She went back to the hotel; the tears in her eyes...she had to get out of there. She ran through the doors of the Metro Court right into a woman.
"Ugh" she heard the woman say as Courtney scrambled to pick up the contents of the briefcase she had knocked over.
"I'm so sorry" she said looking up.
The woman smiled at her with soft brown eyes, "Courtney"
This was the moment she hated...when someone she knew looked at her like she was supposed to know them, but then the woman jutted out her hand.
"I'm Alexis, I am Nikolas' aunt" she stated shaking her hand.
Courtney nodded at the lady, but still held back the tears, but Alexis picked up on the fact that something was wrong.
"Are you okay?" she wondered aloud.
For a moment a lie ran through her head, but then she shook it and let the tears come.
Alexis didn't want to make a spectacle in the middle of the Metro Court so she hugged her.
"Why don't you come with me" she said as a tearful Courtney let her lead her to a car.
After driving only a couple of minutes they pulled up to a sprawling mansion.
"Where are we" Courtney asked confused.
Alexis smiled, "this is your brother Sonny's house...I thought you might want to see your nieces and nephews"
"Michael, Morgan and Kristina" she remembered from her hours of memorization that Liz had done with her before coming to Port Charles.
"That's right" Alexis said as she stopped the car.
When they got up they were met by a tall man with a gentle smile, "hey Miss Davis...oh and Miss...Matthews" he stated getting nervous.
"Max" she said bypassing him and dragging the blond woman with her.
She turned to Courtney, "That is Max...he is your brother's bodyguard" and then they walked into the main room.
Sonny turned first and saw Alexis alone, "so you came for dinner" he smiled and then saw the person behind her. He had heard from Carly the story...but the guilt he felt about how things were between them before she "died" had caused him not to go looking for her.
"Court" is all that came out of his throat.
Alexis felt his tenseness, "why don't I go check on the kids, and you two can catch up" she said with a tight smile.
As soon as the other woman left they turned to each other.
She laughed, "we don't exactly look like brother and sister"
He smiled at her as his dimples peaked out, "half, we have the same father...my mother was Cuban"
She nodded, and then felt the headache come; in a flash she saw them in this very room...he was sneering at her and being hurtful.
"Are you okay?" he asked touching her arm.
She jerked away from him, "Patrick says its my brain healing itself when I get a memory I get a little headache"
He nodded, "you remembered something...and it was about me" he stated.
He saw her trademark blue eyes turn to him, with a sadness in them, "you were yelling at me in this room"
She saw him downcast his gaze, "probably...and I probably couldn't pinpoint which time it was for you...Courtney, I was an ass for most of our relationship. I was selfish, and I said mean things because I was a jerk...Fortunately a couple years back I found a little thing called Lithium" he said trying to break the tenseness.
She laughed, and then he spoke again, "but you back...this is a miracle...and I want to know, can we have a fresh start?"
It was silent in the room but she smiled at him, "I think I would like that...but I need a favor first"
She explained what needed to be done, and surprisingly he agreed to help her...but first he insisted she meet her nieces and nephews.
He called the kids down, and Michael bounded down the stairs first and when he saw his aunt his mouth dropped to the floor, "Aunt Courtney" he stated shocked, and then the tears came into his eyes.
Morgan and Kristina kind of just looked at her; only really knowing her from pictures. Kristina had heard stories from Nikolas, and she smiled.
"Nikolas was right she is prettier in person" she directed towards her mom.
Morgan just smiled goofy, "hi"
Courtney looked at the three kids. Michael was 14, and his auburn hair was close cropped to his head, with freckles. She had remembered a memory in the hospital of a little boy with red hair...she supposed this was him. She knew who Morgan was, but he was so much older than the flashes she had. Liz had told her she had taken care of him as a baby...but here was a boy about 7 smiling at her. She had no memories of Kristina, but Liz had told her about Sonny and Alexis...so she was actually surprised the girl was here. But she came first to hug her; two dimples etched in her cheeks. Courtney fell into the hug. The other two kids came forth and hugged her too...and Courtney didn't hold back the tears.
During dinner, Alexis excused herself and Courtney sat getting to know a part of her family. This made her believe the decision she has made was the right one. So when Sonny sent the kids upstairs he met her in the foyer.
"Are you sure about this?" he questioned.
She nodded and he gave instructions to Max. And then he hugged her.
"Call me as soon as you get there" he told her watching her leave.
Not two minutes later Alexis walked in, "where's Courtney" she asked.
"She left"
"Left where?"
"She wanted to go back to Spain...she said she doesn't want to be here and have to watch Nikolas move on...but she is going to come back when she gets her memory back...she just...she can't watch Nikolas marry Maxie"
Alexis sighed, "well that's good because he isn't. Maxie moved out of Wyndamere today for your information. Why don't you ever run these ideas past me" she asked pulling out her cellphone.
He looked at her puzzled, "Jax, yeah, let me speak to Carly...no Jax, I did not fall and hit my head. Carly this is Alexis, Sonny is flying Courtney back to Spain tonight...yeah we have to stop her...no, bring Matthew with you"
Sonny watched as she walked towards the door, "are you coming?" she asked hand perched on hip.
A half an hour later they were all driving towards the jet.
The car had barely stopped but to two women had Matthew out of the car seat and in the door before Jax and Sonny had unbuckled their seat belts.
"COURTNEY" Carly yelled seeing the blond woman talking to the pilot.
"Carly, Alexis...Matthew" she said softening at the last one.
"MOMMY!" he yelled practically throwing himself into her arms.
She relished in the feel of her little boys hair when she put him down.
"Don't go" is all Carly said.
Alexis continued, "Nikolas"
But Courtney held her hand up, "stop...please...I will be back...I have so much to come back for...but right now, I have to go for me" she told them.
Then she lowered herself down to Matthew's level, "mommy has to go for a little while...but she will be back...okay?" she asked.
He nodded and bit his lip, "here mommy, its a present so you remember me"
Tears came into both sets of the same blue eyes, "Mommy could never forget you" she said taking his gift and sliding it into her pocket.
"I love you sweetie" she said kissing atop his head.
"Love you too" he said waving goodbye.
They watched her climb on the jet and fly away, Matthew waving the whole time.
Nikolas ran into the room just as the plane lifted off the ground. He saw Carly and Alexis looking out the window, Matthew on Alexis' hip.
"Bye Mommy" Matthew said waving.
Alexis handed the little boy to Carly and walked towards him.
"What does he mean goodbye?" he asked with his trademark puppy dog eyes.
Alexis put her hand on his shoulder, "she said she had to go for herself...she doesn't want to be a burden in your life"
"But...how...now...she can't think" he said starting to pace.
Alexis grabbed him and reeled him into her embrace, "honey, she is going to come back...you have to let her go for now...let her work these things out...she will come back to you and Matthew"
He let the tears fall against his aunt's shoulder but he nodded and then when to take his son home.
It was three weeks in Spain before she could even look at the gift Matthew had given her. She pulled out the little rolled up tissue paper, and when she opened it the light hit the diamond...and suddenly she was flooded with memories...
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
"Merry Christmas. I love you"
"I didn't turn to you because I couldn't be with Emily. I didn't. You are the one I want to be with."
"I didn't have an affair Courtney, I fell in love with you. And I just can't give up that easily"
A/N: Alright you guys...this is the second to the last chapter...how sad, huh? But I am actually really pleased with how this story turned out...I was nervous I couldn't do a Nico story justice...So thanks for all the reviews...keep 'em coming so I know you all want me to finish!