CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Brotherly Love

After lunch, Kristina headed back to L&B and Alexis back to her office, her mind whirling at the implications of Jax's news. She'd tried to reach Sonny by cell phone while she was driving back to work. That had resulted in a very terse conversation. Sonny was still in denial; and Alexis, sensing his inner turmoil, wouldn't push the issue. Until a DNA test was run, he insisted that there was no proof that the body was Carly. Michael had told him that his mommy had come to him. Alexis didn't question Sonny or try and force him to see how senseless it was to believe that Michael had seen what he said he saw. Instead, she just let him talk.

Alexis came to a decision; she'd stop at the office, pick up some of the work she been compiling in the custody battle and take it home with her to complete. This way she'd be close, in case the news turned out to be the worst possible – and Sonny needed her. There isn't much she can do, Alexis thought, but surely one of the best things she can do for Sonny is to ensure that there are no legal surprises that AJ can pull to steal Michael away from the father that he knows. If only Carly hadn't have barged into Sonny's penthouse. None of this would be happening at all...We could all be getting on with our lives...

A spark of resentment flared up in her, burning white hot. Why did Carly have to come to the penthouse that night? Everything she touches, she contaminates. What should have been a glorious beginning would now be forever tinged by sadness.. because of Carly and yet another one of her thoughtless acts.

Alexis knew that she should be feeling sorry, and indeed, a part of her was. Sorry for her son, sorry for her mother, sorry most of all for Sonny, knowing him as she did. Never mind that Carly had no business coming to the penthouse that night, and forget that she had had even less right to step foot in the place, let alone come up the stairs to his bedroom, Sonny was blaming her accident on himself.

The jumble of emotions left her sharp-tempered as she drove to her office. She was in no mood to be here. It was a good idea she'd planned to work from home; she'd be little use to any clients in her present mood. Arriving at her office, her secretary informed her that she had a visitor.

"He insisted on waiting in your office, Ms. Davis." She informed Alexis, with more than a touch of annoyance in her voice. "I tried to keep him out here, but he wouldn't hear of it."

Nerves already on edge, sparks of anger fueled her steps as Alexis walked into her office, wondering who would dare impose themselves on her in such a manner. She was in no mood for either obstinate or demanding, arrogant clients, and whoever had dared breached her inner sanctum without her permission was about to discover that.

Of course, that included everyone except her brother.

Always handsome, always regal, even in repose, Stefan stood by the windows, lost in his own thoughts, his tawny, deep gold hair catching the late afternoon light with the sheen of old gold. Stefan turned away from the narrow casements of her office windows, where he had been perusing the Port Charles skyline. Against the deep blue draperies and the rich sable brown leathers of the office accessories, he looked every inch like the prince he was in reality.

"Alexis." The rich timbre of his voice that was the same strong comforting voice of her childhood steadied her, as it had always had the power to do.

"Stefan." Despite her thoughts, her lips curved into a smile and her sudden displeasure fell away as though it had never been. "It's wonderful to see you."

Brother and sister moved quickly towards each other and gave one another a brief but heartfelt embrace. Alexis pulled back slightly, cocking her head to one side – a quirk held over from her childhood and still manifested itself occasionally only around Stefan. Alexis hadn't even realized that she'd done it until she saw Stefan's indulgent smile. "You might have told me you were coming to Port Charles."

"I had some contracts to go over with Nikolas, and instead of having them messengered, I had a sudden impulse to deliver them in person." Which was as close as Stefan would come to saying he missed them. "I thought I'd perhaps run a quick in-depths on-site analysis of our holdings..."

"...And check up on Nikolas, Kristina and I. It's all right to admit to a need to be with your family, Stefan." Alexis reminded him.

"It is no small responsibility to lay the care of the family on your shoulders, Alexis." Stefan said. "While I handle the day to day business running, you have become the heart of this family."He paused a moment. "I haven't had much experience in needing family, as well you know." With their family history, that wasn't surprising in the least. "Helena would hardly approve of our roles."

"Who cares?" Alexis said. "She's never approved of my very existence, let alone your championship of me." She held his hands and squeezed them affectionately. "I've always been very thankful for that." Alexis added softly.

"I've always cared about you, Alexis." Stefan told her. He studied her face carefully. "And as you've exposed my concern for the family, I will not lie further. Looking at you, I can see something is not quite right with you. Perhaps that is what I sensed, and that is what brought me back to Port Charles sooner than I had planned."

At Alexis' gesture, they moved to sit on the small leather couch that sat against one wall of her oak-paneled office. Alexis explained the situation concerning Carly and Sonny. She didn't tell him the entire truth, of course. She didn't out and out lie to him, she couldn't do that, but neither could she find the words to explain the change in her life. So instead, Alexis told him the facts of the matter as dryly as possible, sorrowfully aware of what she was leaving out.

Stefan made the assumption she'd hoped he would. "As a friend, it's commendable that you care, but is it wise to associate with such a man? It's very possible that his ex-wife was the victim of a vendetta against her ex-husband. I wouldn't want your proximity to the man to put you in equal danger." Stefan frowned. "Perhaps it would be more prudent for you and Kristina to come live at Wyndemere for the time being."

"I'm perfectly content where I am." Alexis said. "And so is Kristina. There is sufficient security where I live. And most importantly, I need to be there for my friend. As you can imagine, there are not many people that are close to him. A sister, a father. A few loyal – associates. He needs all the people around him that care, especially at this time." She was aware of Stefan studying her closely, but forced herself to meet his gaze with an outward calm she certainly didn't feel.

"I can't say I approve – I know something of this Corinthos, and surely he cannot provide the level of protection that I - the family - can." Stefan began. Alexis braced herself for the lecture that was sure to come, but Stefan visibly checked himself and something in his gaze softened. "But I will not insist upon it."

"Thank you, Stefan." Alexis said, meaning it. "I need to be where I am right now."

"I told you that I will not insist upon it – for now. I will add that caveat." Stefan said. "You are a grown woman, Natasha, and have been for some time. I must accept that. But you must accept that I will always be prepared to act in your own best interests."

Alexis felt a stirring of guilt. But she couldn't explain the dance that she and Sonny were doing to herself, how in the world could she begin to explain it to her beloved half-brother? Try as he might to be otherwise, Stefan was very much a Cassidine man. Stubborn and intractable when he believed he was right. And if he thought that she and Sonny were romantically involved, he definitely would not approve at all. And there was no telling how Stefan would handle his disapproval. Or more truthfully, attempt to "handle" Sonny.

In spite of her worries, Alexis couldn't help but smile to herself. Not that Stefan would ever admit it, but he and Sonny were probably more alike than unalike. Strong, proud men, used to the rigors and demands of command, with an unconscious arrogance that drew the eye.

"You approve, then?" Stefan asked. She looked up to see a genial twinkle in his eye. Since he and Nikolas had reconciled their differences, Stefan had mellowed somewhat, had grown into the man that he had always aspired to be, freed at last from his murderous mother's influences.

"I approve." Alexis answered. "But then, when haven 't I?"

"Oh, I can think of a few times when we've – ah... disagreed." Stefan said. He chuckled dryly. There were definitely more than a few times when they hadn't agreed on things, had actually warred against one another, in true Cassidine form, but here they were, in the end, united as a family like they had never been before. Things were coming together for Alexis on so many levels now. She had family, she had – dare she hope - love.

Even with this tragedy facing she and Sonny, they'd get through it, Alexis thought, with a renewal of strength. The many storms they'd faced together had drawn them together and that was how they'd face this new challenge.

They'd get through it. Together.