February 28, 2006

A Lesson in Cotton Candy

"What do I need to do to try to get the same relationship with Sonny that he has with Brooke Lynn?" Alexis questions to Lorenzo perched at the end of her couch with one leg crossed over the other and glaring at her so obviously not processing her statement.

"She's five Alexis."

"She is not five. I'm asking a serious question. Please be accommodating."

Lorenzo laughs. "It's so hard to be accommodating when it's quite obvious to me that Sonny only relates to those half his age."

Alexis points her finger at Lorenzo. "I expect this judgment out of Ric. Not you."

"I just like to make fun. Hey. Africa book saga. Over? Not over? Your daughter is as much a drama queen if not more than her mother."

"It's like her security blanket."

"Let me tell you something Alexis. When she finds that stupid book, which by the way is only an issue because I'm sure her equally overdramatic father planted the idea in her head that this book is like the new crack. Anyway, when she finds the book, she'll forget why she even cared about it."

"Are you calling my daughter fickle?" Alexis questions Lorenzo with a false curiosity.

"I would never abbreviate her personality to a barely two-syllable word."

Alexis laughs and lays back on the couch sinking into her warm throw. She watches Lorenzo slowly fading into a blur. "I think Kevin spikes my medication. These hallucinations are unfair on all accounts."

"But pleasant." Lorenzo adds while tucking her in tight. "You love to dream about me. I was your favorite."

"Yes. You were always easygoing. Even till the end. But your son…" Alexis takes a deep breath and tries to stay awake. She twirls a strand of her hair around her finger while jerking it to feel the sting of the pull. "…I'd give anything for Zander to forgive me."

Zander remained still in the flickering of the emergency lights. Like Pavlov's dog reacting to the redness filling the congested area, he raced to the paramedics emerging from the building with occupied stretchers pushed in front of them. He made it to the front of the line and counted each one. "One, two…" He counted to himself. A familiar face met the corner of his eye. With a frantic wave of his hand, he acknowledged Sonny wrapped in a blanket and talking to a police officer.

Sonny nudged the officer aside and made his way to Zander. "Sonny! What happened! Where is Alexis? Where is Lo? Where is Ric?" Zander questioned barely allowing Sonny a word in edgewise.

Sonny placed his hand on Zander's shoulder half wanting to be the one to tell him the truth.

"Seriously. Sonny. I need some answers." Zander pulled away from Sonny's grip.

Sonny exhaled deeply. "I shouldn't be the one to tell you this. Alexis should tell you, but she can't…"

Zander tossed his hands in the air. "What do you mean she can't! Where is she!"

Alexis jerks up from her rest in shock that her frightening images failed to invade her unconscious. She looks around her and notices her front door cracked. She sniffs the air and catches Lorenzo's cologne still floating in the air. "He was really here." She tells herself after noting all the precious signs that reminded her of her dear friend.

She never thought she could forgive him. She never truly understood why she even hated him. She just did.

"Alexis. I don't get you at all." Lorenzo stated to her very openly after Ric had left them in the office despite them both giving him indications they never wanted to be left alone. "You killed my brother so why the hell do you hate me?" He questioned with certainty that she wouldn't have a valid answer.

"Your brother killed my sister." She answered and sat back certain her answer was enough to shut him up.

"So how did you and Ric meet again?" Lorenzo questioned while kicking his feet up onto Ric's desk. He slid his hands behind his head ready to listen to the story.

"You don't care how Ric and I met Lorenzo." Alexis looked away from him hoping Ric's errand was soon to end ridding them both of their misery.

"Listen Alexis. If we're going to be partners…"

"…A threesome." Alexis uttered.

Lorenzo's body broke down in full laughter. "Ok. Whatever you want to call it Dear. I'm game."

"That's what it is. So why you laughing?" She delivered him a cold stare.

Ric stepped into the office.

Lorenzo turned to him and exclaimed with excitement. "We're having a threesome!"

Alexis laughs to herself recalling that time knowing at that moment she wanted to relieve her heart of the anger and fall into his playful nature. But she held it inside until she had no choice but to give in; she knew she had to teach Kristina forgiveness.

They were able to maintain a working relationship with Ric in the middle, but it was always uncomfortably strained. And when Zander found that Lorenzo was his father, Alexis knew that helping him piece together his life was the best gift the young troubled boy could receive.

Zander had taken Kristina to the Port Charles Fair. Lorenzo had wanted to attend the fun with his newfound son, but he bowed out knowing that Kristina would appreciate the first time experience more. Lorenzo also knew that Alexis would have a heart attack if he violated her unofficial restraining order.

But both of them made of unspeakable impulse ended up at the Fair; each alone meandering through the crowd searching for answers to their many questions. And they both ended up at the cart of the man with the cotton candy.

Alexis spotted him in line looking completely out of place dressed fresh from the office. She wanted to quickly turn away from him and pretend to look for Zander, but he caught her eye and lifted his hand in a strained effort to wave hello.

She waited after watching him pay the vendor for two sticks of cotton candy, one pink and one blue. As he approached her with the candy, her heart palpitated with her unsure of how to relate to him in a way outside of pure hatred, pure silence, or pure lawyer-speak.

Lorenzo handed her the pink cotton candy, but quickly pulled it back. "I'm assuming you'd prefer the pink?" He asked.

"Do they taste the same?"

"Not really. The pink is better."

Alexis took the blue candy from his hand and grinned from ear to ear. "Luke taught me poker. You were bluffing."

Lorenzo chuckled. "Have you ever eaten cotton candy? It's quite messy. I can show you."

Alexis picked at the candy having never dealt with the ball of fluff on the stick. "Can I tell you a story?"

"I'd love to hear it."

"Sonny quote on quote taught me how to eat biscotti."

"I have a hard time believing a cultured woman like you Natasha would need to be taught how to eat biscotti."

Alexis kicked at the dirt, her face flushed. "I think he was flirting with me. He knew I knew how to eat biscotti."

"Are you assuming I'm flirting with you?" Lorenzo tried to make eye contact with her taking an interest in her candy.

"You called me Natasha. How do you know that name?" She looked at him.

"I pay attention to you. That is all."

The conversation started to fade into the noise of the evening back to that place of resentment. But Alexis took control and admitted her reason of restlessness. "I'm pregnant." She exclaimed to Lorenzo while wondering exactly what she said.

"Congratulations! What are we having?"

"We?" Alexis stepped back from Lorenzo not picking up on his subtle sense of humor.

Realizing her nervousness, he changed his tune. "I mean. What are you having?"

"I just found out today. Not sure. It's early."

"Ric?"

"Do you think I'm a whore?" Alexis hit Lorenzo's arm. "I know the father of my child."

"Well you mentioned Sonny and I know you were seeing Ric. I just wasn't sure."

"Yea. Neither am I." She muttered to herself half hoping he didn't hear.

Alexis closes her blinds to the rain and thunder outside her apartment window. She remembers that her evening at the Fair with Lorenzo ended with the heavens pouring showers over them before they could find shelter. They had finally found it soaking wet amongst the merry-go-round shut down for the evening. Neither of them wanted to go home nor did they want to be bothered by anyone but each other.

"I must be enjoying my time with you if being a wet mop seems more appealing." She pulled her knees to her chest to shield her body from the seeping cold.

Lorenzo pulled his flask from his wet coat and offered quickly realizing his mistake. "My bad. I forgot. A baby huh? That's fun. Hey can I ask a favor?"

"Sure."

"Is it too soon to ask for favors?"

"I guess not."

"I've never held a baby before. Can I hold yours?"

Alexis thought for a moment. "How is it possible that you've never held a baby?"

"There are a lot of simple things I've never done that I'd like to do. When your life is as complicated as mine was, you miss out on things..."

"…Like eating cotton candy?" She interjected.

He tipped his flask in her direction and gave her a drunken stare. "Exactly. You did a good job by the way. I'm proud of you." Lorenzo leaned his body on the base of the merry-go-round and slid down to a more comfortable position on his back staring out towards the starry night.

Alexis joined him and vocalized the first thought in her head. "Is it possible we'll be arrested for loitering? That would be fun."

Lorenzo slowly faded, but nodded to her.

She continued. "I forgive you by the way. Does that make us friends?"

Lorenzo slowly nodded again and dropped off completely. "It's the end of all strain. It's the joy in our hearts." She smiled and hoped that the high she felt that cool evening wouldn't dissipate in the heat of the morning.