Chapter 10

Alex sat in one of the chairs in the waiting area. Everyone had left and she sat alone, trying to process all that had happened that day. Alex felt horrible for leaving Sara alone, and nothing anyone said was going to change that. I can't believe I was so selfish! She thought, balling her hands into fists and fighting to keep the tears back. She had cried enough today.

"It's not your fault," a voice said from behind her, and Carly came out of the shadows to sit next to her. "I couldn't sleep, and the kids are with Jax and Courtney at the apartment. I was worried about Sara."

Alex kept her head down, looking at her hands. "I was selfish Carly. I knew she wasn't feeling well and I left her alone with Adam. If he had woken up, he would have been so scared. He wouldn't have known what to do . . . she could have died," Alex finished in a whisper.

Carly put her hand on Alex's shoulder. "Alex, Adam is a smart boy . . . I mean; he made his way here from Washington. He could have picked up the phone and dialed 911 . . . Sara was teaching him that. And it wasn't you being selfish Alex, it was you being in love and wanting to see the man you have missed all week. There is nothing wrong with that," Carly insisted with a smile. She had to admit that she had been shocked when Jason admitted his love for Alex, but she saw how they were with each other and she felt that Alex was good for him.

Alex looked at Carly, knowing how the other woman was going to feel about what she had to say, and Alex did not have the energy to contend with Carly Corinthos. "Carly, I ended things with Jason tonight. It's over."

"What? You're kidding me right? Alex, don't do this to yourself or to Jason. He loves you." Carly couldn't believe it and was ready to wring both Sonny's and Lorenzo's necks at this point, since she knew they had something to do with this.

"Love it not always enough Carly. Jason and I can't be together."

"You can't be with Jason or you don't want to be with Jason? There's a difference Alex."

Alex knew that Carly was right. She did want to be with Jason. She had never felt this way toward a man before. Jason did something to her, something wonderful. He made her believe that she could be loved. But she shook her head. If she could convince Carly of her reasons, then she could convince herself that she was doing the right thing. "I can't be with him Carly. I don't want to be the cause of him being hurt, or even killed, and that's what will happen if I stay with him.

Carly looked at Alex sympathetically. She could see how much Alex loved Jason and how much leaving him was killing her. "Lorenzo will not hurt Jason, Alex. I know your father, and he wouldn't do anything to destroy your happiness."

"I don't know that Carly and neither do you. How much do you really know about my father? You paint him as this great guy that would do anything for the people that he loves. You do remember how he kidnapped you? Kept you from your family while you were pregnant? Manipulated you at every chance he had. Yeah, Carly, my father will do whatever he has to to protect those he loves, even if that includes murder." With that said Alex got up and walked to the elevators. She needed to be alone, to think without people telling her how she should be feeling and what she should be doing.

Sara opened her eyes slowly. The room was dark; however, she knew she was safe and not alone. Letting her eyes adjust slowly, Sara turned to look down at her right side and saw Lorenzo, his head lying on the bed beside her, his hand on hers, fast asleep. A smile came to her lips and Sara let her hand run down the side of his face. "Beautiful," she whispered.

Lorenzo felt something caressing his face and smiled before he opened his eyes and looked up at Sara. "Hey, what are you doing awake?" he asked her, sitting up and bringing her hand to his lips. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she answered him. "You look tired."

"I'm fine," Lorenzo said as he smoothed her hair back from her forehead. "You had me scared there Sara," he whispered, looking deeply into her eyes.

"Yeah, I was scared too . . . but at least now I know what's going on . . ." Sara said with a small smile and shook her head. "After all those tests and the doctors telling me that I could never have children . . . and now, I have this miracle growing inside of me Lorenzo, a miracle you and I created together."

Lorenzo nodded, taking her hand in his and stroking her hair. "It is a miracle Sara, but I am worried about you going through this." Lorenzo had missed so much in Alexandria's and Diego's childhoods and he had vowed to himself that if he ever got another chance, he would be there, but it scared him to think that something could happen to Sara.

"Lorenzo," Sara whispered. "Everything will be fine. I know what the risks are and I know what I need to do."

"I don't know what I will do if I were to lose you Sara," Lorenzo said. "I plan on being with you through all of this and of being a part of this child's life right from the beginning. But I can't do it without you."

Sara looked at Lorenzo, puzzled as to what he was getting at. "Lorenzo, what are you saying," she asked, her voice coming out in a whisper.

"I am asking you to marry me Sara. I want you and our child in my life always. Will you marry me Sara?" he asked, pulling a small black box from his pocket. He had been carrying it with him until the time was right, and now was as good a time as any.

Sara's eyes widened as she looked at the box and then she looked up at him. "Lorenzo," she whispered. It took her a moment to finally get the word out as tears filled her eyes. "Yes. Yes Lorenzo, I'll marry you."

Lorenzo slid the ring onto her finger, loving the way the diamond glittered as it caught the light.

"I love you so much Lorenzo," she whispered as she leaned closer to him, kissing his deeply.

Lorenzo had been ready to battle Sonny when he went to pick Sara up from the hospital, but was surprised to not see the other man there. He also didn't see Alex and was disappointed about that. There was a lot he needed to talk to her about. "You ready to go?" he asked Sara as he entered her room.

Looking up, Sara gave Lorenzo a weak smile as she slowly stood up. "Yes," she whispered, "I'm ready to go."

Lorenzo hated that she was still looking pale and weak and he rushed over to her, helping her to stand. "Sara, you don't look so good, maybe you should stay here another day or two."

"No, I want to go . . . I can rest at home Lorenzo," she then looked down. "I'm fine. Sonny was here a little while ago and we got into an argument. I guess it tired me out more than I thought it would."

Lorenzo's eyes clouded with anger. "What did he say to you?" he asked, angry that Sonny would cause Sara to be stressed at a time like this.

"He wanted me to stay with him and Carly. He doesn't want me to associate with you and Alex. He wasn't too happy about our engagement either," she said, looking down at the ring on her left hand. "I told him I wasn't going to give up either you or Alex. I can't and refuse to."

Lorenzo nodded, elated on the inside that she had chosen him. "Sonny does tend to become obsessive when it comes to his family, but you are also now my family Sara, you and our child, and I will not allow him to dictate your life. I don't want to worry about it." I will just make sure to have a talk with Corinthos myself, he thought as he led Sara out to his waiting car.

Sara didn't have the strength for another argument and just nodded, getting into the car. After driving for a couple of minutes, Sara realized they were outside of Lorenzo's building and looked at him curiously. "Lorenzo, I thought you were taking me home. What are we at your place?"

"Because you need to rest in peace and quiet. And because I want you to move in with me as soon as possible," Lorenzo said as he helped Sara out of the car and into the apartment. "Diego is going to stay with his mother for a while," he added when he saw Sara looking around.

Sara turned to Lorenzo, a small smile on her face. "Lorenzo, I'm happy that you want me to stay with you, but I have so much to do. Alex can't take responsibility for Adam by herself."

"Sara, Alex and Adam will be fine. You need to worry about yourself and this baby right now. I told Alex to call me if she needs anything and Diego is also going to help her out. And don't forget the whole Corinthos clan," said Lorenzo, urging her to sit on the couch and handed her a glass of water.

Sara smiled at the thought of Carly with Michael, Morgan and Kristina coming to help out with Adam and learning Sign Language. "Alex has her hands tied teaching them all how to sign, I'm guessing I'm going to have my hands full teaching you."

"Believe me, I am a willing student," he said with a gently smile. "Sara, after we're married, I want to adopt Adam as my son. Is that okay with you?" Lorenzo had been worried about asking Sara this, being afraid that she would say no. He knew that his lifestyle could be dangerous at times, but he wanted Sara and his children in his life and that included Adam.

"Oh, Lorenzo," Sara leaned up and kissed him in the lips. "Yes."

Lorenzo kissed her back and then gently pulled away. "Okay, you relax and I will make us something to eat," he said as he got up off the couch and headed into the kitchen.

"You know, I could possibly get used to this," said Sara as she leaned back on the couch with a smile on her face. "Relaxing while you do all the work."

Lorenzo laughed. "Then get used to it my love, because you will not be lifting a finger until that baby is born."

"Alright, but on one condition. You let me do whatever I want. Shopping, going to see Alex, going to my brother's . . ." she knew that would make him stop whatever he was going in the kitchen.

Lorenzo came out of the kitchen. "Sara, I know you love your brother, but Sonny is a hard man and until he can accept us, he will make things that much more stressful on you and you do not need that right now. I would rather that if you want to see him, you not be alone."

Getting up from her spot on the couch, Sara went to him and took his hands in hers. "I know that you're worried about us, but we're fine Lorenzo," she said, placing both their hands over her abdomen. "The doctor said that I'll be fine and so will the baby."

Lorenzo shook his head. "Sara, I will not take any chances. Please, just do this. I don't always have to be the one with you . . . God knows just having Sonny and I in the same room is stressful enough. Alex is more than capable of handling Sonny and I know she would do anything to protect you."

With a sigh, Sara nodded and then pulled him into a tight embrace. "Okay, I'll do it. Just promise me that I can at least get to do a lot of shopping," she said with a smile.

Lorenzo smiled back at her, seeing the twinkle in her eyes. "As much as you like," he said.

"Good," she whispered into his ear. "Because I'll be shopping a lot in a department that you would like," Sara ran her fingers through his short, black spiky hair.

"Then I guess I will have to give you unlimited access to my credit cards," Lorenzo said with a smile. "And you are not going to distract me, sit. Lunch is almost ready."

Giving him a pouting look, Sara went and sat back down on the couch.

Lorenzo brought the food out and made sure that Sara ate all of it before he was satisfied. He was just cleaning up when he heard a knock on the door.

"I'll get it," said Sara, getting to the door before he could and her eyes widened when she saw Adam standing there with Alex. "Adam!" she said without signing. Holding her arms out she raised an eyebrow when he didn't move. "Adam. . ." she signed. "What is it?"

"Alex said that you are going to have a baby and that I have to be careful," the little boy signed, although he was itching to hug his new mother, but wanting to be careful at the same time.

Looking to Alex with a smile, she opened her arms. "Come here," she said aloud, knowing that he would understand.

Adam went into her arms and hugged her.

Enfolding him in her arms, Sara hugged him until he began to squirm and she moved back and stood up. "Why don't you two come in," she said, hugging Alex next.

"Are we bothering you? I know you should be resting, but he was pestering me all morning about coming to see you," Alex said, avoiding looking at her father. With all that had been going on, Alex had avoided talking to him too much, especially about Jason and all that had happened between them.

"Pestering?" Sara looked at Adam with a shake of her head and then led Alex to the couch. "No, you are not bothering me. I'm just glad to be out of the hospital . . . overjoyed in fact."

Alex was glad to see her friend looking so happy, even if she did look tired. "Look, we won't stay long, I just wanted Adam to see for himself that you were okay," she said, still avoiding her father's eyes and Sara's pointed looks.

"Sweet God Almighty, will you two just TALK to each other and NOT fight for once . . . it's for my own good," Sara said when they both looked at her, the last being said with a pout and a touch on her belly before she got up, kissing both Alex on the head and Lorenzo on the cheek. "Talk." She then took Adam into the other room.

Alex looked up at her father. "She can be really pushy, you know," she said after Sara had disappeared with Adam.

"I'm beginning to realize that. I'm also starting to wonder if she's Carly's long-lost sister instead of Sonny's." He then looked at his daughter and went to sit next to her. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry dad. You were right."

Lorenzo's eyebrows came together in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"About me and Jason. You don't have to worry about me anymore dad. There's nothing going on between us," she said quietly, looking down at her hands.

Lorenzo looked at his daughter, letting a hand come up to her cheek. "You love him, don't you?" he said suddenly in realization.

Alex's eyes flew to her father's face. She shook her head. "No." But she knew deep down that she was lying. "Look, I need some air. I'll pick up Adam in an hour," she said as she jumped off the couch. She needed to get away, to run like she always did when her feelings became complicated.

As soon as she was at the door, Sara was standing there with her back against it. "The bedroom, now."

Alex opened her mouth to protest, but when she saw the look in Sara's eyes, she knew she was defeated. Rolling her eyes, Alex turned and stormed into the bedroom.

Nodding to Lorenzo, Sara went into the bedroom and closed the door and went to lie on the bed. "Come, sit down," she said, too tired to do this standing up.

"Sara, you're tired and need to rest. We can talk later," Alex protested even though she went and sat beside her friend.

"Stop running away from everything," Sara started. "You've been doing it all your life. It took a long time for you to talk to your father and then you fell in love with Jason . . . who happens to be your father's enemy. That's a lot to deal with. You also told him last night that you couldn't see him anymore. Alex . . . you're depressed and it's frankly getting on my nerves! You two belong together. Now will you just get off your lazy ass and go to Jason. Please? I will deal with Lorenzo. I want you to be happy. Jason makes you happy." Sara was determined to make Alex see how foolish she was being.

Alex shook her head. "Sara, you're in no condition to handle my father and you have no idea what I am feeling right now!" Alex practically shouted, feeling bad about yelling at Sara, but not being able to help it. "At this point, Jason most likely wants NOTHING to do with me! Look at who my father is! That is something that will hang over our heads all the time!"

"How dare you think that I don't know what you're feeling. You have no idea how much it hurts me to see you go through this. At least you knew who your father was when you were little, at least you knew his name . . . I didn't get that privilege! Try having your parent's murdered when you were 18 and tell me again how you think I don't know what you are going through. Stop being so paranoid and look at what you are putting yourself through! Jason happens to love you for you, not because of your name! I also have a thing or two on that as well. My brother happens to be Sonny Corinthos . . . so I defiantly know how it feels. I thought Lorenzo would hate me as soon as he found out, but he didn't. Jason doesn't hate you either."