Hot water doesn't begin to describe our heroine's situation. But Sonny, when it comes to his kids, is more bark than bite. She won't get off the hook right away and she and Lucky won't ride off into the sunset just yet, but don't look for her to be disowned either.

Oh, yeah, and of course I don't own GH or any of its characters. I am but a lowly fanfic scribe making them do what I want for a few colorful pages. No lawsuits please… no infringement intended.

Please read, enjoy and most of all review. Any ideas for mischief will be well received and credited if used.

Standing in front of the desk Alexis just watched. She watched him pour and finish two drinks. She watched him sit, stand, and pace back and forth wearing a pattern in her perfectly woven Persian rug. The question that kept rolling around in her mind, but not off her lips, was… What happened? Michael had come home from school and when he entered the study Alexis quickly shooed him out. He was puzzled but left without question. Now Sonny was sitting in his chair and simply staring at her.

"Okay, seriously I can't take it anymore. You have to tell me what's going on? You're yelling through the house in Spanish, Samantha's slamming doors and hell even Max seemed thrown. What the hell is wrong?"

"You want to know what's wrong. What's wrong is the fact that instead of following my instinct I listened to you. It's just tutoring you said. What could go wrong you said? Well I'll tell you exactly what went wrong… I found your daughter on the hood of Lucky Spencer's car in the alley behind Kelley's making out like she was in a movie!"

Stunned was the least of what Alexis felt. Her knees may have actually gotten weak. Now she was the one pacing, in front of the desk. "You're kidding me. When did their relationship change? She never mentioned anything to me about even liking him that way. Color me confused, but I just don't understand it."

"What's there to understand? Apparently everything we ever taught her has gone out the window and clearly their relationship has changed, a lot." Sonny's phone started to vibrate in his pocket and he took it out holding a hand up to tell Alexis he had to take the call.

"Yeah Bernie… no, I don't care what he says you show him what the records show and find my money… if it's not there then it's somewhere and he's the one in charge so yeah I am holding him responsible… not interested… yes, that goes for Jason too… did you forget he works for me… whatever, get it done Bernie and don't call back until it's finished…." He shut the phone and dropped it on the coffee table. Alexis walked in his direction and sat on the edge of the sofa closest to his chair.

Placing a hand lovingly on his knee, knowing he would hit the roof at her next suggestion, she politely asked, "Is there any chance that you're over reacting just a little bit. Maybe it's, more about a crazy father and less about an egregious act. Sonny physically bristled at the accusation and shot out of his chair facing off on his wife.

"You're kidding me right? So, what you're telling me is that you would've handled it completely different? Maybe I should have gotten them a hotel room or better yet escorted them somewhere of their choosing." His voice was getting louder and louder and Sam could hear him hollering up the stairs and through her closed bedroom door, so could Michael who was standing on the other side of that door. "No daughter of mine is going to act that way and no guy is ever going to think he can get away with treating her that way!"

Alexis was running her hands through her hair and thinking of ways to diffuse this situation, but the honest truth was she was disappointed in Samantha's choice too. She wasn't as adamant about when she could date like Sonny, but she expected her daughter to be honest and smart. Most of all she expected her to talk to her when the situation arose and figured they'd get through to Sonny together. Alexis understood her husband's fears and had years of practice talking him off the ledge, so to speak, first as his attorney and then as his wife. What Sam did put her mother in the unenviable position of having to defend actions she too found inexcusable.

Getting louder than him was a good way to turn this into an argument about them instead of Sam and Alexis wanted to avoid that at all cost, so she dropped her voice an octave to the tone she used putting the twins to bed. "Sonny, I get it, I really do, but she's growing up and it isn't going to stop. What do you want to do?"

"It's already done. He knows if he's any where near my daughter again he'll have to learn to eat with his feet." Sonny sat behind his desk and yanked the letter opener from its holder violently. Going to him, Alexis leaned across the desk and touched his face, smiling, saying "I mean what do you want to do about Sammie?"

Sonny looked in his wife's eyes and something in him settled down. He was always amazed at her ability to do that, to say the thing or touch him in a way that made his insides go still. Alexis was her own bundle of nerves for many reasons, but she was his rock when it mattered. Reaching up to catch her hand he kissed it inside and pulled her around to him. Looking up at her he remembered in an instant all she had brought to his life over the years, including the daughter that had him tied up knots right now.

"I have no idea what to do. And don't you start pleading her case for a reduced sentence counselor."

"She's our daughter not my client, but in the interest of justice I think one of us should at least attempt a rational conversation on the subject."

She was smiling and in his heart he knew she was right, but he also knew that he wasn't the person for the job. Alexis knew he wasn't either, but if she could get him to be reasonable then she'd have something to take to Sam. Her husband and her daughter were two of the most stubborn people she knew and they'd both dig their heels in so bad the entire house would be turned upside down with tension.

"Fine talk to her. She can finish the year out at PCH, but I'm not convinced boarding school isn't a better solution, so plan on revisiting the subject for school next year." Alexis just sighed and let him continue. "You're right someone does need to talk to her…I can't right now… Lex I'm just too… too… it would be a bad idea. Look I have to meet Jason and Bernie back at the warehouse, there are some problems, but I'll be home for dinner."

Alexis backed up as Sonny stood and they walked to the study doors hand in hand. She leaned in and kissed him and he responded passionately. No matter what was going on she could still melt him with a kiss. When they came up for air and broke apart she leaned into his chest hugging him tightly sending him off with all the love she could make him feel. Over her shoulder Sonny noticed their audience on the stairs into the study. Samantha was standing mid-landing with her tear streaked face meeting his stern one. Feeling his body tense again Alexis pulled back and turned around seeing her daughter for the first time since she stormed in the house. The silence was palpable.

"Daddy…."

Sonny turned his back and as he went through the door all Sam and Alexis heard was, "talk to your mother."

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When her door slammed Sam knew that may have been too much. She stood on the other side of it poised for battle. There was no way Sonny was putting up with that. Hell, she'd been punished for a lot less. Looking at the door she kept waiting for it to fly open or hear him yelling down the hall, but there was nothing but silence. That's when her nerves really kicked in. Maybe he was just calling the school and making arrangements to ship her off. Should she start packing? Sitting on her bed she reached for the phone to call Emily, but remembered she was at the hospital volunteering. She couldn't call Lucky. He probably wouldn't take her call if she did have the courage to dial. Then she started bawling like she did when she was scared in the orphanage or when she first moved into Wyndemere. All she could do was curl up on her bed with her Joey, a stuffed kangaroo her mother's client Jax had given her, and wait. She had run to the bathroom a couple of times feeling like she might throw up, but nothing happened. When she heard the knock at her door she thought it was way civil of Sonny considering how angry she knew he was.

"Yes?"

"Sammie, it's me. Let me in I want to know what's going on." It was Michael and she wasn't up for his meddling for gloating purposes.

"Go away I don't want to talk to you."

"Come on. I saw mom and dad talking and they looked major intense. What'd you do?"

"None of your business!" She threw a shoe at the door and shouted. "Go away Michael!"

"Whatever, Samantha, the way dad looked he's gonna nail you to the wall and I'm probably going to get your room." She jumped off the bed and flung the door open. She and Michael could both hear their father bellowing up the stairs and Michael took off down the hall calling to his sister, "never mind I don't even want to know."

Sam crept down the hall to the staircase closest to her room that led into the study, and tried to listen without being seen or heard. It sounded like Alexis might be on her side, but Sonny was still pissed and not in the forgiving mood, she could tell. She got tired and finally sat down to eavesdrop on the rest of her parent's exchange. It took some time, but her mom had finally gotten him to calm down a little. Sam watched them kiss and understood their love and why she sometimes caught them just looking at one another. Getting caught up made Sam forget she didn't want to be seen and she stood up and headed down the stairs. As she got further down on the landing Sonny noticed her and Alexis turned to stare at her as well. Sam felt those unrelenting tears pour out of her again. She could feel his disappointment and it hurt her to her core. Having a father and a family was so important to Sam and she had worked so hard to never do anything to make him want to leave or send her away. But now, because of one stupid kiss, it was all going to be ruined. She'd be the reason for the sadness and disappointment in her mother's eyes and the reason her father would be forced to break up their family. How could she let this happen? She couldn't. Her eyes and voice pleaded. "Daddy…."

He refused her eye contact and simply said, "talk to your mother."

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Alexis looked from the door to the stairs and went to sit on the couch. Sam was frozen in place at a lost for what to do.

"You might as well get down here. We're doing this now or later, so let's just get it over with."

When Sam came down the stairs she stood at the edge of the couch looking at Alexis unsure of what approach she should use. But Alexis was a mom first and opening her arms sought to provide the comfort she suspected her little girl might need.

"Come here you," Sam fell into her mother's arms sobbing. "Let me guess, you had an awful day, huh?"

Sam could only nod between sobs and her mom let her. After a few minutes Alexis pushed her up and gazed into her eyes. "Okay. Now it's time you tell me what you have me in the middle of between you and Sonny."

She removed herself from her mother's embrace and prying eyes and walked over to the bar to grab a bottle of water. Her mouth felt the way a wet sponge looked after sitting out all night. Downing half the bottle in one gulp Samantha finally faced her mother and began at the very beginning.

It wasn't as if she was lying to Alexis about any of the details it's just that in her version it wasn't all tawdry prelude to intercourse as Sonny had made it sound. Since Alexis hadn't interrupted and seemed to understand Sam relaxed a bit and told her mom about the elevator kiss on her birthday and the fact that she was really falling for Lucky Spencer. She must have been droning on and on about all his great qualities because Alexis finally stood up to stretch and get her own bottle of water. Just as she did the study doors flung open and poor Milo was once again being shoved aside… this time by Luke Spencer.

"Get down here Corinthos! Let's see you threaten me big man." It took him a second before he acknowledged Alexis mid-rant. "So sorry Natasha, but if your bully of a husband doesn't haul his sorry butt out here I'm gonna have to go through this place looking for him."

"Cool it Luke. You're wasting your time screaming through my house because Sonny isn't here, but my children are so could you please stop. What is this about?" Milo, standing right at his heels, kept his eyes trained on the shouting lunatic. But to his dismay Alexis sent him back out of the room.

"Your husband threatened my son, and over a kiss, give me a break we both know Corinthos has done worse than that to any number of girls. All someone's daughters I might add, so where does he get off."

"Luke we're dealing with it alright. Our children have to live with our history and our baggage can we not add any new drama to the equation. Sonny is sorry, believe me. It's his daughter for crying out loud, so he overreacted, Lucky's fine if he wasn't you'd be standing here with a gun drawn no doubt, so let things cool off and we'll revisit this another time." Alexis wasn't sure why she had been feeling so worn down lately, but honestly this day wasn't helping. She had left the office early to spend some down time with Krissy and Morgan and all she had ended up doing was playing referee all afternoon.

This might be her only chance to get word to Lucky and Sam wasn't going to blow it. "Mr. Spencer this isn't Lucky's fault. My dad is angry with me not him. He won't go near Lucky again as long as I stay away from him. Please tell him I'm sorry I got us into this mess and that I'll see him around school." Sam fell back into Alexis' arm and now both women waited for Luke Spencer to exit in the same huff he had entered. But to both of their surprise he spoke with a much more gentle tone.

"Sweetheart, my son cares about you and is more than happy to stand up to your father, so don't you back down so easy, ya hear. And Natasha, tell Sonny-boy to lighten up cause if he doesn't this is gonna get worse before it gets better." With that, as quickly as he came he went.

Alexis and Sam held their embrace a minute longer before either spoke. "This is a mess, huh?" Sam asked.

"Yes it is. So, what are we going to do to fix it?" Alexis answered the question with one which didn't comfort Sam at all. Taking her daughter's hand she led her into the kitchen saying, "I think we'll both think better with a little ice-cream and popcorn."

"I don't think dad will see that as appropriate punishment food. Maybe Brussels sprouts?" For the first time Sam and Alexis laughed breaking the tension that had been lying in the pit of their stomachs for the last hour.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

They were full and their craving for both the salty and the sweet had been aptly satiated. Looking at the clock on the far wall over the stove Alexis realized how close it was to dinner and she hadn't a clue. Sonny said he'd be home, but she doubted he'd be in the mood to cook so she ransacked the junk draw for menus and she and Sam poured over them to make a decision that would full and accommodate the varied taste needs in the Corinthos-Davis household.

When Sonny entered the study he didn't see or hear anyone even though Milo said everyone was home. He also told him about Luke Spencer's visit, but since the man seemed so much more unruffled when he left Sonny opted to deal with him in the morning. When he heard the giggling coming from the kitchen he followed the voices and found his wife and daughter with their backs to the door looking at menus the only evidence of kitchen activity being that of empty ice-cream containers and microwave popcorn bags.

Clearing his throat he got their attention. Alexis was the first to turn around. "Hey beautiful," Sonny greeted his wife.

Sam tried to appear invisible, but it was no use, she was the white elephant in the middle of the room. Sonny stuck his index finger out and gestured for her to come to him. She did so hesitantly, but when she got closer, after giving her a look that could have melted ice all he did was pull her into the tightest hug she ever remembered getting. He could feel her body shake with silent sobs.

He said only one thing to her before kissing her on the forehead and going upstairs. "We have a lot to deal with, but I love you and we'll work it out."