CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
His Heart, His Mind, His Battle

"If this is your idea of Dress-Down Fridays- remind me to re-schedule all of my appointments."

"I bet you say that to all of your lawyers."

"Only the ones dressed in black leather and silver… If you knew what I was thinking…" Dark brown eyes flashed in a mix of amusement and appreciation as he took in the sight of Alexis clad in form-fitting leather pants and a black blouse, tailored trimly and striped with subtle gleams of silver. Matching boots and jacket completed her outfit.

"I'd double my fee." Alexis replied dryly. "Or hit you with a sexual harassment suit."

"On one, I'd pay it and throw in a bonus. On two, I'd throw myself on the mercy of the court, Principessa."

"You are more impossible every day." Alexis told Mason. Ever since the funeral that wasn't, Mason had been one person she'd been glad to call, well yes at this point, she might as well admit it - a friend. Even though they both knew his interest in her was more than platonic, he'd respected the boundaries she'd put up. Up to a point, that is. He never missed an occasion to make his attraction to her clear.

He always could be counted on to make her smile. And Alexis found she needed that. "I came to make sure you had the documents you needed to get out before the weekend." She suited words to action and handed him a document from her briefcase.

Mason skimmed over them with an appreciative eye. "Every 't' crossed, every 'i' dotted. Intelligent, classy, beautiful, dependable…the woman of my dreams - run away with me, Alexis."

"What, and miss all this?" Alexis gestured towards the windows, where the first few dark clouds were beginning to scud inland.

"Think about dinner in the islands," Mason said in what Alexis was sure was his best alluring voice. "Warm tropic breezes, the song of guitar music playing gently, the scent of a million flowers filling the air, pleasuring your every sense… we could be there in hours."

"Sorry to break your heart," Alexis said lightly, despite the memories Mason's words evoked. Memories of another night full of the scent of flowers and music. "But I already have dinner plans. Sorry."

"You wound me, woman."

"Yes, I can see the pain. The blood and gore – unbearable."

"You're showing your Cassidine blood, Principessa." Mason said with a grin.

"You see what you want to see, Mason."

"No." He said with an even bigger grin. "No, I definitely do not."

"And you're about to see even less." Alexis laughed at his expression. "You're slipping, Mason. That was too easy. And on that note, I'm taking my cue and leaving for my dinner date."

"Lucky them…who did you say it was with?"

"I didn't… good night, Mason." Alexis said. She waved at him before closing the door behind her

Their exchange kept a smile on Alexis' face all the way to the restaurant. Even the memory that Mason had brought back to her mind was one that made her happy.

We were so happy that night, she thought to herself as she drove to meet Kristina. Away from all the cares and worries of Port Charles. We truly were in another world. What I wouldn't give for us to get back to the us that was there again.

"It was magic." She murmured aloud; Alexis startled herself with the words that came out of her mouth but she quickly smiled. She'd hold onto that, because one day, they'd have it again.

Alexis parked her car and headed into the Grille. Kristina hadn't arrived yet, so Alexis stopped at the bar and ordered herself a drink. On an impulse, she asked the bartender for something fruity and rum-filled instead of her usual Russian vodka martini.

The drink came back garnished with a flower concocted of fruit, with cherries at it's center and topped with a tiny pink umbrella. Alexis twirled it between her fingers as she sipped at her drink and let the memories play.

The sweet sinuous siren song of the guitars as they sang against the sultry night; the heat that trailed between she and Sonny at the simplest touch of fingertips to fingertips…the sweet intoxication of wine-kissed lips and the pasion fuega that burned in Sonny's eyes as they gazed into hers…

"Don't you think I'm feeling everything you are right now? Everything."

She could hear Sonny's voice as it sounded that night… husky, wanting, heart-felt and desire filled and she missed him more than she had since Carly came back from the dead.

And then she heard his voice – here – now.

Alexis shook herself out of her reverie as she caught his voice, even in this crowded room. For a moment, she was confused, unable to differentiate between her daydreaming and reality. Alexis gazed around the crowded room, and from the bar, she could see him seating Bobbie and Carly before taking a seat of his own.

Alexis stole a look at him; he covered it well, but there were still tell-tale signs of stress in his face – was there a touch more of silver at his temples? Were the fine lines at the corners of his eyes a little more pronounced?

"Sorry, I'm a little late." Kristina was at her side, a little breathless. She followed Alexis' gaze and saw Sonny and his party. "We can go somewhere else, if you like?"

"No we're here, we have reservations, and we're going to have a nice dinner.

"Even if it kills us?" Kristina asked mischievously.

"Exactly."

She was conscious of his presence throughout the entire meal, of course. How could she not – every fiber of her body was conscious of his presence. Without trying, she caught the sound of his voice, even through the chatter of scores of others. Alexis listened for the sound of his laughter, but it came too little and when it did, it sounded forced.

She couldn't leave – her soul, her heart was starved for any sight of him, even if it was just across a crowded room, even if this were new steps to the dance the two of them did so well. Alexis knew that Sonny was aware of her presence. That knowledge was like a second skin on hers. She could feel his awareness shift every time he glanced her way, even as he pretended not to. And she was helpless not to do the same.

There was nothing she could do about anything tonight, Alexis decided. Until she had the proof she needed, until she could expose Carly for the liar and cruel manipulator that she was, she couldn't help Sonny to help himself. She should be glad that he at least was out of the penthouse and was eating.

That thought was a comfort to Alexis for the rest of the evening. So despite her concern, somehow she and Kristina managed to have an enjoyable enough dinner. The service was excellent, the food delicious and Alexis managed somehow to actually take some pleasure in it. Any time she seemed about to falter, Kristina seemed to sense it and did her best to bolster her spirits. She actually managed to keep Alexis laughing throughout their dinner.

Kristina really was the best thing for her some days, she told herself. And when her little sister mentioned something about dessert, Alexis was a step ahead of her – surprising the both of them.

"I ordered it while I was waiting for you."

"What is it?" Kristina asked.

"Let me surprise you." Alexis answered.

"You've already done that tonight;" Kristina answered, letting her glance flicker over to where Sonny, Carly and Bobbie still sat. "I don't know how you made it through the meal."

"It's all right, Kristina, I'm fine. Really, I am."

"You're way more patient than I am," Kristina said. "If it were me, I'd be pulling a certain someone's hair out. You know she set this up somehow. Sonny would have never invited her out to dinner on his own."

"Patience is part of my job description. We both know you don't have it – and that's why you're the redhead." Alexis said.

Kristina made a face at her. "Well, this redhead is excusing herself before her patience runs out in other ways. I'll meet you out front." She excused herself and headed for the ladies' room.

He could feel her eyes on him. A caress, a comfort, as warm as a hand on his shoulder, or an embrace of his heart. He'd seen her as soon as they had entered the restaurant. Seen her with his eyes, as well as his heart. How could he not? A flash of sun streaked chestnut hair at the bar had caught his eye as well as the distinctive timbre of her voice as she spoke to the man behind the bar as they passed by.

All through their meal, he said the right things, did the right things, but all along he was aware of her presence across the room. He didn't dare turn his head. If he did, if he let his eyes meet hers…

He'd be lost. It was as simple as that. And so would she.

So Sonny steeled himself to make it through the meal. He owed this to Bobbie. He looked across the table at Carly's mother; she was so happy to have her daughter restored to her. It was clear from the light in her eyes and the happiness in her voice as she and Carly kept up a chatter of conversation.

Carly was aware of Alexis' presence as well. She was smart enough, for once, not to say anything openly. Instead, she was determined to be more charming than ever – which only served to grate on his already taut nerves.

Her attempts to steer their talk onto her and Michael and him as a family were embarrassingly clumsy and heavy-handed. Not that this stopped her at all. Bobbie was just as obviously embarrassed by them, but did her best to keep Carly from pressing Sonny into a corner.

All her veiled innuendos made him regret ever agreeing to this dinner. It was a mistake.. a huge mistake. He'd thought that being out would put a muzzle on Carly, but he really should have known better. His ex-wife was like a dog with a bone when she got an idea into head and she wasn't about to let go any chance she had for them to reunite.

Not for the first time did Sonny wonder about just how much Carly really remembered. Sometimes, he'd catch her looking at him with the most peculiar expression on her face – a mix of love under laid with something else. Even tonight, for a moment, as her eyes flicked across the room to where Alexis and her sister were sitting, he thought he saw something in her eyes…

She caught him looking at her. Carly leaned over and deliberately reached out and took his hands, trying to slide her fingers into his. She leaned in close to Sonny. "Maybe we should go over and say hello to your lawyer."

"Why don't we save that for another time?" Bobbie suggested.

"Why should we, Mama?" Carly tightened her grip on Sonny's hand. "I can't think of a reason why Sonny and I shouldn't go over and at least speak." She turned to Sonny. "Unless you two aren't on speaking terms at the moment? Has something happened to come between you two?"

Why did it seem like Carly was waiting for his answer with some sort of strange expectation? Some sixth sense in him went onto alert; even while he told himself he was jumping at shadows.

Carly had never liked Alexis, and if Carly still didn't remember that she had seen them together, Sonny didn't relish the idea of that particular memory coming back to her at this particular time. And more importantly, it seemed, it had to hurt Alexis seeing him here with Carly – he wasn't going to add to her pain by letting Carly parade the fact that they were having dinner together in front of her. If Carly remembered anything, she would take a huge delight in it; and Sonny wasn't about to do anything that might trigger a memory. Not here and not now. Sonny couldn't think of a worse place for it to happen.

It was just coincidence, Sonny decided. Alexis' presence always brought out the cat in Carly, and it hadn't changed – memory loss or not. He wasn't going to take the chance of anything started. He vetoed the idea, even as he freed himself from Carly's clinging grip.

"Another time, Carly." He knew his voice sounded unnecessarily sharp, but once the words were out of his mouth, they were out.

"Fine." Carly sat back in her chair, visibly pouting. "You two certainly seem to be agreeing a lot lately."

"That's because we both have your best interests at heart." Bobbie said. She held a hand up as Carly opened her mouth to answer. "And before you go off into the argument that the three of us now so well, let's just remember that we were supposed to be having a nice quiet dinner. You promised, Carly. Any excitement isn't good for you, and if you can rest quietly at home, remember the doctors said you can do in a hospital bed being monitored twenty-four seven."

"Fine." Carly snapped again.

"Good. And since, dinner is finished, I'm going to the ladies room and you can come and keep me company."

"Can't you find your way there by yourself, Mama?" Carly asked peevishly.

"Honey, you know it's a ritual, women never go by themselves – it's a woman thang." Bobbie replied, laughing at her own joke. She stood up, waiting expectantly for Carly to join her.

Another muttered "Fine." Came from Carly's lips as she shoved her chair back and stood up. Without waiting for her mother, she flounced off in the direction of bathrooms.

"You can meet us at the door." Bobbie said to Sonny.

Sonny nodded. "I'll call for the car to meet us out front." He reached for his cell phone, but before he flipped it open, looked up at Bobbie, an unspoken thanks in his eyes.

"I know this isn't easy, Sonny. But I do appreciate the effort you're making to help Carly ease through this situation." She reached out and squeezed his hand in thanks.

Sonny didn't answer but returned her squeeze with one of his own.

After the call was made, Sonny sat in silence for a moment. He stood, intending to go straight to the restaurant's entrance, wanting nothing more than to deliver Carly and her mother back to the brownstone and retreat to the solitude of the penthouse. Being this close to Alexis and at the same time being so far… he didn't know how to deal with it.

Sonny stood, his mind telling him what he ought to do, his heart fighting for what he wanted to do. Just one look, it argued, just a glimpse of her… he raised his eyes and found hers fixed on him

And the battle between heart and mind was lost before it had truly begun…

And then, without him quite knowing how, he was standing by her table.

"Hey."

Her smile was shaky and the sight of it, the shadow of worry in her eyes that she couldn't quite manage to hide devastated Sonny.

"Alexis, I'm sorry."