Chapter 18

Alexis sat quietly on the beach close enough to the surf for it to flirt with her feet. A small content smile graced her face as she looked out toward the sea. The sun was just beginning to kiss the ocean where it met the horizon and all the shades of a rainbow brilliantly lit the sky. The sound of waves gently licking the sand in front of her was sweeter, more relaxing than any other music she enjoyed.

As she sat there, Alexis let her mind wander over the past years. From the moment she left Greece, to her arrival in Port Charles and finally to her ultimate escape. She thought of the men that came and went and the one she left behind. She thought of her sister; once so beautiful… so full of life… so eager to enlighten… Kristina. Thinking of her sister, Alexis' smile widened.

"It took reaching my lowest to finally understand some of the things you tried to tell me, Kristina. But, it was worth the journey… worth the hurt… the pain… it was worth it all. I'm happy… I'm loved… and I love. And I'm not afraid of the words anymore. My daughter, your namesake, taught me how to love. You would be so proud of her, Kristina. She is everything I could ever have wanted or imagined. I wish you were still here so you could see her. But, you already have seen her, haven't you? You've been watching over us all along. What do you think of my little girl? I was always so intimidated by the idea of children, but I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything in the world. And I don't regret leaving Port Charles. It was a move that helped us both. It protected my daughter and gave her the life I wanted her to have and it taught me how to relax and take life as it comes. Having a child as precocious as my little one… I had to learn fast so I could keep up with her. She's so smart, so clever and imaginative. She has been my life now for fourteen years; from the moment of her conception she changed my life."

Alexis grew quiet and the contentment she felt deep within forced a slow tear down the side of her cheek. 'So this is what it feels like. Being happy and at peace all at the same time.' she thought to herself. 'If only…' And as the words crossed her mind, the face followed. The same face that not only haunted her dreams at night, but was now beginning to haunt her days.

"Where are you, Cameron? Are you okay? Are you happy?"

"I am now."

Alexis froze as a voice she only heard in her dreams came drifting down to settle around her. Afraid to lose the sound… afraid that her mind was playing tricks on her… she called out to him.

"Cameron?"

"Turn around, Alexis. Look at me. Let me see your face."

Her head fell forward slightly and she covered both of her ears with her hands in a desperate attempt to keep the sound of his voice from escaping. 'How can I hear him so clearly?' she thought. Lowering her hands she looked back up toward the horizon.

"Don't you want to see me, Alexis? Don't you want to know how I found you?"

She stood slowly and wiping the sand from the back of her slacks, she slowly turned toward the direction the voice was coming from. There… behind her, he stood without moving. She reached one hand out toward the vision and smiled. Laughter bubbled up within her at the craziness in her head and she decided to play along for a while.

"Oh, so today I get to see you again without the beard. Okay, that works for me. So, what took you so long this time, Dr. Lewis? Since this is my dream then I get to dictate how it plays out, right?"

The vision answered, "If you must."

"Then I choose to be kissed. It's been too long since you kissed me. So come on, Dr. Lewis. Lay one on me like you did last night."

Cameron took the final two steps what would place him within reach and he reached out slowly to pull her to him. He knew by the way she was reacting that she didn't really believe he was standing in front of her. Softly wrapping his hand around her upper arm he reached up with his other hand and ran it along the side of her cheek then back through the gold highlights dancing in her hair. His breath caught in his throat at the first touch of her. Just as he pulled her forward and bent toward her lips, he whispered, "I'm real, Alexis. I'm real and I'm here."

As his lips found hers, Alexis finally understood that she wasn't dreaming… he wasn't a vision. Cameron was here… with her. Holding her… kissing her. Her arms that spent countless nights by her side aching to hold him rose slowly to touch him… to find their place around him. Her arms found their home and just as she opened her mouth to receive him, a sob rose in her throat and she pulled him as close to her as she could.

Fire… white hot; consuming heat and leaping flames. Sparks that could not be contained… embers finally igniting… fueled by time and want and need… two souls destined to be one at last joined. The world fell away as knees found their way down to dig softly into the sand beneath them. Hands restless… wandering frantically, searching and finding all the places the curiosity of forbidden years encouraged within the imagination. Lips finding clefts to hide in momentarily… tongues eager to taste… and learn… fingers tingling with anticipation. And finally the coldness of contact lost…

Alexis looked up into his beautiful eyes and smiled.

"What took you so long, Cameron? How did you find me?"

Pulling her down beside him, he wrapped his arms around her and answered.

"I had help, Alexis. I've been looking for you since you left. When you decide to get lost, you don't play around."

"I'm sorry, Cameron. I did what I had to in order to give my daughter what she needed."

"I know and I understand."

Cameron leaned slightly away from her and allowed his eyes to take in the woman who was finally sitting beside him.

"How did you do it, Alexis?"

"Well, I really can't go into the details because I still need…"

"No. I'm not talking about how you disappeared. I'm talking about how you managed to become so much more beautiful than I remember."

Cameron ran his hands through her hair and then down to her neck cradling her head.

"One more, before I explain everything?"

Watching the reflection of the fading sun dance in his eyes, Alexis knew what he wanted and without answering leaned forward and took possession of his bottom lip. She lightly bit him then allowed him to take control while sighing deeply at the fullness she felt deep inside. Everything was now in its place and as much contentment as she felt with her daughter it was magnified ten fold now that Cameron was with her. This was life… this was joy… this was what Alexis had yearned for all her life. Alexis was finally and completely satisfied.

Reluctantly pulling away, Cameron settled Alexis in his arms beside him in a way that allowed him to watch her. He couldn't get enough of simply looking at her, watching her every move, her eyes sparkled in a way that enticed and flirted with him. He suddenly smiled.

"What are you smiling at, Cameron?"

"You. Stop flirting with me."

"I'm not flirting with you. I wouldn't know how if I tried."

"It seems you do know how. And what I would like to know is when you learned it and who has been on the receiving end of that look you're giving me right now."

Alexis chuckled and leaned closer to kiss him again before pulling back with a mischievous grin on her face.

"No one has been on the receiving end of anything for longer than I care to remember and if you didn't want me to learn how to flirt, then you should have stayed out of my dreams."

Cameron felt another fire begin deep inside and wanted desperately to quench it, but knew there were other matters that needed to be attended to first. Quickly returning her kiss, he leaned back and fixed a studied expression on his face.

"Okay, let's get the business out of the way first. They we'll play."

"Play? You want to play, Cameron?"

He laughed and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Oh yeah. I want to play, Alexis. But, we can't right now. We have to talk first. Now be still, this is important."

Alexis heard the timbre of his voice change and she frowned a bit.

"This is serious, isn't it?"

"Yes. It is. Very serious."

"Tell me, Cameron."

Before Cameron could begin a sound behind them brought them both to their feet.

"I believe you're good doctor would like to inform you about what's been going on in Port Charles since you chose to run away in the middle of night quite a few years ago. But, I don't think that happens to be any of his business."

As Alexis completed her turn to see who was behind them she caught sight of someone reaching for Cameron. He was pulled from her side violently and sent to his knees with a fist to the jaw a couple of steps away. Her steps toward him were halted as she heard the dead voice again.

"Leave him alone, Alexis. If he behaves no harm will come to him. But, you and I have some unfinished business. And as I don't wish to remain out here in the open… why don't you invite me into your home?"

As incensed as she was at the treatment Cameron was receiving, Alexis marveled at how calm she was now that she was once again face to face with Sonny Corinthos.