"Boss." Max knocked on Sonny's door. "Ms. Davis is here to see you."
Sonny rolled over on the bed.
"It's okay, go for it." Claudia assured him.
"But…" Just when it looked like they were about to have a good morning he was being interrupted.
"It could be important; something about Kristina." Claudia reminded him.
"Okay, but don't move."
"I'm not going anywhere." She replied as she rested her head back. "Now you be good in there." She looked down at her stomach as Sonny left the room.
"How's the wife?" Alexis asked as he made it to the den. Max handed both a coffee mug.
"I know you didn't come here first thing in the morning to discuss that." Sonny responded.
"Just making conversation, but you're right Claudia's welfare is not on the top of my priorities."
"Is everything okay with the girls?" Sonny asked her.
She nodded. "Sam is doing a lot better. Lucky brought her home last night, and Jax and I settled Kristina and Molly in at the Lakehouse. We have guards on duty and Jax had a good security system put into the place."
"Do you still think Helena might be after the girls?"
"I think she still could be after Sam, but the likelier of victims right now is Mischa. Anyway, um… I won't keep you. This visit is actually about Kristina. Kristina approached me yesterday about transferring schools, and after some insightful persuasion a have decided to comply."
"What do you need from me?"
"A signature." She informed him as she handed him a document with a sticky pointed to the X.
"This school is in New Hampshire."
"Yes; it is."
"Are you going to be okay with that?" He questioned; with the time he was already able to spend with his daughter he knew that a transfer probably wasn't going to make a difference.
"Part of the draw is that it takes her out of firing range." Alexis replied. She knew it wasn't going to be easy having her daughter over four hours away, but if that was what Kristina needed to give her life a sense of normalcy she was willing to do it.
Sonny scribbled his name by the x and handed the document back. He felt like that was all he had ever done from Krissy since finding out she was his; a signature for a school field trip or a check for tuition. He never really got the shot to develop that relationship he wanted with her.
"Thank you." Alexis replied as he handed it back.
"Tell her that her father loves her, and he wishes her the best."
"I will." She promised before leaving.
"What's wrong?" Sonny asked after going upstairs to find Claudia with her arms wrapped around her waist breathing shallowly.
She shook her head. "Morning sickness getting the better of me."
"Claudia if you're feeling sick then just…" He knew she was trying to stay strong around him.
"Sonny, you shouldn't have to be dealing with this."
"Are you kidding? Claudia, I've never gotten to have this before. I've never had the chance to be there for everything. I know some parts are more flattering then others, but we are in this together. I wish I could take some of the discomfort and nausea from you, but…"
"Hold that thought." She cautioned him before rushing away.
"Never?" Claudia asked him as he followed her to the restroom. He knelt down next to her rubbing her back.
"The closest I got was with Morgan." He explained. "But then Carly was kidnapped and chained to the wall. I went through months not knowing if my wife and child were even alive, and then there was the time apart while trapped on the yacht. After Morgan was born it was Jason and Courtney watching over him for the first couple weeks and after the shooting things between me and Carly were never the same.
"Dante I just found out about and Kristina I didn't know for several years she was even mine. Even after that Alexis did everything in her power to keep her away from me. I just found out that Kristina wants to go to school in New Hampshire; she's not even going to be in the same State anymore."
Claudia rested her head back against her husband's chest. "I'm not going to do that to you. This child is going to be our pride and joy; he's going to know you for the wonderful man I know you are."
"You don't worry about the business?" Sonny asked her as they interlocked fingers.
"I hope he's as smart and savvy in business as you are. Don't get me wrong we're bound to make mistakes, but I know we're not going to repeat the sins of our fathers." She replied.
XXXXXX
Caitlyn sprinted through the crisp winter air trying to fight off the demanding pressure against her lungs for as long as she could.
"Are you going to be okay?" Johnny asked her as he found her panting in the park holding her weight up from the side of a bench.
She shook her head yes.
"Do you mind if I wait here to make sure of that?" He pressed not liking the look of her flushed cheeks. As soon as her heart beat slowed down enough Caitlyn took a seat and offered Johnny the one next to her. "How did your afternoon go?"
"It was good."
"Tell me you're not getting Cam's bug."
"I'm not getting Cam's bug." She assured him. "You try sprinting with the wind in your face and see how it feels."
"Ah… no!" He chuckled. "I will leave that to you, but you do know it is okay to take a day off, or I don't know, try an inside track."
"But that's cheating." Caitlyn joked in attempts to show him all was well.
Johnny shook his head. "Are you always this stubborn?"
"Yes." She answered more honestly than he would like.
"Okay, well, I didn't mean to interrupt you. It looks like you're on the mend, so if you could do me a huge favor and try running with the wind this time I will get on my way." Johnny smiled.
"Since you asked so nicely." She replied as she stood up to put her headphones back in.
"Thank you." He went to give her a peck on the cheek but she suddenly turned at the last second reacting to a noise. Touching lips together Johnny hung on longer than he knew he should have. Feeling the pull towards him Caitlyn touched his cheek as their bodies got closer. She pushed away suddenly.
"I… I have to go." She sprinted off.
XXXXXX
Michael rested on the bed feeling Alyssa breathe across his chest as she slept. Her skin felt so smooth as the tips of his fingers traced her silhouette. In the locker room in high school he had heard many stories about guys bragging about their first time in the backseat of someone's car or under the bleachers when they were barely a teen. He remembered being turned off by the gratuity as the jocks calculates their 'scores.' What was missing in the testimonials was the sense of closeness that came afterwards when done at the right time with the right person.
Alyssa slowly stirred.
"How are you doing? Are you sore at all?" He asked her.
"A little bit, but I'm good. Actually, I'm fantastic."
"Good." He sighed. The last thing he wanted was her regretting the decision.
"What time does your mom get back?" Alyssa asked him.
"About an hour; did you want to call your father and tell him you're coming over here from Trish's? You can use the shower and then help me with breakfast."
"Breakfast?"
"I figured some waffles and bacon with a fruit bowl would be nice when everyone got back here." Michael explained.
"Are you sure it's okay that I'm here? I mean, didn't you tell Morgan that she wanted to keep it to immediate family?"
"As far as I'm concerned I am keeping it to immediate family; I'm sure it will be fine. What mom didn't want was a bunch of people here all having some expectation of who she was and how she should act. My guess is that she's just going to be resting for most of the day."
"If there's any problem at all I want you to tell me so I can make myself scarce." Alyssa demanded.
"I promise." He kissed her.
"Okay; I'm going to call my dad."
"Just make sure there's no APB put out on me." He teased her.
"You go make some batter." She playfully pushed him before he scooped her into his grasp for a passionate kiss.
XXXXXX
"Do you know who all is coming?" Sam asked Lucky as they sailed the ferry to Spoon Island.
"As far as I know it's a bunch of people. Dad and Robert were coming by early to check out all the nooks and crannies to make sure Helena was nowhere to be found." Lucky explained.
"A bunch?" Sam questioned.
"Most of the Spencer's, Scorpio's, and Cassadine's in Port Charles, yeah."
"Wonderful; isn't when we get a big group of people together that disaster strikes in this town?"
"I wouldn't worry about that." Lucky told her.
"Why is that?"
"Because we're missing one key ingredient; Sonny won't be there. Disaster strikes when it's a big town promotion and Sonny Corinthos."
Sam giggled. "You make it sound like it's his fault…"
"Only 65% of the time it's a direct result, otherwise it's just some strange coincidence."
"Oh, okay. This is our stop." Sam got up as the ferry docked. Nikolas came out to greet them as he threw his arms around his cousin.
"You look terrific." He commented on the complete turn around.
"I had some brilliant doctors."
"Speaking of which; Patrick and Robin are inside. Robert is in there rough housing with Spencer, Jake, and Emma."
"Who's winning?" Sam snickered.
"I think we should go in and find out." Lucky suggested as Nikolas led the way. Once inside Sam was greeted with hugs by both Robert and Robin as they welcomed her into the family. Jake ran straight to Lucky who reached him into the air before cradling him into a big hug.
After the greetings Sam sat down next to Mischa
"Ms. McCall, would you like a beverage?" Alfred offered her a tray with a coffee pot and tea bags. She grabbed for the coffee.
"Did you want…?" She offered Mischa.
"Tea would be fine." Mischa replied. Sam poured the hot water and Mischa grabbed her own herbal tea bag. "I have an appointment for next week."
"Yeah, you were saying that." Sam replied. "Do you know how long it's supposed to take to find out?"
"I was doing some research online about that. Apparently the soonest they suggest is nine days after implantation; which is Tuesday, the appointment is set for Friday."
"I am so sorry you got dragged into all of this."
"No; that's okay; I mean, God, look around." Mischa pointed to the stories being told between Leslie, Laura, Luke, and Robert. Nikolas and Lucky were on the floor playing around with the kids. Robin, Patrick, Lulu, and Matt were in the midst of a card game. "This baby is going to be lucky to be brought up with so many people that love it."
"So you think…?"
"Yeah; I'm fairly certain." Mischa confirmed.
"Have there been any signs? Have you noticed any changes?"
"No; not yet."
XXXXXX
"When is she going to be here?" Morgan asked Bobbie as they waited in the lobby of the private concourse.
"Any minute, honey." She replied as she looked down at Britni who was resting comfortably in the car seat.
"Grandma, do you think mom is going to be different?"
Bobbie shook her head not sure how to answer that. "Why? Who told you…?"
"Michael said that the accident may have caused problems like when he woke up from the coma angry all the time, and that's why she didn't want a big welcome home party."
"Morgan, I think your brother just wanted to prepare you for the possibility that there could potentially be some side effects, but I have spoken with your mother every day since she woke up and I can tell you she's okay. She doesn't want a big party because she's not ready to entertain a lot of people yet."
"Why?"
"Because I'm selfish and I want to spend time with the most important people first." Carly replied entering the conversation.
"Mom!" He cried as he ran towards her with arms stretched out. She braced herself to take the impact and picked him up to her level giving him several kisses to his forehead.
"I've missed you so much, baby. God, have you grown like a foot?" She questioned after setting him down.
"No; but I do think I need a new pair of shoes these are getting tight." Morgan said as he smiled.
"Hey buddy." Jason hugged Morgan as Bobbie gave a tearful greeting to her daughter.
"I should have known." Bobbie admitted.
"Mama you couldn't have."
"Jason did; he never gave up. He went after you… and Michael he…"
"Mama, stop. It doesn't matter now. What matters is that I'm here and… I really want to see my baby girl." She peered down to see Britni playfully grinning. "Hey baby!"
Carly adjusted the buckle and straps to allow her into her arms. While holding her Carly broke down due to a mix of anger and sadness as she visually confirmed what it was that Jerry almost stole from her. If he had gotten his way; if Jason hadn't found her, that baby would have never known her mother. Jason leaned into her back and wrapped his arms around her as he looked at the baby over her shoulder.
"He can't hurt us anymore." Jason whispered to her.
