in the past sometimes Lois had given him details. Details she had carefully not given him moments earlier. He wasn't sure exactly what that meant either.

"I'm going upstairs to wake up Kristina," Alexis said before she stalked out of the kitchen.

"Mama!" Molly called longingly after Alexis's departing form.

"Hey, it's ok. Mama will come back. She just went to wake up your sleepyhead sister," Sonny said. Yet, he noted that Alexis hadn't even acknowledged Molly's presence and he had never seen her do that before. Last night, when he had gotten up in succession with both of his daughters, he hadn't thought much of it. He had told himself that they wouldn't have expected Alexis to be there, and Alexis hadn't wanted to confuse them. It had sounded reasonable.

Sonny poured milk into Molly's cup and set it down on the tray of the highchair. Molly rewarded him with a smile before she started drinking and he smiled back as he poured some vanilla syrup into a saucepan to warm. As he stirred the syrup, he recalled Alexis's words to Lois, Your daughter is treated as a second class citizen in her own home only in your delusions! Alexis had mentioned something similar before, but she had attributed the words to Ric. Ric had claimed she loved Kristina best. Sonny didn't believe that, but he also didn't believe that Alexis had everything under control.