Chapter 20

"Sonny? It's Alexis. It's over. It's all over. Carly signed just a few moments ago."

"What about Jason?"

"There was so much going on today, that I thought I would wait until I knew what Carly was going to do before I told you the rest. Jason signed this morning."

She heard the catch in Sonny's voice and waited for him to process the fact that he was now Michael's legal sole guardian. She had been calling him Michael's father all along to get him used to it. There was no doubt in her mind what the outcome would be. But, the fact of the matter was, Sonny was Michael's guardian, not his father. There was only one way to accomplish that. And she would discuss it with him later that night.

"Can I come by and thank you properly?"

In her mind she recalled what Carly's threat against her and Johnny's reaction to it; and as much as she wanted to see Sonny, needed to see him, she felt that Johnny needed her more right now.

"Sonny, I need to spend a few hours with Johnny first. Something happened while Carly was here that affected us both pretty strongly. And before, you go getting weird on me... were both fine. We just need a little time to deal with it. We'll tell you about it when you get here at 8:15. Okay?"

Sonny then remembered her nightly ritual, which now included Johnny. He knew by the sound of her voice that she was okay and just needed some time. He put aside his envy of Johnny and allowed her to have the space she needed.

"Okay, that's fine. I'll see you at 8:15 sharp. Take care and call if you need anything. I love you."

"Thank you, Sonny. And Sonny..."

"Yea"

"I love you, too."

She hung up and went to join Johnny for a couple of hours of poker. They did not discuss what happened with Carly, they didn't discuss their past, they didn't talk about anything serious. They simply played cards and had a good time with each other. And as the clock neared 7:30 Johnny looked up from the Royal Flush in his hand, to the $50 pot between them and folded. He stood, took her hand and together they went up to the roof.

Johnny knew that as unusual as this ritual of hers was to him he wanted to be a part of it. But, he also knew that it had been a hard day for Alexis. As he opened the door to the roof, he squeezed her hand and let it go. He wanted her to have time alone with her mother if she needed it. To be able to release the tensions of the day without prying eyes. She looked back at him and studied him to see what he was thinking.

How could he know that as much as she wanted him here with her, she also needed time alone with her mother tonight? She reached up and kissed his cheek and walked toward the railing.

He watched her walk away. Tonight, she wasn't as sure of herself. He could see the droop in her shoulders from the weight she was caring. He stood silently and prepared himself just in case she needed him. As he watched her progress through the ritual he gradually saw her shoulders straighten and her head come up. She was releasing into her mothers care all of the worries of the day and she was coming out from under it all.

After a few moments, Sonny saw her look back and reach out her hand to him. He went to her and put his arm around her waist and felt hers go around him. As he looked down into her face, he knew she once again gained comfort from her mother. He sighed deeply as he felt her rest her head on his shoulder. And for the first time in many years, Johnny felt at peace. They stood there for a time together not really wanting to break the silence or the cocoon of peace that surrounded them but Johnny knew his little sister needed to see Sonny. So he very gently turned around with her without breaking contact and began to lead her back downstairs. And just before, he closed the door to the roof behind him; he looked again toward the horizon and whispered, "Thank you."

By the time they got back downstairs, Sonny had arrived bringing a full course meal with him. They all sat down at the table and for a few silent minutes enjoyed each others company and fed their physical hunger. Finally, Sonny couldn't stand it any longer.

"Will one of you tell me what went on today?"

And Johnny, as only Johnny could, told Sonny.

"Carly pulled a gun on Alexis this afternoon."

"WHAT?" Sonny stood so abruptly the back of his legs sent his chair flying across the floor.

Alexis looked at Johnny with half a grin and retorted, "Couldn't you have found a less dramatic way of saying it?"

"HEY, do either of you guys see me standing here?"

Alexis stood up and looking at Sonny with love and amusement questioned him.

"Do you see any bullet holes here? See any blood at all? Johnny took care of it. I'm fine, h'es fine, were all fine. Calm down."

Alexis saw the fear in his eyes, she saw the love, but she couldn't address it right then because Johnny was still here.

Johnny watched the exchange and knew he needed to get out of there. So he rose and began walking toward the door when he heard Alexis stop him.

"Wait Johnny, before you go I need one more thing from you. Both of you wait right here for a moment."

Alexis went to her bedroom and pulled an envelope out of her briefcase. As she stared at it, a smile grew on her face. She hoped she wasn't out of line on this one, she really didn't think she was though.

But, you could never tell with a man like Sonny.

As she walked back into the room, both men looked up from their conversation. Alexis knew Johnny filled Sonny in on the events of the afternoon, at least those that pertained to the legal business, and Sonny looked reassured that everything was ok.

"Sonny, ever since you walked into my office a little more than two weeks ago, you have referred to Michael as your son and I have allowed it because I wanted you to know that I fully believed everything would turn out in our favor. But, you know that you are not Michael's father legally. You are his guardian. Everything that happened today sealed the fact that Michael belongs to you now permanently. But, I don't think you're going to be satisfied with just being his guardian."

The longer Alexis talked the more agitated she saw Sonny getting and the more agitated Sonny got, the more uneasy Johnny became. She reached over and laid her hand on Johnny's arm to reassure him and at the same time slid the envelope she carried in with her over to Sonny.

Sonny hesitantly opened the envelope and began to read the document enclosed. He immediately saw what it was, laid it down and dropped his head onto his arm to hide his face from Johnny. He did not want Johnny to see his face. Johnny again started to leave, but Alexis couldn't let him yet. She still needed him. She walked around the table and bent over Sonny. She placed her hand on his arm...

"The only reason I need Johnny here is to sign his name as a witness. If this is what you want, I'll give him a pen and we can let the poor guy go. He's miserable sitting over there."

Sonny didn't raise his head, he simply caught her hand with his free one and handed her the document with his other. Sonny still couldn't look up.

Alexis disengaged herself from Sonny and turned to Johnny.

"Johnny, in order for this document to be legal, it must be signed by a witness. But, that witness has to know what he is signing and has to be in complete agreement with the document." She looked back at Sonny who still had his head down.

"This is a contract of adoption that will legally make Sonny Michael's father..."

Before she could finish explaining it to Johnny he growled, "Give me a pen and let me get out of here."

Johnny took the contract in his hand and without ever looking at Sonny very decisively signed his entire name where Alexis pointed. John Mitchell Cassadine.

"Can I go now?"

Alexis kissed his cheek, took the contract, folded it and sent the poor guy on his way. She was too intent on Sonny to watch Johnny sign his name and as she watched Johnny leave she turned back to Sonny.

Sonny finally looked up at her and took both of her hands in his kissing each one. He turned back to the document picked it up with great care. He began reading it again and stopped suddenly. He looked back up at her with a mixture of awe and wonder. He noticed the date on the document. The document dated back to two weeks ago, the morning he left her to come back to Port Charles.

"Did you really do this two weeks ago?"

"Yes, I told you. I'm good at what I do."

"Lady, you sure are. But, right now, I want to know what else you're good at."

Alexis allowed Sonny to lead her into the bedroom and quietly shut out the world as he set about proving to this beautiful woman just how much he did love and need her. This was their moment; all others would be measured by this one moment in time.