A/N: Hello everyone. This chapter is a little more drama and a little less humor than usual. Also, although Jarly is absent in this one, they'll be present next chapter. I hope you enjoy. And I love hearing feedback, so if you get a second, please reply.
Without Hate - Chapter 12
Alexis could barely grasp the scene before her eyes. She looked from Carly to Stefan to Luke. Sonny's hand rested against the small of her back, almost willing her strength to sort through the madness. "Stefan, what are you doing here?"
"At present, I'm defending my life against this mad woman."
Carly shoved the poker a little more in his direction. "Funny when you barged in here, you said you were going to save Alexis from 'her entanglement with this group of miscreants,' whatever that means." If she hadn't been furious, Alexis would have laughed at Carly's impersonation of Stefan. "He actually tried to go upstairs and get your stuff."
Alexis threw her hands on her hips. "You did what?"
"You belong at Wyndemere, not here."
Alexis shook her head in disgust. "My friends are here. Besides Wyndemere is no place to bring up a child."
"So, it's true. So, you are carrying Corinthos's child?"
Luke piped up, hoping to aggravate the situation. "I told you Vlad, it happened at the PCPD. They're now official members of the illustrious kinky handcuff club."
"Shut up Spencer." Alexis glared at him. "Why are you here?"
"To keep your very beautiful backside out of trouble." he smirked.
She took a deep breath then turned toward Sonny. "Can you please do something with him?"
"Yeah."
Sonny kissed Alexis on the cheek then motioned for Luke. Instinctively, she placed her hand on her cheek at the place where Sonny had kissed her. The move had surprised her, so did her enjoyment of his display of affection.
He turned toward her. "Alexis, I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."
With a nod from Alexis, Sonny and Luke headed to the kitchen. Almost on cue, Michael began to wail. Alexis assured Carly it was okay to check on him. Reluctantly, she placed the poker back in the holder and headed upstairs.
"Now that we're alone Stefan, would you like to tell me why you have invaded my home?"
"For the reason I stated, I'm here to take you home to be with your family."
Alexis felt the warmth rise to her cheeks. "My family? Just last year, you refused to acknowledge my rightful place in the family. Now, you'd like to take me to the mausoleum you call a home where I do what? Ask Mrs. Lansbury to prepare me tea and crumpets while I wait for Helena to slip through a tunnel and kill me and my unborn child?"
Stefan imagined the names Helena would call Alexis when she learned of the pregnancy and of the baby's parentage. He also thought of the ways Helena would try to harm Alexis. "Are you certain you wish to go through with the pregnancy?"
Alexis felt a pain deep in her stomach. Stefan had just suggested she terminate the life of his own niece or nephew. "Are you seriously suggesting that I end my pregnancy? What are you afraid of? Do you think I'm going to challenge Nicholas's right as the sole heir to the Cassadine legacy? Don't worry Stefan, the baby's father and I can provide for him or her more than adequately."
Stefan was furious. He was furious with her for believing he was solely concerned with her child's birthright and not at all for her safely. More so, he was furious that she had aligned herself with those outside of her family. "You are choosing to do this once again? For the second time in your life, you're choosing to dishonor your very lineage for a relationship that can go nowhere?"
In the kitchen, Luke Spencer watched as his friend eyed the door, waiting for the moment to ride in and save Alexis. "If you're looking for a damsel in distress Corinthos, Natasha ain't it. That broad is all Cassadine. They kill for sport."
Once more, Sonny looked at the door then dropped his head. "She's not as tough as you think, Luke. She may be a Cassadine, but she's a woman. She gets scared, just like everyone else."
Luke stared at him for a moment. One look at his friend's face and he knew the truth. Luke slapped his forehead. "Come on Corinthos, Natasha?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You've got a thing for Natasha. What are you some kind of masochist? Her family is insane. Do you really want to deal with Count Vlad on a regular basis? How about his psychotic mother? You know Natasha will push you to get out of the organization. And you can forget about a woman like that ever going on the run."
"Luke...Alexis and I are friends."
"Don't bother trying to deny it, Corinthos. I saw that look with the model and then the FBI agent and now Natasha. What is it with you and the doe-eyed brunettes?"
"It's not like that this time." Alexis was shouting. She couldn't help herself. Once again, Stefan was implying that her judgment couldn't be trusted. Once again, he couldn't wait to remind her of her mistakes.
"You okay?" Sonny asked.
Alexis hadn't even heard him enter the room. She managed to nod.
"Tell you what Mr. Cass-a-dine." Sonny over-pronounced each syllable of his name. "I think Alexis should get some rest, which means you should leave."
Stefan did not acknowledge him, but instead continued to keep his gaze fixed on Alexis.
Luke now stepped forward. "Come on Vlad, let me show you to the stairs, maybe I can give you a swift kick down 'em."
Stefan moved his arm as Luke tried to grab it then he stated with an unwavering voice. "We are not finished, Alexis."
"Come on Vlad before the Don fits you with cement shoes."
As soon as the door closed, Sonny whispered softly, "Come here."
Immediately, Alexis folded herself into his arms. The tears came without much effort. Sonny held her tightly calming her occasionally with a well-placed, "Shh."
"Thank you," she whispered in his ear.
After a few minutes passed, he pulled back from her embrace. Cupping her cheeks in the palm of his hands, he wiped her tears with his thumbs. Then she looked up at him with her big brown eyes, which he knew would be the death of him someday. His right thumb moved to her lips, tracing their outline slowly, seductively.
Alexis wondered how they'd gotten to this place. This man, her friend with his dark, soulful eyes peering into the depths of her being, was holding her and she didn't want him to let go. She felt naked, exposed. And for the first time, she felt desire rock her to the core as it hadn't in such a long time.
She caught him with her eyes. She willed him to kiss her, practically demanded it with her gaze.
Then he whispered, "I should go."
She nodded slowly, almost in a daze.
As Sonny made his way to the door, Alexis heard Carly scream from the top of the stairs where she'd been spying. Her words betrayed Alexis's thoughts. "Sonny, what the he!! are you thinking? You can't go."
