Proper Disclaimer: I am not now nor have I ever been associated, in any form or fashion, with ABC/Disney/General Hospital… the writers or actors.

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A/N: Apologies for the super long delay in the update, but I sure hope it was worth the wait and that you haven't forgotten this little story.

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Jason had taken off for the Harbor View Towers when they got outside the police station with a promise to meet with Sonny later at the coffee house. When Frankie showed up with the limousine Max held the door open for Mr. and Mrs. C and then slid in the front next to the driver.

Sonny and Alexis hadn't said more than ten words to one another except as attorney and client. Alexis went in with "guns" blazing getting all three men released. It hadn't been a quick process as they all watched the sun begin to seep through the windows at the station. Nonetheless no one had been charged or processed for any crime. As usual Taggart's bark was much worse then his bite because he had no evidence to back the bite up with. Alexis strutted and postured about tying up the department with civil suits and paperwork so well that Mac was practically begging them to leave and not return. But Taggart wasn't so easily swayed and made sure to let them all know that he'd keep watching and waiting because he knew eventually Corinthos and Morgan would screw up.

The car was rounding the circular drive beyond the gates of Greystone with all of the vehicles occupants weighted down by their own thoughts. Looking up from the paperwork she only appeared to be reading Alexis finally turned to her husband.

"Sonny you know how much I love you, but I'm so angry right now I'm afraid whatever I say will undo what we've spent years building, so when we get inside I'm going to spend some time with my children and take a long hot bath. Please go to the office and handle whatever you need to and just give me some space."

He was shocked. Alexis never dodged confrontation hell most times she seemed to thrive on it and wilt without it. But when he truly looked in her eyes he saw the fear and exhaustion that clouded them. He wouldn't add to that no matter how he felt.

"Thank you for coming," he whispered into her ear as he left a soft kiss on her cheek. The car came to a stop right in front of the imposing door with the wolf head knocker. Sonny put his hand out for the frame of the door as Max opened it then felt his wife's hand on his other wrist.

"Not a word to Samantha, please, I know you didn't want her to call, but she's your daughter not the one who set this in motion. She was scared and she did the right thing. When one parent is in trouble you call the other one. You might be furious, but I'm grateful and today I get to win."

Letting his arm go she slid out after him the two not saying anything else.

The limo took back off down the driveway as Milo opened the door for his big brother and his boss. Alexis handed her briefcase to Max while Milo took hers and Mr. C's coats. Sonny was more than a little disheveled and looked rough around the edges. His 5 o'clock shadow was taking on the thickness of truly attempted beard and his hair was curly and casual instead of slicked back and in place. He still held his arm funny the pain from the bullet graze far less intense, but still present. Sonny didn't want his children seeing him like the hell he'd gone through.

"I'll be down in a little while."

Alexis entered the double doors to the impressive room to find Samantha surrounded by the twins and an assortment of stuffed friends listening to one of Krissy's favorite Dr. Seuss books.

"Mommy," they squealed simultaneously bounding off the couch.

Alexis had to brace herself for the happy onslaught of hugs and kisses. She had missed her babies so much over the last few days. The loss of the child she would never know hitting her once again in the gut and catching her off guard. She pushed it to the back of her mind and focused on the beautiful little people in front of her. They dragged her to the couch and proceeded to share every ounce of everyday she had been gone often repeating stories she'd listened to over the phone and tripping on one another's words to make sure they were heard equally.

Sam had been moving around the room picking up the various "animals" and toys placing them in the basket by the stairs to carry them up later. She had folded and refolded the throw on the back of the couch a bunch of times and finally flopped in the armchair listening to the ramblings of her five year old siblings.

"Sammie where's Michael?"

"He's still sleeping. The coach called and spoke to Leticia early this morning saying his game was canceled, so we let him alone. It is only 7:30 mom if these two didn't wake me up so early I'd still be sleep. Leticia went to early mass and then to see her sister, so I told her I'd take care of the ankle-biters."

Patting the seat next to Krissy Alexis called Sam over to join them. Their eyes locked and Alexis leaned over her youngest to kiss the top of the head of her oldest. "You're a good sister Samantha and a good daughter."

"Thanks mom at least you think so."

"I know so and don't even try to convince your self otherwise."

"If I'm so good how come I keep messing up? Things are bad and I just make them worse. I swear I heard everything you said the other night. I'm trying really hard because I know about the stress, but maybe I should just go away to boarding school then he'll have one less problem to stress over."

"Why don't you let me decide what I want to stress over?" Sonny had entered the room from the stairs behind them his voice startling the entire group. The twins leapt off their seats again. Sam hung her head low silently praying for the couch to turn into a large mouth bass that would swallow her whole.

"Okay, who wants dad's special eggs for breakfast?" Krissy and Morgan were jumping in the air like something was snapping at their feet.

"Alright take the toys and books upstairs and get washed up then meet me in the kitchen 'cause I think I might need to junior chefs to help."

That was her out and she was moving like the kindergarteners now. "I'll help them. Leticia's already gone."

"No, you're going to stay put. Wait for mommy guys," Sonny said looking at his wife. She glared but didn't say anything. She had been clear and she knew him well enough to know that whatever he had to say it wouldn't be in direct opposition to her request to cut Samantha some slack. She still had no appreciation for being dismissed indirectly or otherwise.

"I ran a hot bath for you it should be just right now. If you send them down I'll bring a tray up to you." She kept glaring although if he wasn't mistaken it had softened ever so slightly at the corners.

Kissing Sam on the forehead one final time Alexis followed her little ones up to their bedroom.

The daughter who saw herself as a perpetual screw up as of late made every effort to fold her body in half and slip into invisibility. The exhausted mob boss would have none of it. He saw her clearly and wanted to make sure that she saw him the same way.

"Levántese apagado de esa señora joven del sofá y venga aquí." Sonny was leaning against his massive desk once again and watched as Sam slid off of her perch and timidly came to stand before him.

She was poised to speak but wasn't sure what to say except to offer up another apology. He was right when he told her sorry wouldn't be enough and this time she agreed because the words even sounded empty to her. If her head were any lower she'd be holding a perfect yoga pose. Placing a strong hand under her chin Sonny raised her head until their eyes met. Hers were rapidly glassing over with moisture.

So the hug wasn't exactly the reaction she was expecting, but it felt really good. They worry she had been holding on to since the night before came pouring out of her in a torrent of tears. Of course she had been consumed with how angry he was going to be and how much more trouble she might have gotten into, but mostly she was worried. A scene like the one that played out in this very room and repeatedly in her head since was something she'd only seen on television. It was the scene most folks assumed she witnessed everyday being Sonny Corinthos' daughter, but it wasn't and it had really frightened her. It rocked her stable sensibilities becoming the moment when her father couldn't demand his own way or fix what was wrong with a barked order.

"Calm down baby, I'm fine I promise. It was all a miss understanding that's it." He was stroking her hair.

"I was really scared. I should have listened to you I know, but I just wanted you to come home and mama was the only one I knew who could do that."

He pushed her off his shoulder with a gentle nudge and held her at arms length so they were face to face again. How he kept his look and his voice neutral boggled her mind and left Sam feeling uncertain.

"Sometimes your daddy is wrong baby girl. Last night you did the right thing by calling Alexis. There's so much I want to protect you from and I guess I need to realize you're not a little girl anymore. You handled yourself well and even though I don't ever want to see you in that situation again it's good to know if you are you know the right things to do and say. Soy orgulloso de usted Samantha."

"You're proud of me?"

"I guess I haven't said that much lately. I should have. I'm not a fan of you disobeying my rules, but Alexis is right you won't know the best decisions to make if I never let you make any. I'm going to try to do better. Can you forgive me?"

She was stunned. Samantha wasn't sure who or what possessed her father, but she was very grateful for their presence. "Of course I forgive you and I'm gonna try to do better too. Last night nothing else mattered but doing what I thought was best for the family and I finally understand what you've been saying the last couple of weeks. My priorities are in order daddy and I might need reminding sometimes, but I'm clear about what comes first I promise."

Giving her a wink and taking her small clammy hand in his strong cool one Sonny said, "que mi muchacha. Ahora déjenos van hacen un poco de desayuno."

"Good I'm starved. Oh, and I'll keep an eye on the twins while you take mama her tray. She didn't look real happy when she went up. That's a talk that might take a little while."

They both let out a light laugh releasing the last of the tension preparing them to embark on this new day with a different understanding of one another. Their roles hadn't changed just the definition of what those roles meant.