Sonny reached for the glass of brandy he'd poured prior to taking off, it had remained untouched, as he'd found himselftransfixedto Alexis' sleeping form. She'd fallen asleep soon aftertake off, which had relieved him, but even in sleep she wore an expression of concern.Zander was in trouble and Alexis wouldn't rest until she made sure he was all right.
He sighed and took a drink; the dark liquid slid down his throat with a slow burn that dulled the effects of his ownworries. Sonny knew that keeping Zander's secret was an important step in rebuilding the trust they'd once shared, but he tooworried of the young mans actions and how they could cost him the very thing he'd asked for… silence.
Alexis turned on her side, her had sliding to her stomach protectively, she smiled in contentment… andthat made Sonny smile.He closedhis eyes and thought about howthings were falling into place rather neatly, minus one or two problems that still hung in the balance, which troubled him, but he learned along time ago, consequences would be paid, for making sacrifices to save someone else's life.
Would Alexis still find him exciting once she found out he'd given up his territory, or would she grow bored with the new and improved Sonny Corinthos? Shaking his head, he chastised himself.
This had nothing to do with Alexis; this was about him. Would he be satisfied as Michael J. Corinthos businessman…or would he still crave the danger and excitement of Sonny Corinthos?
He honestly didn't know the answer, he only hoped he'd find it before it ended up costing him happily ever after he was heading for.
California Dreamin'
The day was young as Zander strolled the streets of Santa Barbara, he'd intended to head straightto Emily's, but Skye had insisted he wait. She'd headed to the estate alone, leavinghim back at the hotel, it had only taken a matter of five minutes before he'd gotten antsy and taken off to explore the sunny streets of California.
It was a beautiful place, he'd been here once before, rescuing Emily from the boarding room fiasco her parent's had inflicted upon her in hopes of keeping them apart. His heart's desire was that once he saw Emily she'd admit that her family had once again meddled in her love life and that he'd rescue her like he had before.
The warm breeze washed over him and he smiled, back in Port Charles shades of fall were beginning to appear, but here it was warm and sunny and the smell of salt air made you ache for the ocean.
He knew there had to be a part of Emily that still loved him, there had to be… she was the type of woman that loved with her wholeheart and soul, and she wouldn't give up on him like that. Not the Emily he'd fallen in love with.
Zander heard the vibrant sound of laughter from behind, turning abruptly he broke out in a smile upon seeing her face, his first instinct was to run to her, but the idea was quickly nixed when Monica appeared, he ducked around the corner, watching and listening.
"Mom, you've got to stop spoiling me." Emily smiled radiantly, staring inside the boutique window, "the earrings are lovely, but you don't need to buy me another thing!"
"I'm entitled right? I'm the mother of the bride and this is the last time you'll be my little girl, do you realize that… in less than two weeks you'll be Mrs. Emily Harrison, so let me enjoy this okay?"
"Okay, okay… you like him right?"
"Of course I do, and so does your Father, despite the fact he just met his future son-in-law."
"Well, Dad hasn't been the easiest when it comes to my boyfriends."
Zander laid his head against the wall, that was an understatement if he'd ever heard one.
"That's all in the past darling, your Father is very pleased… in fact I think even your Grandfather would approve."
Emily rolled her eyes, and interlinked her arm with Monica's, " shall we go home to see what our men are up too?"
They strolled off into the distance, leaving Zander behind, whose world had just collapsed around his feet.
Harrison Manor
Skye stepped in through the doorway of the English Tudor Manor, following the butler through the thoroughfare, she relished how the sunlight filtered through every window, streams of beautiful light dancing across the polished hardwood floors; Emily certainly had picked a great place t have her engagement party, she only wondered if she'd get the chance to enjoy it once Zander made himself known.
She spotted her Father and whom she supposed was Emily's fiancé sunning themselves out on the patio, Skye started to make herself known when the butler interrupted.
"Ms. Skye Quartermaine has arrived."
Alan turned in his seat, a look of puzzlement, "Skye?"
"Hello, Father."
"I didn't expect to see you… did Emily invite you, she never mentioned…"
"As usual Father your correct, my invitation must've gotten lost in the mail."
"You know very well…"
Skye interrupted him, "Father are you going to stand there all day and argue about technicalities or introduce me to my future brother-in-law?"
Alan gave Skye a disapproving frown, before turning toward the younger man, " You'll have to pardon me Daniel, this is my oldest daughter Skye."
Skye narrowed her eyes, and then put on her best game face, " Daniel it's a pleasure to meet you, I'd say I've heard a lot of great things about you, but we both I'd be lying."
Daniel smiled, " I've heard a lot about you."
Skye glanced toward her father, "I bet you have, " looking him over, she cocked her head, " aren't you a bit ol…"
Just then Monica and Emily appeared, " Skye?"
Skye turned toward Emily, " hey there she is, the bride to be!" stepping around Monica she embraced her sister.
Monica approached Alan, "what's she doing here?"
Skye who was holding Emily's hands in her own, turned her head toward her stepmother, "What she's doing here, is celebrating her sisters engagement or isn't that allowed Monica?"
"Don't start… not today." Monica replied accusingly.
"I didn't start anything, you're the one that came in here with your accusations."
"Well when it comes to you Skye, it's never just about being nice, there's always an ulterior motive."
"Your never going to forget that are you… I made a mistake, I was trying to help Emily and Z…"
"No, No, NO, I won't let you make me the bad guy in this, you want to know why I won't forget what you did, it's because you almost cost my daughter her life and let's get something straight Skye, we all know very well you weren't helping her with anything, you were helping yourself… as always!"
Emily's shoulders sank, "Please don't do this, not today." Glancing toward Daniel she smiled sadly, " will you help me bring in the packages?"
Daniel smiled, "Sure."
Wrapping his arm around her shoulder they exited the patio.
"See what you've done!" Monica shouted.
"What I've done? I came her to support my sister."
"It does seem rather odd Skye, not that it doesn't please me to see you supporting your sisters decision… but how did you even know where to look, nobody knew of the whereabouts but us." Alan asked as diplomatically as possible.
"Jason."
"You expect me to believe Jason told you where to locate Emily? Now I know you're up to something, Jason doesn't want you within an inch of his sisters life." Monica seethed.
"Monica unlike you, Jason knows when a person is telling the truth, do you honestly think he'd tell me Emily's whereabouts if he thought I was here to cause trouble?" Skye pointed out innocently.
"She's got a point Monica."
"Thank you Father, for that resounding vote of confidence." Skye retorted sarcastically.
"Okay, I'm going to be civilized… but so help me if you do anything to ruin this for her, you'll be answering to me!"
"Whatever you say Mon."
Misery loves Company?
Emily and Daniel carried the packages in from the car; they'd been silent since leaving the family on the patio, entering the kitchen she dropped the packages on the counter and rested her hands against the cool tile, her eyes dropping to the floor.
"Your sure you want to go through with this?"
Emily paused momentarily, unsure how to answer such a question; " we agreed an engagement party would lessen the blow when we tell…"
Daniel interrupted her," I'm not talking about the party, maybe you should reconsider."
Emily smiled, reaching for a bag and beginning to unload the contents, " they've already managed to frighten you, haven't they?"
"And look what they've done to you, I can only imagine what the ramifications will be when the truth comes out… your family doesn't scare me, we both know I've had my share of family conflicts, but I don't want to be the cause of yours."
"Daniel, would you let me worry about my family, I know how to handle them."
"Quite frankly I'm not to sure about that… but you've been telling me that for over a year so I'll take your word for it… I just want you to be sure this is what you want."
Emily shut the cupboard and turned to face him, reaching up she cupped his face, " My love, we've already come this far together, why would I turn back now?"
Daniel caressed her brow with his thumb, leaning down he placed a kiss to her forehead and murmured, "You amaze me."
Port Charles
Jason stood near the railing, staring down into the dark waters, long ago when he'd awakened from a nightmare, he'dfound a beautiful soul that had brought him peace, they'd shared this special place until it had been destroyed with lies and betrayal, he'd vowed then never to feel that strongly for person again, but it had happened and now she'd done the very thing to him that's she'd done to others and that hurt more than anything in the world.
Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed Brenda's puzzled expression and sighed heavily, " this was a bad idea."
Stepping around him, Brenda placed her hands on the railing and turned her head," you brought me out here for a reason, so talk to me."
"I needed to clear my head."
"Oh right, and your first inclination was to bring the woman you hate along for the ride?"
"Like I said, it was a bad idea."
Brenda grabbed his arm as he turned to walk away; he looked down and then back up to her, " let go."
"Not until you talk about it."
"There's nothing to talk about, so stop trying to make trouble where there isn't any."
Brenda gave him a determined look, causing Jason to throw his hands in the air, " What is it with you?"
Brenda found her heart softening toward him, " your hurting Jason, it's okay to say it… I'm not going to judge you if that's what your thinking."
Becoming irritated, Jason narrowed his eyes, " What's changed? I'm still the same guy you blamed when Sonny walked out on you, the same guy you wanted to stay out of Robin's life… the same guy you made no bones about hating."
Brenda lowered her head; cocking it sideways she smiled softly," your thinking about her aren't you?"
"Who?"
"Don't act stupid Jason because we both know your anything but… you made the biggest move ever last night, you broke ties with Carly and now your wondering if turning your back on Robin was worth the expense it cost you."
"She betrayed my trust!" Jason shouted.
"Whatever you say Sonny."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Can't you be yourself for once? Quit living up to Sonny's standards, because frankly up until now they've sucked, people make mistakes okay? They do things they regret, but that doesn't mean they're the root cause of all your problems."
"Robin was jealous of Carly, she saw her as a threat… and she didn't trust me enough… didn't trust in my love for her, so she tried to erase the competition."
"Oh brother, have you been rewriting history again Jason… or is that some fable Carly concocted to make Robin out to be the villain in her delusional world?"
"You don't know anything about it Brenda."
"No… no don't you dare turn your back on me!" Brenda shouted grabbing the sleeve of his coat, " Robin saw what Caroline Benson was really about, that she was destructive and she'd take anyone down with her as long as she got her way… maybe what she did was wrong and it caused more trouble than it was worth, but I think what she did was brave… because she knew it could cost her you, and she still did it to prove a point… Carly has done nothing but destroy lives, she doesn't even know how to live a normal one!"
"Like you did?" Jason asked sharply, " You get wrapped up with a cold blooded killer and you think you have room to talk about Carly's mistakes?"
"Hey, I never set out to hurt anyone."
"How am I supposed to know that…maybe you were in onit from the beginning...Maybe Luis Alkazar was just a diversion."
Brenda stepped back, her eyes shimmering with both tears and anger, " Forget it, I can't talk to you… you came to me remember? You asked me to take a ride and that's what we've done all night, I'm cold, I'm tired, and I'm sick to death of the sight of you… so goodbye."
Jason watched as she trudged off the bridge, turning right she headed down the road and out of sight, muttering under his breath he started following after her.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm walking home."
"Yeah right, come on I'll drop you off before I leave."
Stopping abruptly, Brenda turned towards him slowly, "Where are you going?"
"I don't know… I'm just going to get on my bike and go… that's one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you."
"I'm confused, when did I become your confidante?"
"Your not… I just need you to tell Sonny for me."
"Jason you don't want to leave."
"I don't have a reason to stay."
"Yes you do."
"Yeah what?"
"Me."