CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE
Unexpected Guests

Alexis did not look forward to this return to Port Charles. It had been hard enough to go into Stefan's private sanctuary and begin to sort through his personal things. Neither she or Mrs. Landsbury accomplished much. Too much had gone on today; Alexis was feeling worn out and made the decision to put it off for another day.

Unfortunately, that was not the end of it. Alexis had returned to the study. She had thought about calling Sonny, just to hear the sound of his voice, when she received a very unwelcome phone call. Carly, of all people, wanted to see her. Immediately. Alexis would have refused, except that he brought up Michael's name.

Alexis could feel the trouble brewing. But this was something that she could nip in the bud. If Carly thought she was about to pull one of her inane stunts, she had another thing coming to her.

Carly was waiting for her when she disembarked. Alexis saw her look at Johnny with a mix between jealousy and hatred. She wasn't far off.

Carly seethed with anger. Once upon a time, Sonny had had bodyguards for her protection. But never Johnny. She knew how close he was to Sonny, and the sight of him here just fueled her anger. Any hesitation she might have had over what she was about to take part in vanished under a fresh wave of jealousy. Let the two of them kill each other and see if she cared!

She turned her gaze back to Alexis. "Do you think we could have a little bit of privacy? It's not like I'm planning on pushing you off the docks."

Johnny looked around. Night was falling and the fog as coming off the river. "I'd prefer it if the two of you wouldn't go for a walk." He gestured to the thickening wisps of fog.

"Fair enough." Alexis said. She turned to Carly "We can talk aboard the launch. It's private enough. Only the captain is aboard and he's up on the bridge."

Carly agreed and they went aboard the launch. Carly waited until they had walked to a spot by the railing where they were alone. She didn't waste any time getting to the point. "I know Sonny was hauled into the PCPD today. And they are talking abut charging him with Stefan's murder."

"As usual, you have your facts wrong, but why is it you felt the need to share this with me?"

"Because I have a deal in mind, so listen up. I'm thinking that with all the negative publicity that a trial might – will - bring, well, maybe joint custody of Michael isn't such a great idea after all."

"You've already agreed to this in your very generous divorce settlement, Carly, so what's your real goal here? We both know that Sonny had nothing to do with what happened to my brother."

"Don't be so sure that he's not involved." Carly said. "You don't know Sonny as well as you think you do."

"And I doubt you ever really knew him at all." Alexis replied evenly. "Is this what you brought me out here for? I do have other matters that concern me."

"Look, we both know that one of the roles you play for Sonny is his attorney. I just thought I'd give you a heads-up, is all. Of course, if you were to remove yourself as Sonny's attorney - as well as any and all associations, that might be enough to persuade me to change my mind."

"How long have you been thinking about this?" With everything that Sonny was going through, this is one more headache that neither one of them needed. Maybe she could mollify Carly and get her to see how ridiculous and ill-timed this would be.

"Actually, I've been thinking about this for awhile. It's not good for Michael to be continually going back and forth between Sonny and I. It's all about me moving on with my own life - isn't that what you and Sonny both want?"

"Not at the expense of your son. Neither of you want that." Alexis refused to rise to Carly's baiting. "First and foremost, it's what is best for Michael that we should all be concerned about. If, as you say, Sonny is about to be come under investigation, I should think that it's important more than ever that Michael's routine continue. Do you think that the news of it could be kept from your son indefinitely? He will need his every-day life with Sonny more than ever."

"How would you know anything about what a child needs? You've never had one and probably never will."

And Carly thought she knew what was best for a child? The only thing she had in common with one was her penchant for acting like a spoiled selfish brat. "Right now, Sonny doesn't need the distraction. So if you pursue this, I promise you that you will be the one who will be sorry."

"You think Sonny will fight me?" Carly said with a laugh. "You really don't know him. He won't do anything that will hurt Michael."

"But that won't stop you, right? That's why it's not Sonny you need to worry about. It's me."

Carly laughed. 'Yeah, right, Alexis. Get real."

"All right, let's get real, Carly. First of all, Sonny isn't under investigation for Stefan's death. Yes, he went downtown to answer some preliminary questions, but there are no plans for any charges to be brought against him.

"Secondly, how do you like this for real: I had a visit from an investigator today. He spent some time in a little township called Whiteville. Ring any bells?"

"N..No..." Carly's bravado slipped a little but she tried to bluff her way through. "Should it? What's it to you?"

"It should mean something to you, since you were seen there during the time you were supposedly 'lost'." Alexis told her with no little amount of satisfaction.. "And don't bother trying the convenient amnesia routine on me, okay? My investigator even provided me with sworn affidavits of people describing your little visits into town. And there's even a convenience store tape. And guess who's the star in it?"

Carly was stunned into silence and Alexis took advantage of it. "I'm offering you a deal..so this time, you listen up, as you put it. Everything has happened and is already in the past, and I'm willing to leave it that way."

"And what do you get out of it?" Carly said.

"Not as much as you think. I'm thinking of everyone else. Your mother, for one. How would she feel to know that you deliberately put her through days of the agony of thinking her only remaining daughter had died. Or Sonny..."

"Oh yes, and Sonny - here we go!" Carly shrilled angrily. "It's all about you wanting Sonny and keeping him away from me."

"Carly, can you imagine what his reaction would be if he found out that you set him up again? Wasn't the FBI betrayal enough? For the sake of your son, if nothing else, do you want Sonny to be able to look at you with anything besides hate? And what if Michael should find out - you chose torturing Sonny - the man he loves as a father - over your love for son?"

"So what do you want?"

"I want things to go on just as things are. Let it be, Carly. Live and let live; I'm willing to do the same."

Carly glanced at her watch. "I'll think about it." she said abruptly, surprising Alexis. She made a face at the surprised expression that flashed across Alexis' face. "I love my son, Alexis. Whatever I do, I do for him."

Something in her voice caused Alexis to look at her sharply.

"You won't always have the upper hand, Alexis. Remember that." Carly said, just before she turned and walked away.

Alexis let out a deep breath. She hadn't expected a pleasant conversation, but it hadn't been as bad as she had thought it could be. Just maybe, Carly would react to reason. Alexis laughed to herself. "And if that's true, I've got a bridge to sell her, too.". At least she had shut down Carly's latest threat. That brought a smile of satisfaction to her face.


Carly walked quickly to her own car. She wasn't particularly happy about what she'd done. But Helena had known what buttons to push to bend her to her will.

Helena had produced a videotape and Carly had been stunned to see Michael at Wyndemere. "What is he doing there?"

"He was on a little adventure. A secret one with his mother's newest friend." Helena told her. She looked to Mason, who laughed softly and took a small bow in recognition. Helena smiled calculatingly. "The better question might be when had your son been my guest?. And if he will he be my guest again."

Carly shivered and hurried home to her son.


Alexis waited until she was sure that Carly was gone, then headed for the gangplank. As she stepped onto the dock, she looked around, realizing she was alone. Where was Johnny? Had he gone to the car to wait for her? The fog had thickened, blanketing out her immediate surroundings and an eerie silence seemed to float up and encircle her. She shivered involuntarily, then laughed at herself. It was nothing more than the damp and her own over active imagination. She must be more tired than she'd thought.

She saw a familiar figure approaching her through the fog and laughed at herself for the tiny frisson of fear that had went through her

"Johnny?" she called out, willing herself to keep the relief out of her voice. "What do you say we stop by the Grille and bring home a cheesecake?"

He didn't answer.

"Johnny?" That shiver of apprehension returned even stronger this time.

"Good evening, principessa."