Chapter 19

Silence followed the small group until they were standing in the middle of the living room. Alexis felt Cameron reach for her and she took his hand, squeezed it once and let go. This was something she knew she needed to do herself. It was enough that he was there and would still be with her after Sonny was gone. Focusing her attention on the father of her child, she quietly opened the door for a conversation that was 14 years overdue.

"So how did you find me?"

Sonny cut his eyes cruelly at her.

"I've known where you were for a few years now."

"How did you get past the security at the airport?"

"I didn't arrive by plane."

"Every port on this island is guarded, Sonny. How many people died in order for you to be standing here now?"

Ignoring her question, he chuckled cynically.

"You're guards aren't what they should be, Alexis. It was a bit too easy to get to you. What happened… get a little too complacent? A little too comfortable? That's not like you, Alexis."

She refused to allow him to taunt her into a verbal battle of wills. It wasn't worth her time or effort.

"Okay, so you found me. What do you want, Sonny?"

"I want what's mine."

Walking past him, Alexis moved toward the fireplace and sat down on its edge. No one could have known the quaking going on inside by the way she was handling herself. But, it was so very familiar to her. Although the years on the island had brought her a wealth of happiness… a time to raise her daughter in peace and quiet… that which she left behind was forever waiting just below the surface to rise up and take over if she allowed it. But she was strong now; she knew her strength and she could stand on her own once again. And there was Alice to stand with her… and now the knowledge that Cameron had never let go of her. She could face Sonny… strong and in control of her fears. She looked up and sadly recognized the look on his face. He was lost… he was fighting himself now more than ever before. But, there was something else she saw in his eyes now. Sonny was going down and he was reaching out for anything to grab on to in order to save himself. He wanted Kristina; the one person he thought would save him. For now, he need not know what she knew regarding Ned's disclosure of Kristina's parentage.

"Not that there is anything on this island that remotely belongs to you, but just for the sake of curiosity. Whatever it is that you think is yours, why did it take you so long to come for it?"

Cameron moved to stand beside her.

"He's been pretty busy the last few years Alexis, and he doesn't want you to know what's been going on back home."

Nodding toward his bodyguard Sonny growled. "Shut him up,"

Alexis watched in horror as the bodyguard grabbed hold of Cameron and turned him around slamming his fist into his face hard enough to knock him out. She stood immediately and screamed at Sonny.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, SONNY? You have no right to walk into my home and assault my guests. This is MY home; MY island and you are not welcome here. Now get out and take your… associate with you."

Attempting to get to Cameron to see if he was okay, Alexis felt a grip of steel grab her around the arm and she was suddenly whipped around to face Sonny.

"I have every right to be here, Alexis. And I'm not going anywhere until I have what's rightfully mine."

"LET GO OF MY MOTHER."

Alexis felt her heart leap into her throat as she and Sonny turned simultaneously toward the door to find Kristina there ready to launch herself into the fray to protect her mother. Understanding what would happen if Sonny didn't let go of her, Alexis reached up and covered Sonny's hand with her own to hide the evident strength of his grip. Looking toward him she saw the shock on his face at the sight of the small child who stood before him shooting daggers at him with her eyes. Turning back to Kristina she tried to introduce her child to the man standing beside her.

"Kristina, honey. This is…"

"I know who he is and if he doesn't let go of you right this minute then he'll wish he had."

As she felt his grip loosen somewhat, Alexis pulled away enough to put some space between them. Her eyes never left her child and for the first time saw a rage in her daughter that she had never seen before. Her precious child was filled with dark rage and Alexis did not know why.

"You know who he is, Kristina?"

Before Kristina could answer, Sonny took a step closer and Alexis watched in concerned confusion as her child took a step away from him. In all the years on the island, Alexis never once saw her daughter retreat from anyone.

"Kristina, I'm your father and I want to…"

"Father? I don't think so."

"It's true. And I think if you'll ask your mother…"

She was slow to react to what Sonny was saying. She couldn't believe he could be so callous… so unfeeling. Jolting herself out of her shock she swung around to face Sonny enraged at his lack of compassion.

"Are you insane? You can't tell a child…" Alexis stopped when she heard Kristina interrupt her.

"I don't have to ask my mother who you are. I'm not stupid."

Kristina looked from Sonny to her mother then to the other occupants in the room. When her eyes fell on the strange man face down on the floor her face grew darker and her eyes shifted back to Sonny.

"Who's he? Somebody got in your way… so you took care of him, right?"

For the first time in her young daughter's life, Alexis could hardly recognize her. There was a mass of confusion racing through her mind at Kristina's reaction to the stranger in their home. She heard the words, but the venom and subject of her words was so unlike her. From the words her daughter was speaking, Alexis could only surmise that Kristina was so angry with the way her mother was being treated that she was lashing out with abhorrence toward the man who seemed to be threatening them. As she took a step toward Kristina she was again stopped by Sonny's hand on her arm.

Turning to him, she hissed. "If you keep laying your hands on me you are going to see the only real part of my daughter that I'm not too proud of; and that's the temper she inherited from her father. She is very protective, Sonny. Now get your hand off of me before I have a child come unglued and possibly hurt herself."

"What did you do… turn her against me, Alexis? Is that how you dealt with MY child?"

"Frankly no. I've never mentioned the name of her father to her. I didn't think she was ready to deal with a man of your caliber."

Alexis turned back to her daughter while pulling herself out of the grip Sonny was trying to maintain on her arm. She stopped cold at Kristina's next words.

"It's funny how you both keep talking about this man like he's supposed to mean something to me. Problem is I really don't think it's funny enough to laugh at. Father? Maybe. Or would the more proper word be… no wait… I think it's the bigger word." Her face became a study as she pondered which word would be descriptively best. "Bio… Biological. Yeah I think that's the right one"

"Kristina, I don't think this is the right time to be questioning terminology."

"Why not, Mom? I think it's a perfect time. I'm trying to figure out how to say something right and he's standing over there trying to figure out ways to hurt you and take me away from my home. Violence vs. education. Interesting concept don't you agree, Mr. Corinthos?"

Alexis' jaw dropped as she heard her daughter correctly call Sonny by his name. Something was going on… her daughter knew Sonny Corinthos or was at least aware of who he was. Her thoughts stilled as she heard Sonny next to her.

"So, just to make sure she wants nothing to do with me, you make damn sure she only hears the down side of my life. What gives you the right to decide what my daughter gets to know, Alexis?"

Alexis whirled around to face Sonny to answer him then turned back toward her daughter as she heard the tone of her voice change again. Kristina was fighting… fighting for the life her mother loved her enough to give her so many years ago.

"Back off my mother, Mr. Corinthos. And for your information I happen to agree with what my mother did to protect me. Would you like to know why I agree or do you just want to stand there and keep threatening all of us?"

Sonny's voice lowered as he addressed his daughter.

"I'm not threatening you, Kristina."

"Oh yes you are; in the worst way possible. Just by standing in this house you are threatening all of us and if you'll wait a minute I'll show you why."

Watching Kristina leave the room, Sonny turned back to Alexis advancing toward her menacingly suddenly stopping as Alice stepped between him and Alexis. He was so intent on Kristina that he hadn't noticed anyone else enter the room. He reached up to push her aside and found his arm being thrown back at him.

"Not another step," Alice said in her most threatening tone.

"Get out of my way. I want to talk to Alexis."

"Not until Kristina is finished with what she's doing."

"And just what do you know about any of this?"

"Enough to know that what that child wants… what is best for her is what Alexis and I want and if you can't fall into line behind that then find the door."

Alexis reached up and lay her hand on Alice' arm pulling her gently back.

"Alice… please don't get him upset with you. I can't afford to lose you to one of his temper tantrums. And what do you know about what Kristina's up to?"

"I don't know, but she does and that's good enough for me. She's a smart kid who knows right and wrong. And she knows how to figure out who to keep around her and who to send packing. So I'm just gonna wait until she proves why she hates this guy so much without ever seeing him before."

"She's not old enough to know what's in her best interests yet, Alice."

"That's where you're wrong, Alexis. You and I know what this guy is capable of, she's never met him and has already sized him up. You can see it in the way she looks at him."

At that moment Kristina walked back in carrying a handful of newspaper clippings and stopped just as she reached Alexis. Pulling one from the top she shoved it at Sonny throwing the most hurtful words she could at him.

"I don't want to end up dead like Michael and Morgan."

Alexis gasped aloud and turned to Sonny while reaching for Kristina to pull her closer. The look on his face instantly confirmed Kristina's words. Kneeling down beside her, Alexis placed both hands on the sides of Kristina's head and forced her to look at her.

"What have you been up to, Kristina? Honor bound, tell me what's going on."

"You mean you lost control of your own daughter, Alexis?" Sonny sneered.

Alexis shot Sonny a warning glance and just as she was about to turn back to Kristina felt the child move and back away from all of them. Rising to her feet she glanced at Alice then Cameron who was just beginning to come around and when she turned back around and found her daughter holding a small gun in her hand and it was pointing straight at Sonny.

"KRISTINA. NO. Where did you get that?"

Sonny visibly paled at the sight of his own flesh and blood holding a gun on him. At the look on his face, Kristina smiled the slightest bit. Now he knew.

"Stop yelling, mom. It's not real. I just wanted Mr. Corinthos to know how it feels to be scared… like he scares everybody else around him. He doesn't care who he hurts or who gets killed around him. Not even his own kids. Look at the paper, mom. Look what he did to his own kids."

Kristina waited until her mom pulled the paper from Sonny's hand and began to read it. She took a small step forward because she knew her mom would be upset about the article.

Skimming over the article, Alexis felt her heart fill for two boys who lost their life one night in the middle of a mob war. It was a story of two innocent boys who were simply going to meet their father for a night out; meeting only fate in the end. Ironically in the warehouse that was rebuilt after her sister died. Michael, taking over the coffee business from his father… the older brother who stood tall in the eyes of the younger trying desperately to save them both and failed. And it was a story of a grief-stricken mother who took her own life at the loss of her two sons. A family obliterated through the arrogance of one man who refused to give up his obsession for power. Michael, Morgan and Carly Corinthos; gone leaving Sonny to go on alone… until he remembered his firstborn. Before her eyes could rise to meet Sonny's, she felt her daughter's hand hesitantly find her own. She looked down into sad eyes… eyes that begged her to understand and not be angry… a tiny voice afraid of hurting someone who meant the world to her.

"I'm sorry, mom. All of this is my fault. He wouldn't be here if I had just listened to you. But, I wanted to know for myself who my father was outside of just being the other half of me. And every time I asked you… you couldn't tell me. I know that you were just trying to protect me, but I wanted to know what you were protecting me from, so I started asking around and looking things up in the computer at the library. Now I wish I didn't know."

Kristina turned to Sonny throwing the little water pistol at him.

"Did you hear me? I wish I didn't know who you are. But, that wouldn't be the truth. See, even with everything mom knows about you, she tried to keep me from knowing the truth… she did everything she could to protect me from being killed like my Aunt Kristina. But, we Davis girls don't like living with lies and I knew mom was having a hard time because she couldn't tell me the truth. She didn't want to hurt me. Can you say the same thing… 'daddy'? What can you do for me that could ever be better than what my mother did when she moved us to live here on the island? My mom gave up her life for me. What did you give up? What did you do for Michael and Morgan to protect them from getting blown sky high like my Aunt Kristina? Go back to your bombs and guns, Mr. Corinthos, and leave us alone. I'm right where I want to be… with my mom and Alice. We don't need you around here messing up our lives. Go home… I don't belong to you and I never will!"

Alexis knelt beside Kristina and put her arms around the child pulling her close to try and calm the anger and fear that was causing her to tremble uncontrollably. She was trying desperately to figure out how her 13 year old daughter could know so much about Sonny and his world, not to mention her Aunt Kristina. Her daughter's secrets were finally being heard.

"Shhh, Kristina. Calm down, my little one. You're not going anywhere. I've told you since before you could walk that you and I would never be separated again and I meant it."

"Make him leave, mom. I don't care who he is anymore. He doesn't belong here with us. What if he stays and brings all the bad people here and… and… what if he does something that makes you get killed… or Alice… or… or… or me…"

"I won't let that happen, Kristina. Your mother and I will continue to keep you safe."

Kristina's eyes slowly left the face of her mother and looked around to find the owner of a strangely familiar voice… the soft and comforting voice she had only heard once in her life. It was the face she looked at every time she went into her mother's bedroom; minus the beard of course.

"Cameron?"

Hearing her daughter call out to Cameron as if she knew him… Alexis again looked at her with shock then turned as she felt Cameron move to stand beside her.

"Hi, Kristina."

Alexis lost her balance as Kristina suddenly threw her arms around Cameron's neck.

"You came. You really came, Cameron. I didn't know it was you. Your face is all clean now. You came. Look mom, Cameron came to help us. He came."

Watching Cameron hold onto her daughter, she reached up to wipe the tears from her face; tears that weren't lost on the angry and sullen man that looked toward his bodyguard once more. He stopped the command as he heard the sound of his daughter's small voice.

"Make him go away, Cameron. Don't let him hurt my mom anymore. Make him leave."

As Alexis heard Cameron quietly answer her child she turned and approached Sonny.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but if you have any decency left in you, use it and give my daughter what she needs most right now. Please leave our home. Once I've had a chance to calm her down… talk to her and find out how much she knows I'll call you. Get a room in town and leave your number with Alice. I'm asking you to just once think of someone other than yourself, Sonny. Go back to town. She will not listen to anything you may want to say to her in the state she's in right now. All you will accomplish is upsetting her more. I won't allow that. You'll have to kill me first."

"That won't be necessary, Alexis."

Alexis glanced at Alice who now stood beside her facing Sonny. The small movement of her hand drew her attention and she heaved a heavy sigh.

"Not you too, Alice. When in the hell did I lose control of my own family? You know how I feel about…"

Alice interrupted her. No one was going to threaten her family and get away with it.

"He's not going to hurt her, Alexis. I'll kill him first."

Sonny looked from the 9mm in Alice's hand back up at Alexis.

"I'll go for now. But I will be back, Alexis. You are not going to keep my daughter away from me any longer. And you might want to get rid of all the little guns around the house. They're not very safe. I'm surprised that you would allow fire arms in your home."

Alexis took a step closer to Sonny and leveled an intense glare at him.

"It seems that my friend and my daughter are more willing to do what is necessary to protect us all than I was willing to do. But, that ends here and now. You are a threat to us, Sonny. You and the life that follows you around like a plague. I can see now that you won't be satisfied until every one who ever had a connection with you is dead and buried. I'm sad for you, Sonny. Because you will never know the happiness and peace that could have been yours if you had only let go of that insane need of yours to own the world… to have power over everyone and everything within your realm. What really tears at my heart is the life you must have forced on your sons all in the name of keeping them safe. How many times did you promise to keep them safe, Sonny? Now if you wouldn't mind… please leave our home."

Alexis coldly watched Sonny and his associate walk to the door. He walked as though he were a dead man. Bent and shuffling… he looked back once when he reached the door. His eyes traveled around the room before falling on his daughter who clung to Cameron Lewis and then to Alexis standing tall and proud and free of him.

"It's all your fault, Alexis. Everything was fine until you walked out on me. None of the past few years would have happened if you had kept your word. What was it you told me, Alexis? Friends forever? You did this and you'll pay for it just like your mother, your sister and your father paid for the mistakes they made. I'll be back and I'll be taking my daughter with me."

Alexis took hold of Alice's arm as the woman moved toward Sonny.

"No Alice, I'll take care of this."

Alexis took the few final steps that brought her close enough to touch Sonny. Looking deep into his eyes in hopes of finding some small part of the man she fell in love with so long ago, she sighed with regret when she realized he was completely gone. The man standing before her, held no conscience, no heart… her friend of so long ago was finally and absolutely extinguished. She reached up and smoothed the lapel of his shirt then straightened his jacket for him. Her face was unreadable until she began to speak to him.

"Sonny, now that I'm aware of you… of your intentions. Make no mistake… I will protect us from you and it no longer matters to me how I accomplish the feat. You see, on this island, what I say goes. You have no authority here. Don't underestimate me. I'm not the same woman who left Port Charles thirteen years ago. I understand what it means to love someone enough to do what's necessary to protect them. You haven't learned that lesson yet. Given all that you've lost, I wonder if you have the capacity to learn from your mistakes. What I do know is that neither my daughter, nor I will be sacrificed on the altar of your ignorance. Now if you'll do all of us the honor of leaving our home… you are not welcome here."

She sadly watched him walk through the door. Any hope of Kristina ever having a father she could be proud of was now gone and it tore at Alexis' heart. So much potential in one man... so much wasted potential. She then turned back around to find Cameron still comforting her daughter. Uniquely wonderful, Cameron! They were still holding on to each other and Cameron was quietly talking to her, speaking soothing words that only she could hear. Alexis didn't realize there were tears cascading down her cheeks until Kristina looked up to find her. And then before the next breath left her body her arms were once again filled with her precious child and the world was again balanced. She looked up just as Cameron knelt down beside them and smiled when he wrapped his arms around them both. As low as her heart had been only moments before, that was as high as it was now looking into the eyes of the only man in her life who never gave up on her or walked away.

"Will you stay?"

"Always, Alexis. My life is with you… it always has been. You've always had my heart in the palm of your hand. What amazes me is that this little girl… this beautiful little girl did for us what we couldn't do for ourselves. She found me and made it possible for me to find you. I love you Alexis, and I will always have a very special place in my heart for your daughter. Because she gave me the one thing I have lived for… dreamed of for the past thirteen years. She gave me you."

Between them they suddenly felt Kristina giggle and looked down to find her merry eyes looking up at both of them.

"Are you guys going to get all mushy now? Because if you are, I'm going to find TK and tell him about everything that's happened."

She looked at Alexis with mischief before looking back at Cameron.

"She needs a lot of mushy, Cameron. So don't worry about me coming in and spoiling everything. I'll get lost for a while and when I come back I'll just go on to bed and see you in the morning. You are spending the night aren't you, Cameron?"

Cameron and Alexis were laughing so hard they found it difficult to answer. Alexis kissed her daughter on the forehead and pulled her into tight hug.

"Kristina, I love you more than there are words. But you also know that you and I are going to have to sit down and talk, little one. There are a lot of explanations you owe me, but first I want to thank you for bringing Cameron back to us… back to me. You knew I needed him. When did you grow up, my precious little girl?"

Kristina grew quiet and faced her mother fully before answering.

"I had to grow up quick, mom. I couldn't let you deal with 'him' on your own anymore. He's my father, it doesn't mean I have to like it. It's best that I know exactly who he is so that I can really understand why you had to protect me. I didn't like what I learned about him, but I'm glad I did. You've always told me that living with truth is much easier than living with lies. And it's true. We can be stronger now because we know the same things. And with Cameron here and knowing everything too… well nobody can hurt us now. But, I want you to promise me something, mom."

Alexis looked up at Cameron and felt her heart warm at the encouraging smile he was giving her. Such a beautiful face… more beautiful than the first time she laid eyes on him.

"What promise, Kristina?"

"I want you to promise me that you will tell me how you could have loved a man like that. It doesn't make sense. Not when I know you love Cameron like you do."

Pulling Kristina close she lay her child's head on her shoulder and tightened her arms around her.

"Tomorrow, Kristina. Tomorrow I will tell you why and how I fell in love with your father. Now I think maybe I need to talk to Cameron for a while."

"Talk, mom? Don't you mean 'kiss'?"

Alexis laughed fully as she rose to her feet. Reaching down she placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders and turned her around. Blushing profusely she gently pushed her toward the door.

"Go, Kristina. You're embarrassing your mother.' Then turning to find Alice, "Make sure she gets to TK safely, Alice. We still have to be very careful for now."

Alice took hold of Kristina's hand nodding her understanding and started to lead her out the door, but Kristina wouldn't move until she had the answer she wanted.

"But, what about Cameron. Is he going to stay?"

Alexis looked back at Cameron and melted beneath the gaze of his eyes and without looking back toward her daughter answered without taking her eyes from him.

"Yes, Kristina. Cameron is staying. He'll be here in the morning and every morning after that. Now go find TK… and Kristina… ask Gail if you can stay at her place tonight. Cameron and I need some time to… discuss things."

As Kristina bolted out the door Cameron raised his arms and pulled Alexis close.

"You do realize I have a lot of rearranging to do before I can move out here in the middle of nowhere?"

"We'll work it out. Besides I figure I only have a few more years of island life before I can move back home. Once Kristina is in college, it won't be necessary to stay here."

Remembering Thomas' declaration days before, Cameron leaned back and looked into Alexis' eyes.

"Well, maybe I'll just submit a request for an extended sabbatical. We'll decide where to go from here at a later date. I have a feeling though that the decision will be taken from us before too much longer."

"What do you mean, Cameron. Has Kristina told you something that I don't know?"

"No, but Thomas has. He's in love with her, Alexis. He wants to spend the rest of his life taking care of her."

Feeling the tension rise within her, he continued quickly.

"He knows she's too young right now and he accepts that. His goal is to complete his college education and in about 4 years he'll approach you with his feelings. You have time to get used to the idea. Besides how do we know what Kristina will feel in four years? She may not be ready to settle down with Thomas."

Alexis leaned forward and lay her head down on Cameron's shoulder knowing in her heart that she didn't have much time left with her daughter and she felt an ache settle deep inside.

"She'll be ready, Cameron. Kristina may not be aware of it right now, but she loves TK and time will only deepen what she feels for him. TK has been by her side from the first moment he laid eyes on her. Much like someone was for me until I made it impossible for him to continue. Kristina will love Thomas Kale just like her mother loves Cameron Lewis. It's inevitable. You know, you and my little girl have an awful lot of explaining to do, but for now can we leave this and get on with what we're supposed to be doing?"

Cameron grinned.

"And just what are we supposed to be doing, Alexis?"

She reached up and began to slowly unbutton his shirt looking up at him seductively.

"Why getting reacquainted with my doctor, of course."

Cameron reached up and caught her hands in his and looking around found the door he was looking for. Walking backward he led her out of the living room toward the hallway and looking into each room finally found the one he was looking for, knowing instantly it was hers at the sight of a single photo on the table beside the bed.

Drawing her down to sit beside him on the bed, he reached over and picked up the photo. Looking down at it a moment he smiled then looked back at Alexis.

"I don't think you'll be needing this anymore, Alexis. I'm here now… in the flesh… and I want you to do something for me that you've never done before in all the years I've known you."

"And what is that, Cameron."

"I want you to kiss me like you love me. Kiss me like you would a lover and then I want you to let me make love to you. I want to love you like I've dreamed of loving you since the first day I found out you weren't nuts. Love me, Alexis. Love me like you've never loved anyone before in your life."

Alexis stood up and faced Cameron. Reaching out she placed her hands on each side of his face then placed a knee on each side of his hips straddling him gently pushing him back to lie beneath her. Leaning down she kissed him softly then placed her lips just above his heart before laying her head down where her lips still warmed him and whispered…

"I came here to protect Kristina, but being here day after day alone… in the way that a woman feels alone deep inside when the one she loves is absent from her life; I learned so much about myself. Having Kristina, fighting for her the way I had to… it taught me that I can fight for the things I want… and win. I learned it was okay to love the way I've always wanted to love. It was okay to admit what I felt for you. As much as I wanted to call you… to tell you where I was… I couldn't until I knew for sure that Kristina would never suffer because of my past. In a way, loving her taught me how to love you. I've never loved anyone this much before so you're going to have to help me express a feeling that is unfamiliar to me." She looked up and met his eyes. "Can you, Cameron? Can you help me love you the way you want to be loved?

A tide of love, lust and want ripped through him and he threw his arms around her turning quickly until she lay underneath him.

"I never thought… never dreamed it could be this real. I'm having a hard time believing that I'm actually here… that you're here… in my arms. It's been so long since I was able to look into those beautiful eyes of yours and fall so deep I didn't care if I ever escaped. Make me believe it, Alexis. Kiss me."

She gently pulled his head down to her and took possession of his lips. A gentle loving kiss that enticed and titillated. Separating her lips she searched for an entrance and felt his body relax into hers. Cameron was home and he knew it. Whatever the future held they would face it together. The two of them and one extremely precocious child who did what no one else could. She bridged a dozen years and brought together two people who were destined to be one… destined to love each other for an eternity. Wrapping herself around Cameron, Alexis opened her heart, life and body to all the things that had once been so elusive. She opened herself to receive everything Cameron offered… everything that she thought never to experience in her life. Alexis Davis breathed.