Kristina's Letter of Reference

It was an emotional reunion for Sonny and Alexis. Laughing together they wiped the tears from each other's eyes marveling at the events that led them to again be together. Not wanting anyone to disturb their reunion Sonny disconnected the phone and set about fixing their dinner. He almost let dinner burn at one point while he watched his daughter play in the backyard he had set up for her when he bought the place.

Alexis went outside with Jade and as he watched them both, he thanked God that he had been allowed the gift of them both back in his life. As his gaze fell on Alexis, his heart skipped a beat. He would have given his life at that moment not to have to bring any pain into their reunion. But, there was no way around it. Smelling the aroma of overcooked hollandaise sauce, Sonny bolted back to the stove and found he would have to start the sauce all over. Chuckling softly to himself, he muttered, "Counselor, you always did have the ability to distract me at the most inopportune times".

After dinner, Sonny and Alexis put their daughter down to sleep for the night. Her heart filled as she watched Sonny kneel beside the bed and place a kiss on his daughter's forehead. Reaching toward Alexis he took hold of her hand, raised it to his lips and lay a soft kiss there. Looking up into her eyes with tears threatening he quietly thanked her.

"Alexis, I have waited so long for you to come home. It was too much to hope that you would come home to me, but here you are. What changed your mind?"

"My heart. Someday when we both need a reminder, we will sit down together and read the reference letters that were attached to your letter. I am told you didn't get a chance to read them."

"No, they wouldn't let me. I am rather curious to know what Ned, Jax and Bobbie had to say though."

"Did you not know that there was also a letter from Taggert?"

"Taggert wrote a reference letter for me?"

"Well, I wouldn't call it a reference letter. Maybe I'll let you see that one tonight. You look like you could use a good laugh. I think it was what he wrote about your time in jail though that got to me the most."

Sonny looked up into her eyes and reached to caress her cheek. There was no use in putting it off any longer. Alexis needed to know.

"Alexis, there is one letter that was written that didn't make it in with the rest of them. I have it with me and you need to read it tonight, before you face the world tomorrow."

"Who is it from?"

"Kristina."

"She's still mad at me, isn't she?"

"Give me a minute and I'll meet you downstairs."

Sonny stood and moved toward his room to retrieve the letter from Kristina. As he reached the door, he looked back at Alexis who had sat down beside their sleeping daughter and was talking softly to her.

"I don't know how I'm going to make things up to Kristina, Jade. Mommy was a dope and she hurt your Aunt Kristina pretty bad. I wish you were a little older, so you could help me with this one. Oh, what am I saying, there will be time enough for you to grow up. I'll only have my very 'little one' for such a little while. Well, we'll go see your Aunt Kristina tomorrow. Once she sees you, I just know her heart will melt just like mine did."

Ducking his head, Sonny went to retrieve the letter from Kristina.

*********************

Joining Sonny on the sofa downstairs Alexis turned to him somberly.

"Just how mad is she, Sonny?"

Sonny moved closer to her and put his arm around her as he handed her the letter. "Alexis sweetheart, read the letter."

Dear Alexis,

As I cannot hold a pen long enough to write this letter, it is Sonny who sits beside me writing it for me. I begged Ned and Sonny to please let me tell you why I cannot be there when you come home. And I know you will, because the man who sits beside me is more than I could ever have hoped for when thinking of a soulmate for my beautiful sister. You should see his face right now. I made him promise to write every word just as it came from my mouth and he's having a pretty hard time. I never thought I would ever see Sonny Corinthos blush.

Before I explain to you what happened, I must tell you that if I had been given the opportunity to hand pick my own sister out of all the women in the world, I would have picked you. I have loved you from the moment you walked into Jax's apartment that first time we met. If I had never known I had a sister, there would still have been an empty place in my heart I could not have explained. Only you could fill that part of my heart.

I was so angry with you when you left. Not just because of the pregnancy, but because I was again faced with a life without my sister. It was pretty rough the first few months after you left. Ned tried so hard to comfort me. I think he, Jax and Nicholas spent millions trying to find you for me more than for themselves. I wish you could have been here when Ned and Sonny came to see me to tell me the truth. They didn't have to; I had already figured it out for myself. I am so sorry that I made it impossible for you to tell me the truth.

You should have seen the three of us all sitting around the breakfast table talking about you. It was in that moment that I saw the depth of Sonny's love for you. I told him right then that I would do anything to help him find his way to you.

Did Ned tell you that we got married? Ned asked Sonny to be his best man. That was such a beautiful day. The only thing missing was you. Please know that I am telling you the truth when I say I was a very happy contented woman. Ned and I haven't had that much time together, but the time we have had has been more than I could ever have imagined or hoped for.

A couple of days ago I left L&B to head home to my wonderful husband. I wasn't paying attention to what was going on around me, I was thinking of you and wondering how we were going to get you home. I didn't see the car that was coming toward me swerve into my lane until it was too late to do anything about it. So here I am, with tubes and machines all around me trying to keep me alive long enough to finish this letter to you. It is breaking my heart to leave you, but I know that you will be loved and taken care of. Sonny has promised me that he will bring you home and see that you have everything you want or need. I trust him to keep his word.

Oh Alexis, he loves you so much. And I know the struggle he has been through to try to become the man you need. Ok, he's giving me that look again so I have to abandon that line of thinking. Besides I trust my cohorts to make sure you know what you need to know.

"Ok, Sonny. I'll stop." He gets so touchy when you try to extol his virtues.

I'm getting pretty tired, so I must speed this up so that you will know everything I need to tell you. I will not continue to sell Sonny to you because I know in time you will witness it for yourself. I only wish I could see your face one more time. He is such a sweet man; he just pulled your picture out of his pocket and placed it in my hand.

Just one more thing, will you agree to be my daughter's godmother? Ned and I named her after her Aunt Alexis and we call her Lexie for short. I could not have asked for a more beautiful daughter. She resembles you in so many ways. Sonny has agreed to be her godfather and I think she has already stolen his heart. So you had better get back here and reclaim your property.

Alexis, please come home to Sonny. He needs you, Ned needs you and my daughter needs you. Please come home. Ned will need your support now more than ever. Sonny has been right there for him the past couple of days, but given your history with Ned, only you can get him through this.

Please know that my life has been full. You are the best part of what I found here in Port Charles. I know you loved me even if you did get so totally frustrated with me at times. We were sisters in every sense of that word, but more than that we were friends. Do not blame yourself for not being here with me. Things happen the way they are supposed to happen. I will watch over you and your family as I will watch over mine. Be good to yourself, Alexis. Don't work too hard and above all love. Goodbye my beautiful sister and remember, I loved you best.

Kristina

Sonny watched Alexis read the letter and his heart broke as he saw the moment she realized her sister had died. She moved away from him and went to stand alone to finish the letter. He saw her hand let go of the letter and watch as it floated to the floor. Raising her eyes to his he saw her mouth opened as if to speak but closed again without uttering one sound. She turned and walked out the back door. He found her on the ground outside the back door rocking back and forth as tears streamed down her face.

Kneeling beside her he tried to pull her into his arms. Tearing away from him she got up and swiftly put enough distance between them to allow herself enough space to breathe.

"Alexis, please let me help."

"How? Can you bring her back to me?"

"No, I can't. But, I can tell you what her last words to me were."

"Tell me."

"I will quote them word for word just as she said them to me. She said, 'Make her understand, Sonny. Make her understand how much I loved her and that I'm not angry with her. And when my daughter is old enough, make sure that it is Alexis who gives her this. Tell her to tell my daughter the story. Will you promise me you'll do that for me, Sonny?'"

"What am I supposed to give her daughter?"

Alexis watched as Sonny reached into his pocket and pulled out Kristina's half of their mother's necklace. Taking it from him, she caressed it and remembered the last time she had seen it. Speaking softly for Kristina's ears only, hoping that somehow she would hear her, "I'll tell her. I'll tell her the story and I'll tell her about her mother. I'll tell her that my life was richer with her mother in it. I'll tell her that I laughed more because her mother was a part of my life. I'll tell her that from now until the day I take my last breath, I will think of her mother every day of my life. I'll tell her, Kristina. I promise."

Turning to Sonny who stood patiently waiting, she put her arms around him and cried until there were no more tears left to shed.