Without Hate - Chapter 3

A/N: A big apology to anyone who's been reading. I was just reading the story for continuity and I realized I posted the same chapter twice. Again, my apologies. Anyway, here's chapter three

Without Hate - Chapter 3

Alexis closed the door to her Penthouse and rested her back against it. She wondered what she had gotten herself into. Carly Benson? Her roommate? To top it off, Carly had an eight-month old baby. Alexis had never done well with babies or anyone under 18 for that matter.

The knock on the other side of the door startled her. She opened the door to reveal none other than Sonny Corinthos.

"Oh, it's you." She left the door open and walked to the kitchen. When she returned she carried two cups of coffee. She handed one to Sonny, which he took before they both sat on the sofa.

"Wow, you must angrier with me than I thought to make me drink your coffee." Sonny chuckled. He thought it best to keep the mood light.

"Now why would I be angry with you Sonny? Is it because I will soon be rooming with the town pariah?"

"Yeah, about that." Sonny ran his hand along his chin. "I stopped by so I could tell you that you don't have to let Carly stay here."

She took a sip of her coffee, made a face and then set it on the coffee table. "You've certainly changed your tune. Less than 10 minutes ago, you were telling me that my nearly televised romantic liaison would cost Jason his freedom and the only thing I could do to make up for it was to allow Carly Benson to share my home."

"I only said it because I knew you would say, 'no.'"

"Perhaps, you don't know me as well as you'd like to think."

"Oh, I think you already proved that...Angel." Sonny began to chuckle while Alexis glared in his direction.

"If you keep this up, you just may find yourself in need of new legal counsel."

Sonny laughed, not knowing how much she enjoyed watching him laugh. It was one of the few times he let his guard down. "Alexis, I'm teasing. I like teasing you. You're cute when you get all flustered."

"I am not cute. Bunnies are cute. Puppies are cute. But I am your attorney and I am not cute."

Sonny bit his lip. It was all he could do to keep from laughing again. What Alexis didn't know was he found her adorable as she went on a tirade about bunnies and puppies. "So, seriously, why did you agree to let Carly live here?"

"I told you at your apartment. I did it for Jason."

The hair on Sonny's neck rose. When did Alexis start doing things for Jason that she wouldn't do for him? "Why are you doing Jason special favors?"

Alexis tilted her head to the side as she pondered the question. "I've been where Jason is. It's not easy when you care about someone that everyone else says irredeemable. It especially doesn't help when that person is also self-destructive. "

Something about her words touched Sonny. He examined her face. He stopped at her eyes. Alexis Davis was a captivating woman.

She continued. "All I've heard about my brother since we've come to Port Charles is how irredeemable he is."

"Oh."

She recognized the drop in his mood and poked him in the arm. "Believe it or not, some people even tell me to stay away from you."

"Why would they say that? I'm a model citizen." He flashed his deepest set of dimples possible.

Alexis hated Sonny could be so charming. Often times she forgot he was dangerous, Ned might even say, 'lethal.' But one thing was undeniable he was a good friend. He hated Carly Benson, but because he knew Jason loved her, he would help them be together.

They spoke for a few minutes longer. Sonny assured Alexis that Carly was stowed away where she couldn't cause any trouble. Though he didn't tell Alexis where because she asked not to know. Carly was safely tucked at one of his casinos.

They agreed she would stay away for two months, just long enough to establish Jason was not compliant in any kidnapping scheme. The custody order AJ sought when he learned Michael was his had not been entered, so Carly had every right to take her son and travel with him.

Alexis's living arrangement with Carly would be temporary, just long enough for them to figure out A.J.'s custody strategy and assure Carly didn't get in any trouble before they did. If A.J. decided to push for charges against Jason, in all likelihood, Jason and Carly would have to marry. If not, after six months or so, they could probably just get on with their lives.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. It was Alexis's two best friends: Jax and Chloe. They made a handsome couple; both tall, both stately.

"We just came to check on you." The Aussie started, but stopped abruptly when he saw Sonny on her sofa.

"We could come back later, if you're in the middle of business." Chloe offered.

Sonny rose to his feet. "I was just leaving." He turned toward Chloe. "It's always nice to see you Mrs. Ashton." Sonny knew how much it irked Jax that Ned had been married to his current flame. It was probably as much as it irked Sonny to know Jax had been married to Alexis.

"Call me Chloe, please."

Jax stepped between them. "Better yet, just don't call her at all."

"Whatever Candyboy." He turned toward Alexis. "'Lexis, I'll call you later."

Alexis gave him a nod and held her breath.

As soon as Sonny closed the door, Jax lit into her. "Alexis, trouble follows that man everywhere he goes. Do you know how much danger you're in just by having him in your home?"

"I'm sure you're going to tell me." She loved Jax dearly. He was always there whenever she needed him; however, he had a tendency to be overly opinionated when it came to her personal life.

"This is serious."

Alexis sighed deeply. "Jax, Sonny is a client and a friend, nothing more. I wish you and Ned would stop with the dramatics."

"His first wife died because of a car bomb."

"And you thought your first wife died in an explosion. There is danger everywhere. My stepmother wants me dead on a regular basis. Besides, it's not like I'm involved with the man, he's just a friend."

Alexis and Jax went around in circles until he was called to his office on business. Chloe remained behind.

Somehow, Chloe scrounged up some cookies and made two cups of tea. Then she announced it was time for them to have a little girl talk.

"Alexis, what's going on with you? Ned's my friend, but you're my best friend. So, spill."

"Nothing's going on. My effort to show my devotion to Ned has landed pictures of me in my underwear on the walls of every East Coast biker bar. What else do I need to do?"

Chloe took a sip of her tea. She was a beautiful, elegant woman. You could tell from her manners she'd been raised in a family of means. Alexis had, too; but Chloe's family hadn't plotted to kill one another on a regular basis. "You don't need to do anything. But can you understand Ned's jealousy? Sonny's a very attractive man."

"He's not my type."

"Dark hair and dimples don't do it for you?" Chloe smiled as she thought of Ned's dark hair and deep dimples.

"Fine. He's attractive. And before you ask; yes, he's charming."

"The two of you spend a lot of time together."

Alexis ran her hands over her face. She smiled, though mostly out of frustration. "Do you know why I spend so much time with Sonny? It's because he doesn't have all these expectations of me. Ned wants me to be the perfect little Quartermaine woman: to support him in business and to support him in his music career. The truth is I don't even like his music." She clamped her hand over her mouth. "I can't believe I just said that."

Chloe giggled. "It's okay. I won't tell."

"Sonny is one of the few people who just lets me be. Stefan, Ned and even Jax; they all expect me to behave a certain way and they don't hesitate to tell me when I've failed to live up to those expectations. But Sonny takes me the way I am."

"And that's it?"

"Yes."

Chloe knew her friend almost as well as she knew herself. "You've never once even imagined what it would be like to kiss him?"

And for the first time Alexis lied to her best friend. "Absolutely not."

Chloe took one look at Alexis. "Liar." Soon both women were laughing so hard they could barely breathe.