CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHT
There was a knock at the door and she was half-way minded to just ignore it. But whoever it was, they wouldn't stop. Finally, she flounced out of her seat on the couch and stalked to the door and flung it open, ready to give whoever it was a big piece of her mind.
But at the sight of Jax standing at the door, Carly couldn't find a single word to say. Ever since the night he and Jason had shown up to free her from Helena's yacht, she hadn't wanted to see anyone. Instead, she'd holed herself up in Bobbie's apartment and lived off of pizza and reality tv, letting it all numb her mind so she didn't have to think about what she'd done…or worse yet, what she'd almost done. People could have died because of the scheme she'd gotten herself into.
She refused to face that. But Bobbie had taken her in, no questions asked and a finite amount of sympathy. Tonight had been the end of it. Her mother had told her it was time to start living again. People make mistakes, some more than others. But you had to pick yourself up, look around and see what else was still standing. "You have the choice, Carly. Stand up and face your mistakes. Make it right – apologize when you're wrong – to yourself if nobody else…" There'd been a certain gleam in her eye and Carly got the feeling Bobbie wasn't talking just about her. "You've got to be willing to start over sometimes. And try and do it right the next time around."
But how could she do it right? She couldn't even bear to face Jax, let alone apologize to him. Even now, her eyes traveled everywhere, anything to keep from having to look him in the eye.
"I just stopped by to see how you were doing." Jax said. When she didn't answer, he continued. "And to ask when you were coming back to work?"
"Like you want me back there." Carly said.
"Do you want to come back, Carly?" Jax asked.
"Yes!" she burst out impetuously as her eyes flashed up to meet his. Just as quickly they fell again. "But…" Here it came – the hammer was about to fall. Jax just came to deliver the news in person. And her stupid jealousies had cost her big-time once again. She didn't catch what he was saying as he was saying it, but eventually it came through and she lifted shocked eyes to him again.
"No buts…" Jax was saying. "I never told you not to come back. You made that choice yourself. Did you quit? Did you?" he had to repeat the last question.
"No, I didn't quit…but you still want…?" What did he still want? Carly went breathless with not knowing, not daring to hope.
"I'm not blind to what you've done, Carly. Not at all. But are you ready, once and for all, to let your old life go? There's a brand new life waiting for you. All you got to do is take that first step forward into it."
He wasn't offering absolution, but he was offering her a chance to have a life. A real one. One of her own. "I don't know. I mean, I can't promise you that I will never make another mistake…."
"And I don't expect it. All I want from you is honesty. Even if you think I won't like what you've got to say or what you've done. Can you do that?"
Carly ventured a smile. "Even if I tell you I can't stand that tie that you're wearing? Tell me you weren't going to wear that to the Club tonight."
"I have a selection at the office. Why don't you come down and pick one out for me. Of course, your attire for the evening could stand some improvement – don't tell me you were going to wear that to the Club tonight? Come now, Princess, you have a reputation to maintain."
Was that a grin blooming on Jax's face? At the sound of her old nickname, Carly felt one spreading foolishly across her own and couldn't stop it. No, truthfully – didn't want to.
"Come on in and give me fifteen minutes to get ready." She told him and went rushing up the stairs, her heart flying before her.
Alexis and Sonny walked towards the Port Charles lobby restaurant doors. While Sonny handed the coat-check ticket to the hostess, Alexis called another hostess order and asked about her to-go order of a chocolate-drizzled New York Cheesecake and fresh strawberries. She knew she was going to have to ease back on her cravings, but she figured she had plenty of time for that. She smiled down at her stomach. Little one, as long as you don't have me eating peanut-butter and banana sandwiches, or pickles and ice cream, we'll get along just fine.
She turned one last time to wave back at their table. Stefan inclined his head in acknowledgement, smiling at her. He was had bit less aloof than usual, no doubt due to the fact that Sonny had played in his rescue but probably even more so due to presence of Bobbie Spencer at his right hand. Since that night on Wyndemere, she had barely left his side. And tonight the two of them had hardly been able to keep their eyes off of one another since she had arrived at the restaurant.
Nikolas and Kristina were seated side by side and they were sporting identical grins as they waved back at her. Luke had been invited, but had sent his not-so-regrettable regrets that he was unable to attend. It was just as well. Dinner had gone better than Alexis could have hoped for. Both Stefan and Sonny had done their best to keep their conversation to neutral subjects and had even managed to behave as though they were enjoying themselves.
"Did I thank you for being on your best behavior tonight?" Alexis asked him, a teasing laugh in her voice.
"You noticed, did you? Does that mean I get a reward?"
For an answer, she leaned forward and kissed him, not caring at all who might be watching.
"Mmmmm….Thank your brother too." Sonny said, laughing out loud himself. "I think your brother is unbending towards me just a little bit." He said as he held her coat out for her. As she slipped her arms into the sleeves, he took the time to slip his hands over her shoulders and held her close, both of them enjoying his warmth and the closeness. "Did I detect approval in his eyes?"
"He knows what you mean to me. And above all, Stefan wants me happy."
"Well, we agree on that. The only thing I want to do is to make you happy. In fact, I have plans to do exactly that."
"You have plans?" Alexis lifted an eyebrow at him as they stepped outside.
"Could be, Councilor."
"Well, what if I told you that I do too?"
Sonny grinned. "Then I'd say we're in for a very interesting evening."
They looked at each other and laughed. Oh things were definitely going to interesting. There was magic in the air. Alexis could feel it when she looked into Sonny's eyes. And she could tell that he felt it too.
Johnny drove up in the car; jumping out to come around and open the door.
"Sonny, could you see about my cheesecake?" she asked.
"Not a problem." He said. He brushed his lips against her cheek and went back inside.
"Maybe we should get some biscotti and cappuccino to go with that…" she mused.
"We both know you've got chocolate on that cheesecake, so as far as the biscotti and coffee…well… we may want to start watching our caffeine intake." Johnny said.
"I get the feeling I'm going to be surrounded my fussy nannies for the rest of my term." Alexis laughed. As Johnny opened the door for her, she touched him on the arm. "Are our bags packed and in the car?"
Johnny nodded; a delighted light in his eyes. "The plane is waiting on the runway and the hotel reservations are confirmed."
"Wonderful – I can't wait to see the look on his face when I surprise him with this." Alexis smiled, satisfied, as she settled herself into the back seat. She was putting her fee from Jax to very good use. A luxury suite in one of the finest hotels in Chicago… luxury she intended for the two of them to put to very good use.
Sonny emerged from the lobby, cheesecake in hand.
"Everything good to go, Boss?" Johnny asked, knowing from the bounce in his step and the light in his eyes that everything was more than okay.
"You know it, Johnny-Boy. Is the sparkling cider in the back?
"On ice in a silver bucket, along with two crystal champagne glasses."
"Perfect. I can't wait to the look on her face when I surprise her." Sonny laughed as he got into the backseat along with Alexis.
Yes, Johnny said to himself as he headed towards the airport. These two, they were almost too smart for each other in some ways, but they were smart enough to know they belonged together.
He laughed again. Her with her trips, and Sonny, well… he heard the two of them laughing and he allowed himself another chuckle as well. Alexis thought she'd surprise Sonny. She didn't know it yet, but Sonny had his surprises for tonight too.
Over time, these had become two of his favorite people and he was glad to see them go for the happily ever after thing. All things considered, it ought to make for an interesting marriage. He wondered what day they would settle on for the wedding. He figured it would be soon. After all, he'd helped pick out the ring. And like he'd said all along; it was about damn time.
finis
To my readers: My many manythanks and much gratitude to all of you who kept on reading and reviewing! for all the time it took for me to write this story... I want you to know that it meant a lot to see the ones who have stuck by me all this time continue to post...I hope you enjoyed this fic as much as I enjoyed writing it. And btw - another sexis fic is in-progress - hopefully it will not be another epic. : )
