Chapter 24

Alexis sat beside Sonny watching him sleep. Not wanting to lose contact with him for a minute she laid her hand on his heart again figuring it was probably the only place that wasn't hurting him at the moment. And needless to say the rhythmic beating of his heart was music to her soul. His injuries were extensive, but like Alan had assured her, none were life threatening. The swelling around his spine had already started to recede and Sonny was beginning to rebound from the temporary paralysis.

"Kristina?"

Not hearing her sister's normal response, Alexis tried again.

"Kristina?"

Still not hearing an answer Alexis leaned forward anxiously and called out again a little louder.

"Kristina, please..."

"I'm here, Alexis."

"You scared me. What took you so long?"

"Do you remember when I told you that I would be here for as long as you needed me?"

Dreading what she feared was coming Alexis answered weakly.

"I remember."

"It's time for you to let me go, Alexis."

"No. I can't. I won't. I need you. Don't leave me, Kristina. Please, don't leave me."

"You are strong enough to stand on your own now. And you have Sonny now. You have to let me go."

"No Kristina, I will not let you leave me. I will not be separated from you again. I just can't. I won't."

"My beautiful sister, we will never be separated. I will be in your heart always. But, it's time for you to move on. You have to let go."

"Please Kristina, no."

"Alexis, Sonny has given you a gift. He has transformed his life for you. He deserves all of you. It would not be fair to him to only have a part of you. If you hang on to me, then in those times when trouble comes you will turn to me instead of to him. Don't do that to him. Don't do that to yourself. Be everything to each other. Remember, I will be in that part of your heart that you hold your most precious memories. I'll be with mama again. Let me go, Alexis. Please."

"Kristina, I will miss you so much. How can I let go of my little sister?

"By leaning on Sonny. By leaning on your friends. Let them help you. Honor them by allowing them to help you. They love you so much. But, you have only allowed them to see a small part of you. They have no understanding of the woman you really are because you have kept yourself hidden from them. Give them a chance to know the woman I know you are. Allow those you hold close in your heart to see the woman I see. They will love you all the more, just as I do."

"Kristina I am more because of you. You opened a door for me. There is light now where there once was darkness. I see the world more clearly because I see it through your eyes now as well as my own. I never realized how much I was missing until you blew into my life with your chaos, your openness and freedom. You gave me a hope that I have never had before. I know you are right, that I must let you go. My mind knows it's true, but I'm having a little trouble with my heart. So, one last time I must ask a favor of you. When I call out to you, as I know I will, love me enough to stay silent. Can you do that for me, Kristina? In time, I will do what I know is necessary."

"I can love you enough to do that. I always have, Alexis. Keep my niece safe and tell her about me. Take care, my beautiful sister and know that I am with you always. And never forget I came looking for my sister, and found my life. I love you, Alexis."

"I love you, Kristina. Watch over us. I will always be thinking of you."

Reaching toward Alexis with his good arm, Sonny laid his hand down on hers where it covered his heart. Caressing the back of her hand he waited for her to look up. He heard her words to her sister and had let his own tears fall unrestrained. As she raised her head he saw the deep abiding loss once more in her eyes and shut his own against it. Not wanting to leave her to grieve alone again, he opened his eyes and gently pulled at her hand to draw her complete attention.

"I talked to her."

"What?"

"While I was in the coma. She was there and we talked."

Moving closer to Sonny, Alexis pulled his hand close to her heart and waited.

"She sent me back to you. I was there waiting to die... wanting to die. But, she wouldn't let me. She told me, 'Sonny, that is my beautiful sister's hand lying on your heart. She is waiting for you to come back to her. Don't disappoint her. Go... love her. Be with her... Have a happy life.' She forgave me, Alexis. I have never wanted or needed forgiveness from anyone as much as I needed it from her. But, I need your forgiveness as well. I need you to tell me that you don't hate me for what I did, for what I had become."

"Sonny, shhhh... Don't upset yourself. You need to remain calm. How could I not forgive you? After all that you have done, for loving me, for making things right with Kristina. You gave me the one gift that will forever keep my sister's memory alive not only for me, but for everyone that knew her. You gave me a beautiful park. A living, breathing memorial to my sister. But, most of all I love you because you gave me you."

"I didn't know what else to do. I had to make it right somehow. I couldn't bring her back to you, but I could memorialize the place that led to her departure."

"It is perfect, Sonny. And a few months from now when you're back home and able to get around, we'll take a walk to the park and introduce our daughter to her Aunt Kristina."

"Have you named our daughter yet?"

Growing very still, Alexis ducked her head and peered at Sonny through her bangs afraid of the anger she felt certain she would see in him.

"You know?"

"Of course, I know. You didn't really think I bought that story about Ashton, did you? I mean I know I've had my head up my butt for the past few months, but Alexis I know you. You would not have gone to Ned after what we shared."

"But, why? You never said a word. You just accepted it. I lied to you. For the first time, I didn't tell you the truth."

"To protect my daughter. You did what you had to do to protect what was most precious to you. That's what I have been doing for the past two weeks. Not just for you, but for my daughter as well. Alexis we did what we had to do to protect each other and our child. Do you know how much I love you for that? Have I told you yet? Have I told you what having you in my life means to me? Yes, I heard every word you said to me. Now it's my turn. Do you know that I wake up in the morning yearning for you? I can't even find rest at night because you haunt my dreams. Can I tell you that for the first time in my life because of you I am proud of the man who lies before you right now? Can I tell you that now, finally I can tell you what my heart has known all along and my head has refused to hear? Alexis, I love you. With everything that I am and everything I ever want to be. I love you. I have never known a love this intense before. It is so big and consuming that words are not enough. I know you want and need words, Alexis. But, I just don't have them. All I can do is tell you I love you and spend the rest of my life proving it to you. And I am finally free to tell the world. I want the world to know that I choose you, first and always."

Lifting her head from his shoulder where it had fallen as he spoke of his love for her she ran her hand through his hair to the back of his head, lifting gently she brought him to her and kissed him. All of the pain she endured for him, endured because of him was healed in that one single kiss. She let it all go. Here he was openly laying his heart down for her... no one else but her. The thought staggered her. Sonny loved her. How long had she dreamed of this moment. Leaning back she melted into the joy she found in his eyes and fell peacefully into the depth of his love.

"Kristina Michaela Adele Davis-Corinthos."

"What?"

"You asked me if I had named our daughter yet? I have. Kristina Michaela Adele Davis-Corinthos."

Trying to wipe the tears away that stung the cuts and raw skin of his face Sonny gazed adoringly at his future wife.

"Are you sure?"

Standing and once again settling herself on the bed beside him she leaned closer and just before meeting his lips with her own she whispered,

"As sure as my answer will be when and if you ever decide to ask me to marry you. I mean, what's a newly acquired appreciation for commitment worth if it's not exercised, hmm?"

Seeing the peace and contentment that her sister was so deserving of finally grace her face, Kristina moved into the part of her heart that was most special to Alexis and became her sister's most cherished memory.

"My love is with you always and here I will wait until we meet again."