"No ones luck lasts forever Sonny, maybe your not as good as you think."

"Maybe I am"

Somewhere, when Sonny Corinthos wasn't looking he'd begun to change, not drastically; it was as subtle as his feelings for Alexis Davis. Feelings that had transformed from deep friendship and admiration, to an unspoken love that he'd never experienced in his life. It was natural, and whole and so different from anything he'd ever felt that he hadn't realized what it was until she'd slipped right out of his life. Alexis had threatened to move away in the past, and he'd always found himself panicking, at first he'd thought it was out of loneliness for Carly and Michael, but he soon realized how wrong he was. He'd treated her like a stranger, and it wasn't until she was gone for good that his feelings for her began to rage within him, shouting out his wrongs, pleading to be reconnected with the heart of the woman he'd held in his arms for one brief shining moment, when they'd let their guards down and loved each other. So many sweet memories, her body pressed against his, the taste of her kiss, the soft caress of her fingers against is heated skin, her touch was so gentle, yet she was as passionate as he'd always known she would be in their lovemaking.

The thought that they'd created a life that night, made sense to him, it had been right just as he'd told her… he'd known from the moment she chose not to walk out that door that they were going to create magic that night… they'd created a little life that night for all the right reasons, out of love and respect… he recalled how he felt that night as he'd come back to bed, nestling up being her, the feeling of contentment and new beginnings. Loving Alexis had been a gift, and he'd thrown it away, he had to wonder if letting go was the best for everyone, Alexis and their child would finally be safe from danger if Sonny Corinthos died.

"Where's that Corinthos strength?"

Sonny found himself in the middle of Jason's penthouse, only it was decorated much like it had when Alexis lived there, hesitating he finally walked toward the terrace doors and looked out, all he saw was a golden aura of light filtering in, he felt her presence and turned to face Kristina who he found studying him carefully.

"Your wondering why you're here, maybe you should be asking yourself that," She smiled at his irritable expression, "when our souls leave our bodies, we tend to go somewhere safe, connected, and loved… do you know why you chose this place?"

"Alexis," his voice was barely audible, "I could always talk to her… she could make me laugh, even in my worst moods."

"You had quite a few of those," Kristina smiled, he frowned which caused her to chuckle," same old Sonny."

"Yeah, you too, " Sonny said, "you too."

"I'm glad it's out in the open about the baby."

"You said if I looked deep enough inside my heart I'd know the truth… but I already knew, I've known for along time."

"I spoke those words, because I wanted you to see your mistakes, you were running Sonny, running from something good, because you believed you deserved no more, the problem with that … is that even if you thought you were doing the right thing, you were actually inflicting damage… you hurt her in away that only you could, she put her trust in you, she believed in your friendship, and she believed that you would never use her feelings against her and she thinks you did that, " Kristina brought her hand up and placed it on his shoulder, " my sister always believed in you, she saw the darkness that surrounded you, but she saw in you what most people don't… your goodness…her love is pure."

"I…" Sonny hesitated, " I told her how I feel, it's not easy for me… but I wanted her to know that I do lover her."

"You need to listen to me, for once truly listen with your heart… I told you upon my first visit bad things were coming and you might believe it's over, but more things lie ahead, not nearly as dangerous as what transpired… but dangers of the heart, and dangers of your personal assets… Alexis is a strong women, yet we both know there is a side to her that's a scared little girl running from the ghosts of her past, it's up to you Sonny to face your mistakes, fight for what you truly want, forget the past, and give your heart to her, prove to her that you love her as much as you say you do… it won't be easy, but I think you already know that about Alexis don't you?"

"Do I deserve another change at life Kristina?" Sonny asked, " instead of being here, should I be in the bowels of He…"

"Did you ever stop and think, the people who love you, pray for your life everyday?"

"I never really thought about it."

"You focus on the negative so much, you can't even see the good… my sister prays for you, your Father, you sister Courtney, even little Michael, and Brenda she prays for you as well… and it may surprise you but angels pray too."

"Do you?"

"Of course, and your in them… and before you can ask why, I'll tell you… in my eyes your family, you gave my sister the gift of life that is growing within her, but there are others that pray for you as well Sonny, people you have touched, that love you as much as they did when they were living on earth."

"I miss my friend."

Sonny turned from Kristina and followed the voice that stood by the fireplace, his eyes widened in surprise… Stone, his last memory of Stone was his once strong presence weakened by the ravages of disease, but here he stood just as he'd looked before the effects of AIDS had withered his body to dust.

"It can't be." Sonny was afraid to touch him, he reached out and the two men shared a long embrace, Stone released him and stepped back.

"It's me Sonny, I have a short time, so my message will be brief… you've loved only one woman in the way you love Alexis, it's special, it's rare, and this time it's for keeps, but it's up to Sonny to make the final decision, were pulling for you to do just that."

"That's right Michael."

Sonny again turned to face the front door of the penthouse where Lily stood before him their son at her side, " We've been down this road before haven't we?"

"Yes," Sonny choked out, his eyes traveling to the dark haired bow holding his Mother's hand.

"I know what family means to you Michael, you chose to live before, you wanted to stay with Carly and Michael… isn't Alexis worth living for?"

" I just don't want to inflict anymore pain on her than I already have."

"Believe me Sonny, if you choose to die, "Kristina began, coming up beside him, "you'll be hurting her beyond repair… does she deserve that?""Of course not, " Sonny replied, " I love Alexis, she's carrying my child, I couldn't have picked a better Mother… I think my Mother would love her, I know she would."

"Mi hijo esto es verdad" (My Son this is true)

Sonny stood still, slowly he turned on his heel toward the stairway, she stood on the third step, surrounded by an illuminating light, her dark hair in soft curls and the reflection of his own dark eyes staring back into his...

"Mama es realmente usted?" Sonny asked his voice shaking with emotions, tears forming in his eyes. (Translation: Mama, is that really you?")

"Es yo mi niño, e I a venir con un mensaje" she approached him and extended her arms out tohe hesitated scared to touch her, and so she stepped closer and embraced him, the release of tears flowing from his eyes. (Translation: It is my child, and I to come with a message.)

She kept him close to her heart and spoke gently and lovingly to him, "Ella es especial mi hijo, ella ve el bueno usted como siempre," (translation: She is special my son, she sees the good in you as I always did.)

Sonny nodded, not able to let go of her, his Mother was here with him, he felt like a young boy again, seeking comfort from a skinned knee and here she was soothing his worries, he could merely say, "Si, Mama."

She smile warmly, stroking his head as she had when he was young and scared,"Recuerde a muchacho que llevó a su madre al ballet clásico,Recuerde nuestras épocas mejores juntas, Ésas son memorias que se guardarán cerca del corazón y compartidas con la mujer que usted ama, compártalos con su Alexis hermoso."

(Remember the boy who took his Mother to the ballet, remember our better times together, those are memories to be kept close to the heart, and shared with the woman you love, share them with your beautiful Alexis.)

Sonny looked up at her, his eyes red rimmed, " Mama I ha incurrido en tan
muchas equivocaciones." (Mama I have made so many mistakes.)

Adella smiled, nodding, " " La asustan para abrir su corazón en usted,pero apenas como que determinaron al muchacho joven para llevar a su madre el ballet clásico, Sé usted se probará ser el hombre maravilloso que ella conoce que usted es."

(She is scared to open her heart to you, but just as that young boy was determined to take his mother to the ballet, I know you will prove yourself to be the wonderful man she knows you are)

Sonny pulled back and stared into her soulful eyes,"Te amo mama, y le falto."
(I love you Mama and Miss you.)

She smiled brightly her eyes crinkling at the edges, and Sonny noticed he'd inherited his dimples for her, "Te amo mi hijo y cuando su niño nace usted sabrá lo que me sentía cuando le sostuve en mis brazos para la primera vez, él ser tiempo para mí para ir, pero yo ser siempre cerca por mirar sobre usted, Alexis ser traer en su vida para uno razón mi hijo, asimiento sobre ella."
(I love you my son and when your child is born you will know what I felt when I held you in my arms for the first time, It's time for me to go, but I'm always close by watching over you, Alexis was brought into your life for a reason my Son, hold onto her.)

Sonny was once again alone, he was left with a sense of hope he'd never felt before… in the distance he could hear a voice calling to him, the voice wasn't just calling him back, it was ordering him back, leaving with Sonny with the decision to stay or go.

You know what you are to me now? Someone who matters, someone I need too much
to push away. What am I to you? I mean, what are we to each other? You're
like a dance, Alexis, and I'm not talking about drunk on rum in Puerto Rico.
You -- you -- you like to dance around me, and that's fine because I -- I
like to dance with you, too. But not tonight. You forced me to choose, and I
-- I chose you. I wonder, if the positions were reversed, would you choose
me?

Alexis stood above Sonny, the doctors working frantically around her, they'd tried unsuccessfully to remover her, but each time they had, she'd merely moved her way back into the room… it was when the heart monitors had gone off, that she'd become enraged with him, all the memories of Kristina washed over her and the things he'd done since the night they'd made love… she began to yell at him.

"You can't do this time me!" Alexis shouted, "your just going to die, give up, leave us behind because what, you think you'd be doing us a favor? I know you Corinthos, you'd do just that if you thought it was protecting the baby and me, but let's get one thing straight I will never forgive you for this! I will spend the rest of my life making sure your rest in the great beyond is anything but peaceful… if you want to prove you love me, then fight damnit, don't take the easy way out… you told me once if I had to choose, would I choose you… well I did, haven't I proven myself to you Sonny, I won't cry, I refuse to cry over you… if you die, you did it, you took the easy way out!"

Jax entered the ER upon Monica's request, he gently reached out to touch Alexis and she flinched, " Alexis, please let them do what they have to, we'll be right outside."

"This is where Kristina died… do you know that Corinthos, we stood outside that very room and you held me in your arms and I fell into them, like it was so natural to be comforted by you, like all the other times you did just that… no questions, no words, just your arms reaching out to hold me and I need those arms now! YOU can't die Sonny… I never even got to tell you that I love you, you jerk… I love you!" The tears began to fall, she tried unsuccessfully to shake them away, but it was to late they fell like rain upon his face; she leaned close and kissed him softly on the lips, "damn you Sonny, damn you."

Apprehensively Jax and by now Zander approached, pulling her out of the room as gently as possible, her resistance was strong, but they managed, she turned toward the window and looked through touching the glass as Jax came up behind her.

"Don't say it, " Alexis said shakily, keeping her back to him, her eyes still fixed on Sonny," don't tell me everything will be okay… nothing's been okay for along time… the only thing I have left if our child, do you know I want this baby to look just like him, to have those beautiful dark eyes, and those dimples… she's going to be a real heartbreaker when she gets older… who's going to chase away the droves of boys that come flocking around… that was supposed to be his job…I could see it so well, Mr. Tough guy, sending bodyguards out to watch out forhis little girl… probably causing her to lose her temper… you know she's going to have a temper with the blood running through her veins… it's inevitable."

"I'll watch over her… but don't count Sonny out just yet, he's been down this road before." Jax replied.

"Well at least he got it right this time… he said I love you before he took the bullet."

"Sonny told you he loved you Alexis?" Jax asked surprised.

"Even if he didn't mean it… he did say it, " She retorted, looking back toward Jax for a moment.

"I think he meant it Alexis, even if I don't like to admit it, I believe he loves you."

"It doesn't really matter now does it?" Alexis sighed," he's choosing to give up."

Monica approached them, " does anyone know where Carly is?"

Jason who'd been staying on the side lines approached, " I've been trying to reach her… I called Bobbie, she's on her way to Club 101 to get her."

"Sonny's stable at the moment, but he's lost a lot of blood and he's going to need a transfusion, I the next of kin to sign the consent forms and since he's got a rare blood type…"

"Brenda's a match." Jax said.

Monica nodded thoughtfully," your right Jax, but since she's being examined for possible narcotics in her blood stream… but lucky for us Zander's a match and has agreed to donate… but we can't do anything until we get those forms signed."

Alexis turned away from the window and sniffed, "I'm not Sonny's attorney anymore, but unless he's changed it, he relented under my pressure to have Mike Corbin added as next of kin, in case of life altering decisions… he's on his way isn't he?"

"He's already here, so is Courtney." Jason said, " I'll go get Mike."

As everyone milled around outside, Zander took the opportunity to enter the ER, Sonny was stable but in guarded condition, the heart monitor beeped normally, and Zander had a wave of another memory…

"Is he going to be ok?"

"That's what the doctors tell us. "

"What was he doing there?".

" He was climbing from my terrace to yours in an attempt to rescue us."

" Alexis, we're on the 17th floor."

"I'm trying not to dwell on that. He was going to sneak in and hit him over the head with a pipe, I think. But the door slammed shut, Sorel heard him and shot him."

" What did he think a pipe was going to do against a loaded gun? See, sometimes he -- the kid does not think. That -- that's -- that's his problem."

(Zander wakes up)

" Sorry. "

" Zander, it's ok."

" Oh. I screwed up again."

" No, you know what? It's my -- it's my responsibility. I shouldn't have stayed away so long."

" You came when you knew." Zander defended.

" If I had thought clearly, Sorel wouldn't have gotten near you. That's -- that's what I keep trying to tell you. If you don't think things through, things happen, people get hurt. I did that. I apologize. "

" Stood up. That's all that matters. You told me that. I'm sure that applies to you, too."

"Zander, look at me. If anyone ever holds anyone in your family hostage, you don't strap a bomb to your body. You call the police. "

" Yeah, but I thought Sorel would panic, you know, and he'd shoot if the cops showed up."

" Hey, you know what?"

" I thought you'd want me to keep it quiet."

" You did good. You did good."

" You know, Carly did a lot. Is she -- she going to be ok?"

" Yeah, she's fine. "

"She's a fighter. "

" Yeah, she is."

" Hey, Sonny? Take care of Alexis."

" You're not asking too much, are you?"

" Just sleep, will you? Everything is ok, all right?"

Zander approached Sonny warily, " I know something bad went down between us… I don't know exactly what it was or when it was but I remember a time when we were friends, when you cared what happened to me, and I asked you a favor. I asked you to take care of Alexis…I'm holding you to that Sonny, you taught me to follow through with my promised, and that's what I expect of you now."

"He cares…deep down he does."

"What happened, did I do something wrong?" Zander asked, "I lost our friendship too, didn't I?"

"No, you never lost my friendship Zander… that could never happen, you've become to special to me," She smile softly and caressed his head, " and he's made some terrible mistakes and when you remember, your going to be angry…I think he should be the one to tell you, he's got a lot of explaining to do."

"You two were like parent's to me." Zander said tearfully.

"So how do rank?" Alexis asked cocking her head to the side," are we going to be any good at this parent thing?

"Besides the arguing," Zander replied, smiling, "your kids is going to be damn lucky to have the both of you."

Reaching out, he pulled Alexis into a hug, she embraced him tightly, " Zander I need you to do something for me… what happened at the church is to stay between the two of us, no one will ever know but us."

"I'll know."Alexis and Zander turned toward the hospital bed in surprise, and Sonny stared at them through his lashes, fighting the medication.

"I'll get the doctor." Zander replied, running out the door.

"So you decided to live." Alexis said.

"Someone's got to watch out for you." Sonny replied.

"I think I take care of myself pretty well." Alexis shot back.

"So well, you confessed to a crime you didn't commit?"