Sonny stood before the destruction, the remains of his warehouse now, nothing more than collapsed pillars and twisted metal, stepping inside what had once been the front door, he carefully walked over the rubble, his eyes stinging from the residue that clung to the air from the explosion of the bomb, he let the slow sting seep into his eyes, if this was only the beginning of his punishments then so be it. Glancing down, he noticed something peeking out from the ashes on the ground, bending over he examined the item, only to discover it was a ring. The realization that it was Kristina's caused his throat to constrict with emotion, he looked at the floor feeling the guilt that she had laid dying in the very spot he stood, and here he was alive, he just couldn't understand the reasoning for that, why had God once again spared his life in order to take an innocent one?

Alexis had been right, every word, every accusation she'd thrown at him, was nothing less than the truth. He was a selfish man… a ruthless man… a monster. Sonny shut his eyes trying to recall happier times spent with Alexis, but nothing came, he'd destroyed that the day he's taken Carly back and put her feelings above everyone else's… even his own. It was the day he'd ordered Jason to give Zander the warning of a lifetime that he'd felt he'd morphed into a man he'd spent his life hating... Deke. Only Alexis, could say those things to him, things he'd never told a living soul, those secrets he'd held so close to him, and he couldn't hate her, Only Alexis could affect him that greatly, he ached for her loss she was feeling right now, and he ached for his own loss ... the loss of his soul.

"Sonny?"

Sonny's head which was bowed slowly glanced up, the vision before him was the light of a thousand angels, he hesitated, narrowing his eyes he rubbed his chin, " Kristina?"

"Are you going to spend the rest of your life punishing yourself?" Kristina asked, the expression she wore was that of concern and determination.

Sonny looked around, was this some kind of scam or was he truly seeing an angel, it was Kristina's smile that threw him, " You never have trusted very easily."

Sonny didn't respond to that, instead he looked down at the ring in hand, and then back up,
"Your death was caused by my blind judgment, for ignoring the warning signs that something dangerous was coming my way, I deserve punishment for my sins, whatever they may be."

Kristina glanced at the ring he held in his palm, extending her hand she placed it over his, " I died, because I chose to take a risk, knowing very well what kind of life you lead, " she watched him carefully as he took in her words, " you didn't plant that bomb Sonny, so quit acting as if you did."

Sonny cleared his throat, he eyes began to tear, " Why were you here? What was so important that you had to come to see me?"

"In time the questions your asking will be answered, but if you dig deep enough into your heart, into the very soul of yourself, I think you already know." Kristina squeezed his hand; he looked up surprised by the tender gesture.

"I was never very nice to you, " Sonny began, the guilt rising, " I don't understand why you'd come to me of all people."

"True, we never became close while my spirit walked the earth, " Kristina admitted, " but we share things in common."

"Alexis," Her name slipped from his lips in a sad whisper, " you told me that day in the penthouse that I'd broken her heart, you also told me mine would be broken ... and what did I do I treated you unkindly ordered you out of my house."

"That's in the past Sonny. " Kristina said.

"Along with Alexis," he tried to muffle the sound of despair, but his eyes said it all.

"For now yes," Kristina admitted, then added carefully, " but not forever."

Sonny's eyes widened, " what do you mean by that?"

Kristina remained focused on his eyes, they penetrated into the very heart of who Sonny Corinthos was, " It won't be easy Sonny, she needs to know you are the man she once knew, the man she believed in, the man she loved and that will never happen as long as you live in the shell that you've become."

"I didn't understand when you told me that my heart would be broken, I've had loss in my life, I've had pain, suffering, and I've even felt love before ... but this… the feelings are different, I can't describe it."

"What Alexis gave you was very special, it wasn't something she wanted to give," Kristina said, " the faith she carried in her heart, in those beautiful eyes of hers was for the man she knew you could be."

"And I helped destroy that, " Sonny replied softly, " I destroyed it because, I thought I needed to give Carly a second chance."

"You left the very heart of who you are at the threshold of Penthouse 2 the day Alexis sent you back to Carly." Kristina said matter of factly.

"How did you..."

"Does it really matter how I know?" Kristina asked, when Sonny shook his head, she continued, " You both lost your hearts that day, you both lost your better half, and Sonny it's time to let go of the past, and face the future."

Sonny had spent his life clinging to bad memories, he'd built resentment around himself as a protective defense, he began to remember the small streams of light that had filtered through the darkest parts of his life, Alexis had given him that light in the simplest of ways, just being herself, laughing at his jokes, rolling her eyes at his childish tirades, comforting him when he thought his world could be nothing better. Alexis made him smile in a way no one ever had, those lovely almond shaped eyes that had always smiled at him, even in her angriest moments ... he'd lost that, and he'd lost himself.

"So what should I do?" He asked, and then he realized he was alone, she was gone, just as quickly as she'd arrived.

Sonny shuffled his feet in the debris, clasping the ring in his hand; he felt the smallest sense of hope creeping over him.

Johnny heard his boss call to him from inside, checking all areas around
him, he entered the cautiously, "Mr. Corinthos."

"I won't be much longer, Johnny." Sonny said, glancing around at the
wreckage.

Johnny hesitated before clearing his throat, " I know this might not be the right time, but I need to talk to you."

Sonny took in his bodyguards change in stature, he was no longer standing as
his protector, but more as his equal, he nodded his head slowly, " I'm
listening."

Johnny had known his boss long enough to realize he already had an idea of
what he was about to say, his admiration for Sonny Corinthos had grown daily
since he'd come to work for him, but something had died in Sonny the day
Carly had walked back into his life, and Ms. Davis had walked out, "I've
always respected you greatly Mr. Corinthos, but I feel it's time I move on."

Sonny nodded again, his hands balling into fists, not in anger, but in the
knowledge he'd lost the respect of his peers, he didn't even feel the ring as
it cut into the flesh of his palm, or when the blood began to seep from the
wound, " I'm sorry to see you go Johnny, you've been an asset not only as an associate, but as a friend as well, you'll always be welcome in my home, I hope you know that… I owe it to you and I owe it to your Brother."

Johnny nodded; his mind however wasn't on Sonny's gratitude, but more on the events that had led to this moment. Yesterday had hit home with him, as Ms. Davis had openly berated Sonny in public in front of her Sisters mourners, he'd watched his boss take ever word, every insult, every to hear and that's when Johnny had seen a glimmer of the man he'd once admired. The more his boss tried concentrating on Carly, the more Sonny Corinthos disappeared. Johnny only wished he'd spoken up back then, bit it wasn't his job to interfere in his bosses life, even if Ms. Davis and Mr. Corinthos always made him out to be more." Sonny glanced at his watch, " I better be getting back to the penthouse, should I assume your
not coming back with me?"

Johnny felt sympathetic to his boss, his heart felt the same sense of loss he did, "I'll stay through my shift."

A sad smile flashed momentarily across Sonny's mouth, " I'm sure you have other obligations waiting for you."

"My plans can wait for one night, " Johnny replied, " Mr. Corinthos I've always been loyal, and I'm not going to stop now, my plans can be put on hold for one night."
"Would you call me by my first name, " Sonny demanded, and then said, " I hope that what ever your plans are that they work out for you.""I do too; I do too, " Johnny said under his breath as they left the warehouse for the very last time.

The Following Day...

Alexis stared up at the ceiling, she sat on the couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table and a cold washcloth across her forehead, it was the knock at the door that jarred her out of her reverie, getting up she walked to the door and opened it, "What are you doing here?"
His soft brown eyes crinkled at the edges in a gentle smile, " I wanted to
see if there's anything I can do for you."

Alexis found herself bristling, " Don't you mean your Boss the mobster, sent
you to check up on me?"

"Well, I wish I could say he put me up to it…but, I'm afraid not." Johnny smiled, "I had a feeling you wouldn't be pleased to see me… but what if I gave you this."

Alexis warily took the letter from Johnny," Am I supposed to believe this is for real?" Alexis said waving the papers in his face, "this is probably Sonny's ploy to exact revenge on me." Johnny could see the doubt in her eyes, " This is one time, I'll be happy to prove you wrong… I have Sonny my resignation for one reason and one reason only."

"Am I supposed to guess? " Alexis asked, annoyed.

"I've decided I want to work for you." Johnny revealed, looking down shyly.

Alexis walked away from the door leaving Johnny standing in the doorway; he entered shutting the door behind him, " Hear me out before you start tearing me apart.""Does Sonny know about this?" Alexis asked, daring him to lie to her, " Does he know you quit to come work for the opposing team per say.""Uh… No" Johnny admitted.

"This just doesn't make sense, you have a history with Sonny… and more importantly I'm in no need of a bodyguard." Alexis slanted her eyes in suspicion.

"You're going to need protection Ms. Davis, you were Sonny's attorney, then his friend, and when the truth comes out about the baby… the threat becomes even more dangerous."

"What does my baby have to do with Sonny?" Alexis asked, suddenly defensive.

"It's called details Ms. Davis, " Johnny explained, " your symptoms began before the day at the cottage with Mr. Ashton.""So that doesn't mean anything, " Alexis was nervous, "

"I know Ms. Davis, I know about you and Sonny. " Johnny admitted.

"Oh..." Alexis was speechless her face reddened.

"I think you two had the right stuff to make it work," Johnny replied smiling, then grew somber, " I mean hey it's none of my business I was just the bodyguard… but what I saw…"

"Go on, " Alexis said, hating herself for even caring what he thought, but if curiosity killed the cat than she was in definite trouble, " you know in a lot of ways you reminded me of Kristina right then.""I miss her, " Johnny said, glancing down and then up at Alexis, " Can I admit something to you?"Alexis eyed him warily, " that would be refreshing."

He gave a crooked smile and a blush crept into his cheeks, " I kind of had a thing for Kristina."

In all her sorrow, Alexis couldn't help but smile, " Really?"

"Yeah, we used to have these great conversations, you'd be inside with Sonny and she'd come out looking for you, and it just became this little routine with us, I'd tell her that you two weren't to be disturbed, she do her best Sonny impersonation and I'd say flip and we kind of just went from there." "Sounds like Kristina, " Alexis said, " or it did ... she never told me."

Johnny smiled sadly for the woman before him, " Probably because once we heard you coming, she'd run back inside the penthouse and I'd hide any remains of a smile she'd put on my face… I guess this isn't the best way to get a job."

"Why do you say that?"

"I just admitted that I was flirting with your sister when I was supposed to be protecting you and Sonny… guess I don't get the job.""On the contrary, Mr. O' Brien, " Alexis disagreed, " you just got hired."