They had begun to set things in motion. The meeting with the incoming heads of families was set. Billy was working hard as usual, she and Carly avoided each other on Sonny orders. Sonny visits to Alexis was curbed upon Billy's request.



-I'm going to kill you!-

-What? What I do?-

-I haven't seen Sonny in a week! What did you do?-



Billy new this conversation was coming, truth be told she'd been dreading it.



-I told Sonny that he needed to handle his marriage before Carly ruined all my work. I also told him that you needed your space and that I was taking you out of Port Charles with me.-



Alexis blinked.



-Thank you.-



Billy blinked.



-Thank you for making my choices for me. Thank you for making him SEE reason. OH what would I do without your wisdom of two years.-

-Lexy.-

-Shut it! I'm a grown woman I've been through hurricane Sonny before. I know what's going on, I'm awake in everything. I know how Carly works I was dealing with her long before you where. Here what I never liked Sonny always preempted my decision and that pissed me off.-

-Then what Lexy! What? You gonna wait till he done with Carly what if he never is. She acting up now, what happens when she behaves?-



Alexis looked at her as sure as she did when told Sonny that she still loved him.



-I'll deal with it on my terms not yours or his or anybody else's. It's not my fault he doesn't love me, but I'm not going to hurt myself by trying not to love him. He will know that there is a woman, a GOOD woman out there that loves him for everything that he is. Unlike Brenda it's not flawed and conditional, unlike Carly it's not a struggle it's simple and true. When he gets tired of that he'll come to me, until then I will be his friend. YOU don't get to dictate.-

-I'm sorry I was trying to protect my friend.-

-Don't be. Now about leaving.-

-Yeah I was thinking Greece or Paris. I've never been out of the Country.-

-Billy.-

-You need to get out of here Lexy your coming with me.-

-I know I just said that I was a grown woman.-

-I need you to help me Lexy.-



Alexis became silent.



-I'm not doing to good.-



Alexis sat down.



-It hurts a lot inside. I've been so busy protecting everyone I care about that I hadn't realized that even after my break down I'm fucking falling apart.-

-Billy.-

-I can't take this. Three years of this shit and her memories.-

-I thought.-

-I lied I didn't like the looks on people faces they all had hope.-

-You been high lately.-

-Couple times sense he raped me.-

-How many?-

-Three.-

-For fuck sake Billy you should have told me. I knew this I'm fine business was bullshit! I should have known better.-

-I just need to get away.-

-I just need and I'll be fine. Anthem of the addict you tell Sonny.-

-Lexy not with this shit hanging over our heads.-

-Fuck lotta good it going to do you of if your high Billy. You tell Sonny let him deal with his own shit and Jason.-

-NO!-

-You think he doesn't know. You don't know Jason.-



Billy began to cry.



-Call him now.-



Jason had move closer to PC at Billy request. He found that he couldn't stop thinking about her. She was back on drugs, he could tell by her actions. She stayed away from a lot of people until it wore off and then she pretended. One thing Billy didn't need was to fall into Elizabeth habits so he told Courtney that he had work she couldn't come to the cabin this for a while.



Billy shows up there and he sat her down and they began to talk. Hours, days, weeks gone by. Billy was suffering the shakes, and throwing up, cold sweats and she looked like shit. Jason sat with her through it all, oh and she cried a lot. She cried about trying to kill herself she cried about being a hooker. She told Jason in gory detail about her time as a hooker things she did high she never wanted to do again. He didn't like those stories but telling someone made her feel better so he listened.



Alexis came up the next week and she told them both about being clean. What being a whore was like then. Alexis had this look of horror on her face but she listened. She talked about being a dancer how that felt a whole lot cleaner even if it wasn't. She told Jason about the fantasy she had after dancing at his bachelor party. Alexis went home and she continued to clean up, three weeks passed and Billy was clean again. She was also spent tired of crying and talking. So she and Jason just sat in silence.



Alexis needed to see Sonny.



-Hi what's up?-

-It's Billy.-

-She finished cleaning up.-

-How did you know?-

-That break down was only the beginning.-

-Um she told me things Sonny terrible things. I had to be strong for her, but I wanted.-



Sonny pulled her into his arms.



-She's just a kid.-

-No Alexis that a women who because of her life is older and smarter then all of us. She'll survive and pull us along with her, she just needs us to help her from time to time. You did that.-



She smiled the best she could and he resisted the urge to kiss her. He ran his thumb over her lips and sighed. Alexis smiled and back away.



-I'm sorry Alexis.-

-Don't be.-



Carly had walked and watch what happened in silence.



-Hello Carly. Goodbye Sonny.-

-Alexis.-

-So what did she want?-

-To talk as usual. Where have you been?-

-Working at the club.-



Sonny frowned she was lying he called they hadn't seen her all day.



-So where's Billy girl. Haven't seen her weeks.-

-She been busy and I gave her the week off.-

-That nice a relief from the chaos.-

-Carly you okay?-

-Yes, couldn't be better.-



A sudden chill ran down Sonny. Billy was right he hadn't been paying attention. Carly had already gone to far, he knew cause she was too calm. If Jason where here he would have known, things suddenly became very clear to him like he'd been in a haze for the last year or even the months sense Jason died.



-Carly you didn't go to the club I call where did you go?-

-I did some unneeded shopping I didn't want you to get mad.-



Sonny had to curb his need to say your lying.



-Okay you didn't slip the guards did you?-

-Only for an hour.-

-Carly!-

-I wont do it again promise. I'll bribe them.-



She said jokingly. He didn't like the way she said that.



-Carly.-

-Kidding bye honey.-



He watched her go then walked out. Johnny fallowed he dial his phone.



-Hey Sonny what's up.-

-Carly made her move and I think it's really bad.-

-How bad?-

-I don't know but I think two of our men where bribed.-

-Okay I'll handle it.-



Billy hung up the phone.



-What did she do?-

-I don't know but Sonny is worried. I have to go.-

-You can't you not whole yet.-

-Never have been this is going to have to do. Be ready.-

-Yeah.-



Billy didn't announce to anyone that she as back she moved around quietly asking simple questions. She didn't like what she heard, Carly had gone way to far to come back now.



-Court.-

-Where've you been?-

-I needed a break Sonny gave me the week off.-

-Carly gave me something and I thought I should talk to you before I flew off the handle.-



It was a tape a good one of her and Jason together. Not in the sense the tape suggested but still. Billy began to see the pattern, while Carly was plotting she'd be distracted with Court and Sonny.



-I feel off the wagon I clean up with Jason. I kept my hands to myself beside after what I told him I don't think he'd even want me.-

-He always wants you. Are you telling me the truth completely?-

-Yes.-

-You where doing drugs?-

-Yes.-

-I'm sorry.-

-Don't be .-

-Why did she do this? How did she do this?-

-Court fly to New York, shop visit and don't ask any more questions. I'll fix this I promise.-



Courtney didn't question she did what she was told. Billy called Hayden and pushed up the meeting date.



-You sure bout this darlin?-

-Yes Hayden I am.-

-Fine it's done. Anything for you darlin.-

-Thanks Hayden.-



Billy came home, Alexis was playing with Kristina.



-You going with me to Greece Lexy?-

-Yes.-

-Really?-

-Yes I want to. It will be good and Sonny will think about us seriously.-

-Good, your gonna have to leave soon, the next two days.-

-What happened?-

-No one but me and you will know this, I didn't tell Courtney or Jason and I sure as hell won't tell Sonny until the meeting is over.-



Alexis sat down and listened. Then she turned pale.



[tbc]



AN: For Cara Mia you posed good points I hope I addressed them. The Author.