Chapter Four
They sat in the elevator for three hours. It didn't break down ... they just stopped it on purpose every fifteen minutes. Ric talked about why he was the way he was. Alexis listened. Alexis talked about why she was the way she was. Ric listened.
God, did he miss that laugh. That beautiful laugh when her eye's lightened and her smile was pure. That laugh that caused everyone in the room to look over ... but in this room, it was just them. He reminded her of something that Kristina had said about Molly when she was born. She laughed until she cried and he felt like crying by just watching her laugh. He felt that it was time.
"So baby, when did you fall in love with me?" He asked quickly, the 'baby' slipping out unintentionally.
Alexis stopped laughing. She stopped smiling. He grew worried. She looked to him seriously and contemplated the question. She honestly had never thought about it. She felt that she should be honest.
"I never thought about it. Even when I asked you, I hadn't thought about me."
Ric nodded sadly, disappointed that she couldn't answer right away, but hopeful with her honesty. He moved across the elevator floor and sat next to her, trying hard not to invade her space, but wanting to be closer ... even if it was too far away for his happiness.
"So think about it. When did you fall in love with me?" He was frightened that she'd say she didn't know.
Alexis looked at the floor, where the door met the elevator wall, "When you gave me your heart."
Ric knew the exact moment that she'd meant. He bought that necklace the night that she told him that she was pregnant, "When you were in the wheelchair?"
"Yeah."
"Kristina was gone."
"Yeah."
"What took you so long?"
"For what?" She smiled at him. He couldn't speak. That smile ... it took his breath away, "Ric?" She questioned, uncomfortable with the silence.
"Oh ... I'm sorry. God, you're so beautiful." He looked to her as she shied away, "No, Alexis." He looked her over once again. No scarf over her head, no walls built up this time ... she was completely vulnerable and free. He loved her like this the most. He brought his hand up and traced the edge of her face, from her forehead, down her jaw line, to her chin, then he ran his fingers through her hair, which was so thin ... so little was left, but he felt that it was necessary to show her that she was still gorgeous. He reached the end of her hair and brought his fingers to her lips, leaning closer.
"You're so beautiful." He stared at her lips for a moment ... her bottom lip pulled between her teeth as always, when released. His eyes moved to hers, which were glazed over with tears for him, "You're the most gorgeous creature that God's created. How can you think that no one loves you?" It was spoken as a question, but he stated it. He knew that she wouldn't believe him. He knew that she never would ... even if she won the Ms. Universe pageant ... she'd never believe that she was beautiful, "Alexis ... do you see? When I look at you? Do you see it?"
Her eyes were fixed on his. She tried so hard to look away. She tried so hard to block out his words, but they reached her against her will, "See what?"
Ric shook his head in disbelief, "No one has ever been as beautiful as you in my life." His hand reached to cup her chin. He wanted to kiss her right there, but was still afraid of her rejection. He leaned in close enough to let her know what he wanted ... what he needed, but he wanted and needed her to make the move. He licked his lips softly, "I know what things I've done. I know that I shouldn't be forgiven, but my God, Alexis, if anyone has the heart and strength to forgive me ... it's you."
She didn't want to look down to his lips ... she'd have to kiss him. She continued to stare in his eyes.
"If anyone in the world could forgive me for what I've done ... could believe me when I said that I did those things because of who I am ... because of what I've lost ... what I've felt ... it's you. Alexis ... baby ..."
She kissed him. She couldn't think anymore. Every time the word 'baby' came out of his mouth directed at her, her heart melted. She knew him ... she saw him ... and she finally knew that he was truly sorry.
It was the sweetest kiss they'd ever shared and it didn't last nearly long enough for him. As he pulled back, he noticed the tears that had softly fallen down her face. Her eyes remained closed. His thumb brushed away the tears and when her eyes opened, he only wanted to make her smile.
"Let's move to the city ... to Manhattan. There are great hospital's there for you, great schools for the girls ... let's get out of here. Me, you, Krissy, and Molly. Let's start over," Ric pleaded and watched her reaction.
Her eyes moved to where their fingers had intertwined between them, "What about Sam?"
"I'll drop the charges ... I'll quit my job ... she can come visit you and the girls ... Krissy can come here and visit Sonny every other weekend ... he doesn't see her that much even now. Baby, let's get out of this town ... there are too many things here that get in our way ..."
"Such as?" She knew, but she wanted him to say it. She wanted him to say what was coming between them.
"My brother."
Her eyes met his again. There it was. The one reason that tore them apart, "You can leave him behind?"
"And never think about him again," he assured and continued, "Alexis, I thought that I'd lost you forever. I thought when I was framing Sam and chasing Jason ... I don't know. I thought we were over, but then I saw you that day in the hospital ... you didn't know that I was there. You were sitting in the hospital bed waiting to go in for chemo ... you had the wig on that I bought you, and you took it off." He ran his fingers softly through her hair, "You cried and I wanted nothing more than to go inside and hold you. I realized that I wanted only to be there with you through this. I'll do anything, Alexis. You tell me, I'll do it." Tears were forming and he didn't try to wipe them away or block them from falling. This was it, "Please Alexis, let's go … far away if you want, I just … I want to grow old with you, please … say yes."
Alexis' mind was blank ... for once in her life, she couldn't think about anything. She suddenly remembered, "In the tunnel ... the train wreck, after Molly was born ... we realized that we needed each other ... that we're better together, but Ric? You talked about how I would change ... you made me promise to be more open ... less defensive ..."
"I was wrong."
"You were?"
"You never needed changing. I did. I've failed you, Alexis, and I know that you have every right to not take me back ... to want me to suffer for the rest of my life without you...and if that's what you want, I will, but ... I can change. We'll move, we'll shave your hair off ... we'll get you well. Kristina will see a competent therapist and continue to get better, Molly will grow up ... all fat and happy with us ... as it should be ... and we'll leave all of this behind us."
"But it won't be all behind us Ric ... no matter what, you're still Sonny's brother and Sam's still my child."
"But you're my wife. I'm your husband. We love each other, Alexis. Honey, you can't deny that."
"This is big, Ric. This is huge ..."
"I know, but we can do it. You and me, after everything, you know we can beat this ... all of this."
"In Manhattan?"
"If you want, yes … in Manhattan," Ric confirmed and took her lips in his.
They left the elevator that night ... shaved her head, packed their bags ... and moved to Manhattan. Sam came to visit, when Ric wasn't home. She and Alexis stayed in contact, but Sam's love was with Jason, and that's where she wanted to be. Kristina stayed one weekend a month with Sonny, and he often brought the boys to the city to visit, when Ric wasn't home. When Ric was home though, he was home. Alexis healed, Kristina healed, and Molly grew up with her family.
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"Krissy!! Stop it!" Molly whined.
"Kristina! Stop," Ric boomed and she stopped. Her favorite way to aggravate her sister was simply to touch her when she didn't want to be touched. Kristina could sit there for an hour and poke the five-year-old until the tears started pouring, then she'd apologize and all would be forgiven. Molly knew it was all in good fun and secretly, she did the same thing ... she just knew to do it when their parents weren't around.
"Okay girls, time for bed," Alexis sang, walking into their living room, noticing that the movie they had been watching was over.
"Mooom!" Kristina whined and let out a yelp when Ric scooped the skinny ten-year-old up in his arms, "Aaaah!! Okay, okay!! Daddy, okay!! Aaaah!"
Ric let her down and she ran. He chased her to her room and helped her get tucked in. When all was settled and the lights were off, he kissed her on the forehead and stopped in her doorway on the way out.
"Goodnight, daughter Kristina."
"Goodnight, daddy Ric."
Alexis had Molly all tucked in and kissed her forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin, "I love you."
"I love you, more." Molly smiled.
"Ahhh, not possible."
"Uh huh."
"Nuh uh."
"Uh huh." Molly's smile grew.
"Well, we'll discuss this more tomorrow night." She kissed her one last time and headed out the door. This was their nightly ritual and as Alexis and Ric passed each other in the hallway to head to the other child's room, they met with a kiss. Alexis looked back to him, "Meet me in the living room ... five minutes." She smiled and joined Kristina. He smiled and went to tuck in his little one. After multiple kisses and 'I love you's', Ric walked into the living room and smiled at the sight before him. She was under two blankets on the couch with a remote in her hand ... smiling up to him.
He slid in under the covers and kissed her. The remote was lost in the blankets as they made out. After a while more, he pulled back and smiled, "I won't be able to keep my hands off of you during the movie."
"That's okay." She leaned up to kiss him once more.
"You won't fall asleep again?"
She shook her head.
"So you'll stay awake until the end?"
Another kiss, "I'll stay right here with you until the end."
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The End.