Chapter 10

"So how are we going to proceed, Alexis?"

"We're not, Ric. At least you aren't."

"Alexis, don't do this alone. Let me help you."

Smiling at Ric, Alexis turned from the balcony and laying a patient hand on his arm walked past him back into the apartment. Ric followed closely behind agitated that Alexis suddenly seemed to be shutting him out.

"Alexis, you need help to do this even if it's nothing more than just being in the room when you confront Sonny. I can be there to support you and if necessary keep him from getting out of hand."

Stopping by her desk Alexis reached for her purse and keys then turned back to answer Ric.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I do need you Ric. I need you to take care of something very precious to me. While I'm busy tearing the heart out of my daughter's father, I need you to take care of her for me."

"But, Alexis..."

"No buts, Ric. I have to do this my way and just moments ago you said you would respect my wishes in this matter."

His shoulders slumped a bit as he gazed at her knowing that all he could do was just what she asked of him and nothing more. If they were going to be able to build a foundation of trust between them, they were going to have to respect each other's independency.

"Is there nothing I can say that will change your mind?"

"No, Ric there isn't." Alexis stepped closer to Ric and allowed him to see her fear and her determination. "As much as I would welcome your presence with me when I confront Sonny, the need to protect any future relationship you may have with your brother is more important. Family is important, Ric. When all is said and done... they are all we are left with. Someday Sonny will understand that and when he does I don't want something you may have done on my behalf to be standing in the way of a reconciliation between the two of you."

Awed by this woman's ability to put everyone else's needs before her own, Ric studied her for a moment looking for any tell-tale sign that she might be wavering in her position. He found none. While facing the monumental task ahead of her she chose to protect him and his future. Reaching out he drew her into his arms and held her gently giving as much of himself to her as she would allow.

"Just remember one thing for me, Alexis. You are my family as well. And while I'm taking care of Kristina and you're doing what must be done... put to rest your fear and concern over your daughter. I will not let anything happen to her while she is in my care."

Alexis smiled softly and returned his embrace. "I'm not worried about placing my daughter in your care, Ric. I know she will be safe with you."

Ric felt his chest swell with happiness as he let Alexis' words sink into heart. She was trusting him with the most important thing in her world... her daughter's safety. He pulled her closer and tightened his embrace. His whispered, "Thank you" was choked and he pulled away turning abruptly away from her to hide his emotions. It wouldn't do for Alexis to think him weak... not now... not ever.

"I should probably get going and let you get prepared for tomorrow."

"Not yet, Ric. I need you to stay with Kristina for a while if that's alright with you."

As Ric agreed to stay as long as she needed, Alexis turned back to her desk. Laying her purse down she picked up the phone and dialed the first professional number she memorized when she moved to Port Charles so long ago at the behest of her brother, Stephan. Her stomach in knots she waited for an answer.

"Dara? This is Alexis. I need to speak with you as soon as possible on a personal matter. Do you have any free time tomorrow?"

Ric stood quietly beside her and wrapped his arm around her waist... Her face told him she was determined... her body told him she was scared. He pulled her closer and urged her to lean on him as she completed the call.

"Thank you, Dara. I'll see you at nine, then."

Hanging up the phone, Alexis let her head fall softly to Ric's shoulder. There was no turning back now. The one task that she hoped would never come to pass was no longer a question mark... She turned and pulled Ric closer. She needed his strength... his support... his care. Resting her head underneath the curve of his jaw she drew a deep breath and released it slowly. His arms were warm and comforting around her. She was loathe to leave the circle of his arms, but there was no other choice. She needed to prepare for tomorrow. Sighing heavily she stepped back and as their arms fell away from each other, Ric suddenly caught her face in his hands and leaned down to lay a whisper soft kiss on her lips. She was unaware of her body's reaction to his overture until she realized they were no longer standing apart. She was holding onto him as though her life depended on his next breath and the force of his arms was threatening to take her breath away. The keys that she never laid down clattered to the floor and surprised them both. The loud noise caused them to jump apart.

Ric shyly spoke first. "I'm... I'm sorry. That was... inappropriate. I didn't mean to take advantage of a bad situation. I just... just..."

"...got lost in the moment?" Alexis chuckled with embarrassment.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Don't worry about it, Ric. It seems I was just as willing to get lost. I guess with everything that is going on... it's okay. No harm done. I think it's best though if I go and take care of what I need to before it gets too late... so you can get home at a decent hour."

Turning swiftly she reached for her purse and jumped slightly as his hand fell on her arm. Looking back toward him, her eyes found his for the briefest of moments before she dropped them again uneasy with the tension in the air now. She looked down at the floor to find her keys when they were suddenly being held out to her. It stunned her to see Ric's hand tremble a bit. She looked up again to meet his eyes as she allowed him to place her keys in her hand. What she saw in the depth of his eyes caused a wealth of confusion to settle on her.

"Ric?"

"Just go, Alexis. Please. I need you to go... "

"Are you alright?"

"No... Yes... I don't know. I need... I need to figure out a few things and I can't do it if you're here. So please... go do what you have to. I'll be fine by the time you get back." He laughed softly as a red hue spread across his face. "Maybe I'll have a little talk with my niece and ask her what just happened here."

She chose dry humor to ease the tension before she left.

"I would prefer it if you didn't spoil my daughter's innocence just yet, Ric. There is plenty of time down the road for that to happen without you or I trying to explain something neither one of us understands."

Ric watched her turn toward the door and slip through it quietly. He didn't know why he kissed her. He didn't know why she responded so openly. In that moment he simply wanted to give her anything he could to help her get through a difficult time. But, the moment his lips touched hers... he was lost. He felt her lean into him and her arms wrapped around his neck... her fingers slipping through his hair set him on fire and he couldn't reign in his response to a body that met every curve in his own. They held onto each other as though there were no tomorrow. Had Alexis not dropped her keys there was no telling how far they would have gone and that scared him. She needed him to be strong for her... she needed him to be someone she could depend on. There was too much on the line for him to blow it now. But standing there in the middle of her apartment... alone... with the taste of her still taunting him... Ric didn't know how he was going to be able to keep his hands off of her anymore.

Alexis wasn't faring any better than Ric in trying to settle the confusion about what was happening between them. As she drove toward the docks on her way to Wyndemere, Alexis found herself remembering what it felt like to be in a man's arms. In her brief time with Cameron, she wouldn't allow herself to feel the emotions that were natural between a man and a woman. During that time she simply didn't have the capacity to focus on anything other than regaining custody of her daughter. And because of that the chance to see if anything of substance could have developed between them slipped by. She thought of Cameron often and missed him. She regretted never telling him how much he meant to her... how much she appreciated the help he gave her in the struggle to put her life back together. In looking back, she suddenly wondered if Cameron was the one man who could have made a difference in her life. They fought constantly, but Alexis knew in her heart that Cameran had only wanted what was best for her. As she sat there only half concentrating on her driving... thinking of Cameron... Ric's face suddenly appeared in her mind and without noticing a smile swept across her face as she shook her head back and forth with wonder. How in the world did Ric become so important to her and her daughter? How was it that he was able to plant himself so firmly into their lives? And why wasn't she fighting it? In fact she almost welcomed his intrusion into their lives and that disturbed her on more than one level.

On the ferry crossing the channel to Wyndemere with the wind whipping her hair around her face, Ric continued to invade Alexis' thoughts. She came to the conclusion that it was probably his boyish charm that originally attracted her to him. He played havoc with her need to remain reserved and in control of every situation. His constant taunts regarding her 'need to be near him' were ridiculous, but he seemed to be able to get the response he was looking for every time. The wind caught and carried her sudden laughter across the water at the amusement she was finding in the whole situation. But no matter how amusing she now found their daily banter... night was falling and Ric was waiting for her to return home. With that thought Alexis shivered at the visions that unexpectedly invaded her mind. Visions of nude flesh entwined erotically... sounds of passionate release filling her bedroom... the sweet taste of salty skin wet with exertion... arms pulling her close in the aftermath and finally waking to a new day with those same arms reaching for her again.

"STOP IT, ALEXIS!" The man piloting the ferry turned quickly at her angry outburst. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I was just talking to myself. I know... I sound like a raving lunatic."

"Yes ma'am... I mean... No ma'am. Sorry. Just not used to people talking while on board."

Red with embarrassment Alexis replied nervously. "No, I imagine not."

Not wanting to give the pilot any further reason to think her unstable, Alexis turned her thoughts to the task of retrieving the files she would need for her meeting with Dara the next morning. She would meet with Dara first, then encourage Dara to set up a meeting with Sonny at the earliest possible time. Attempting to put together how she would address Dara, Alexis found her thoughts returning to Ric and sighed in defeat. One way or another they were going to have to settle what was between them so she could regain some semblance of control over her errant mind.

Awaiting Alexis' return... Ric was sitting comfortably on the sofa after checking on Kristina. He looked around the room, then got up and started to circle the room looking at all of the knick knacks spread around... toys... books that interested her... files that lay perfectly aligned on her desk... immaculate kitchen with an empty refrigerator save a few bottles and jars of baby fare... perfectly made bed with a robe lying across the foot... Ric suddenly became aware of where his curiosity had led him. He was standing in the middle of her bedroom... staring at her bed... inhaling deeply of the scent that filled the room even in her absence. Stepping further into the room he reached down and picked up the silk robe from the bed. Bringing it up he buried his face in its soft folds and inhaled deeply. His body betrayed him as her image appeared before him... adorned with the robe he held in his hands, its folds partially open to his wandering lust... she lay before him... arms reaching for him... waiting for him to replace the robe with himself. Standing there in her bedroom with visions of her assailing him, Ric shuddered at the intensity of his desire for her. Throwing her robe down, he ran from the room suddenly aware of his intrusion into her private haven. Ashamed of himself he returned to the sofa and falling into it tried desperately to stop the raging fire that was burning out of control in his body. He couldn't let his desire for her ruin the trust she was placing in his hands to protect.

An hour later, Alexis slipped through the door to find Ric asleep on the sofa with Kristina spread out across his chest. 'Lucky girl', she thought then quickly reprimanded herself. Kneeling beside them she lay a gentle hand on her daughters back and realized she was sound asleep. Standing she bent over and very carefully pulled her daughter into her arms completely aware of the touch of her hands against the solidness of Ric's chest. Just as she began to lift Kristina, Ric's eyes opened. Electricity suddenly filled the room generating from the single spark that ignited as their eyes met.

"Uhmm... I'm just going to lay her down in her bed... so you can... go..."

"And if I don't want to?"

"What?"

"Go."

Alexis straightened and turned away. She looked back briefly...

"Let me put her down and I'll come back so we can talk."

"No, Alexis. That won't be necessary. Just let me say this one thing and I'll be on my way."

Concern filled Alexis at what Ric needed to say to her. Did she go too far? Was he upset at the way she kissed him earlier? Her thoughts were flying so chaotically she didn't realize that Ric had stepped closer. His hands reaching for Kristina caused her to jump.

"Hey... it's just me. I can see by the look on your face that you've totally jumped to a wrong conclusion. Let me put Kristina down then I'll come back and we'll finish this. Nothing to worry about, Alexis; so just relax."

Taking his niece from her arms, Ric walked steadily toward her room and gently laid her down. Waiting a moment to make sure she wouldn't wake, Ric bent down to kiss her lightly on the forehead, whispered 'goodnight' then returned to an anxious Alexis.

"I was thinking while you were gone. I think we both realize that there is something going on between us that neither one of us was expecting. Personally I'm intrigued by the possibilities of what could happen here. And I don't want to scare you away or anything, but I think it only fair for you to know where I'm coming from."

Seated on the sofa, Alexis fidgeted nervously and that was the one thing Ric didn't want. He didn't want her nervous around him or scared of him or her feelings. Sitting down beside her he resisted the urge to reach for her.

"Whatever may or may not happen between us needs to be put on hold until this thing with Sonny is resolved. I don't want to be the cause of you not being able to concentrate on what you're doing. You need to be focused on this battle and I don't want to do or take anything from you that will split your attention."

Her eyes were wide with astonishment; her jaw slack in surprise. He reached... and touched her cheek softly trailing his finger down toward her chin and smiling lifted to help her close her mouth.

"Don't misunderstand me though, Alexis. Once this whole thing is resolved... you need to be prepared. I'm going to come after you with a passion that will leave you gasping for breath."

Alexis' jaw dropped again. He was serious. She could tell by the look in his eyes.

"Ric..."

"No. Don't say anything, Alexis. I don't even want you to think about it. All I'm doing is letting you know my intentions and why I'm fixing to get up and walk out that door without looking back. I can't take the teasing by sitting here any longer."

"I'm not..."

"...teasing?" Ric laughed. "Alexis, you tease me every time you walk into a room. And you are not even aware of what you do to me every time you walk within 10 feet of me. I'm not used to a woman having that kind of control over me. So... you stay where you are... I'm leaving. I'll be here at 8:30 in the morning to take Kristina with me until you are ready to have her come home. We won't discuss this evening at all. We are just going to act like it never happened."

"How?" Alexis screeched.

Ric winked at her grinning widely. "The way you always do, Alexis." He rose and turned toward the door. He heard her quiet voice just as he reached the door.

"Ric?"

"Yes."

"You tease me, too."

He walked out grinning like a fool.