Coming Together

Sonny was worried about Alexis. She hadn't slept the night before. He awakened in the middle of the night and reached for her only to find her missing. Searching the cottage he finally found her in Jade's room sitting on the end of her bed.

"Sweetheart, are you ok?"

"I'm fine."

"I'm beginning to see how frustrating that phrase of yours can be. Kristina used to..."

As soon as he said Kristina's name, Alexis' eyes darted up to his with such agony he caught his breath. The single word she allowed alerted him to her fragile state of mind.

"Don't."

"I'm sorry. Please come to bed, Alexis. You need to rest."

"I'll be in shortly."

"Please let me help."

"There's nothing you can do, Sonny. This is mine. Leave it alone and go back to bed."

"But..."

"Please don't make me say it twice."

Sonny didn't press any further. He went back to their room and waited. He waited for what seemed hours and when she didn't return to bed he went back to Jade's room to check on her and found the room empty. Panicking he began racing through the cottage trying to find them. Finally he heard the swing creak on the back porch. Going to the kitchen window he looked out and found Alexis cradling a sleeping Jade and softly talking to her. Creeping toward the open back door, Sonny listened as Alexis poured her heart out to her child.

"Oh Jade, I am so sorry. You will never be able to know your Aunt Kristina now. What have I done? She's gone and I'll never see her again. I loved her so, Jade. She was the best part of our warped family. She was the purest. There was so much you could have learned from her. Because I was so afraid to face the reality of life... I missed the last 3 years of her life. Years that will always haunt me now. What am I going to do without her, Jade?"

Sonny turned from the open door and slowly went back upstairs. He was vaguely aware of the tears on his face as he entered their bedroom. Taking a pen and sheet of paper from the bedside table he sat down and wrote a brief letter to his friend. As much as he wanted and needed to help Alexis through this, he knew there was really only one person who would be able to. He only hoped Ned was in town. Sealing the letter he took it downstairs and put it in is coat pocket so he could have it hand delivered in the morning.

Walking quietly back to the kitchen, he sat down at the table and waited. Morning would come soon and he would be right there waiting in case she needed him. In case she called. He knew she would sit in the swing with Jade in her arms the rest of the night. So he waited and watched over her.

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

"Alexis, come downstairs sweetheart. There's someone here to see you."

It had been a long day. Alexis kept her distance from him. She shut down to everyone and everything except Jade. When Sonny heard the knock at the door that evening, he couldn't have been more relieved. He knew it was Ned.

"Thanks for coming buddy. I don't know what to do. I can't reach her. She's shut me out. She doesn't talk at all unless it's to Jade. Can you help me out here? I didn't know what else to do."

"I'll do what I can, Sonny. But, it may be that we just need to leave her alone so she can work this out for herself. Why don't you go ahead and take Jade to meet Bobbie. I've already taken Lexie to her. I didn't think Alexis could handle meeting Lexie yet."

Both men turned as Alexis entered the room. Wincing at the tortured face of his friend, Ned crossed the room and took her into his arms. She didn't fight him, but she didn't return his embrace either. Knowing that he needed to talk to her alone, Ned stepped back from her and lifted her face so he could look into her eyes.

"I need to talk to you, Alexis. And I need to talk to you alone. I've asked Sonny to give us some privacy and he agreed to take Jade to visit Bobbie. Please, don't fight me on this. Ok?"

Ned knew in order to get her to agree, she would have to feel like he needed her rather than she needing him and just as he suspected she briefly nodded her consent. Turning her toward the couch he glanced toward the front door as it closed behind Sonny and Jade. Refocusing his attention on Alexis he sat down beside her and gently placed his hands on her arms to turn her face him.

"I hear you've shut down, honey. Want to talk about it. About her?"

"No!"

"What would you say if I told you I needed to talk to my friend about my wife?"

"Ned, please don't. I can't. I can't talk about her."

"Yes, you can. You need to. We need to. We both loved her and we both hurt her. I had the chance to make it up to her. You didn't. I know what that is doing to you inside."

"Please Ned. Don't do this to me."

"Honey, I have to. There is so much you need to know about the last 3 years. You need to know she forgave us. She forgave you. She finally realized that people have to deal with things as best they can in the only way they can."

"Ned, I will never see her again. The last time I saw her we fought. I didn't get to tell her how much I loved her. My little sister married the man of her dreams and had a child and I wasn't there for any of it. I wasn't there for her. She was always there for me. She made it her business to be available whenever I needed anything. Can't you see just how much I failed my sister? Jax brought her back to me and I walked away from her."

"Alexis, you need to see something. Will you trust me? Will you come with me? It's not far, just out the backdoor a ways."

Ned stood and pulled Alexis up with him. Taking hold of her hand he led her out the backdoor and down a little path that she had not noticed until now. Thankful for the full moon, Ned slowed as he approached a small cleared patch of land where a single stone monument lay.

"Sonny and I agreed that we should lay Kristina to rest here, close to you. Alexis, before she left us she made Sonny and I promise to have her stone engraved with very specific words. You need to know how much she loved you. Look at it, Alexis."

Alexis knelt beside the stone and closed her eyes briefly to steady her nerves. Lifting her head she read the words her sister had left for the world to see.

Kristina C. Ashton

Sister of Alexis Davis

Take care of them for me

My beautiful sister.

I loved you best.

"Oh, Ned."

Leaning down, Ned helped Alexis to her feet and held her while she cried.

"She wanted you to know that you were the best part of her life here. Well, at least until I came along that is."

Laughing at his attempt to lighten things Alexis wrapped her arms around him and hugged him close.

"Were you happy, Ned? Did you find everything you wanted with her?"

"Yes, I was happy. She was everything and more. I miss her so much. But, she left a big part of herself with me. You have to meet Lexie. She's just like her mother. Come on, let's go back inside. Sonny should be getting back soon. He's bringing Lexie back with him. That is if it's ok with you. It's been a pretty hard day for you. Are you up to it?"

"Now more than ever. I need to see her. I need to see if I can see Kristina in her. Come on. I'll make us a cup of coffee while we wait."

"Aw, come on. I thought we were friends."

"Oh, shut up. I learned a lot of things while I was away. I even know what an egg whip is. Is that what it's actually called? Well never mind, at least I know how to use one."

As Alexis and Ned entered the back door Sonny was coming in the front with Jade and Lexie. The two little girls were holding hands and toddling in just in front of Sonny. Alexis looked at Sonny and smiled at him to let him know she was ok and let her gaze fall to the girls. An involuntary cry escaped her as she stared at the little girl who could only be Kristina's. Walking slowly toward the little girl she gently picked her up. She had her mother's red hair, which was plain to see, but it was the child's eyes that caught Alexis' attention. Turning back to Ned she whispered.

"I see her, Ned. I see Kristina. She's right there in the eyes of this beautiful child."

"I know Alexis, I know."

"Sonny, would you pick up Jade and hand her to me?"

"Sure, Alexis. Can you handle both?"

"Just watch me."

Sonny picked up his daughter and handed her to her mother. He and Ned watched as Alexis crossed to the fireplace and sat down in the rocking chair with both girls resting on her lap. And just as she had done for Jade every day of her life, she now began to talk to both girls.

"Jade, Lexie I want to tell you both a story. A story about a beautiful princess named Kristina"