Alexis left Diane at the shoe store, leaving it empty handed. None of the new models had really called to her and besides, she had quite the collection already.

She headed off to the wine gallery which had just opened. Mac had raved about it choosing to do some of his own purchasing from there.

Her favorite chardonnay was there in good supply. She'd pick up some bottles for the holiday. Tonight relaxing with a glass or two of it.

Then again the way Carly had been acting lately he might hit the Scotch instead. She'd been on a tirade earlier, according to Jax' voicemail. He sounded weary and more than a bit sad. It'd been this back and forth thing between the former couple as to which one Jossie loved more. Jax didn't give a whit let alone feel threatened by Carly's assertion that she was the favored parent. In the next breath, Carly would then accuse him of manipulating their daughter into loving him more than her mother.

Alexis felt blessed that her baby daddies at least two of them had been more than happy with her doing the rearing of their daughters. Sure they'd donated the DNA but when it came to dealing with terrible toddlers and rebellious teens they'd wanted little to do with that.

Julian, he'd been separated from their daughter most of Sam's life and wanted to make up for that but…like with the other two bio dads his needs came first. In this case, to win some meaningless war against Sonny over turf few outside their rivalry cared about at all.

She'd put some distance between him since the night at the gallery. The ruthless mobster, she wanted no part of, knowing the high price to be paid if one got too close. That lifestyle had robbed her of her sister.

Still, she'd been trying so hard to get into the holiday spirit and Molly's chiding and Jax' staying at her house had helped. Molly had put herself in charge of decorating the house and it was almost finished what with Sam and TJ pitching in to get it done.

Jax had helped put the lights on the outside of the house, once Alexis had nearly tripped over the ladder while searching for the holiday wreaths. Sometimes she didn't know what she'd do without him back in her life…at least for a little while.

But Carly had done her routine with him, nothing a few glasses of chardonnay and listening to smooth jazz wouldn't fix. So to pick out some good vintage…she searched the collection after the employee had led her down the stairs to the cellar.

She searched the different labels, different years and marveled at the ones she'd sampled in the past but she knew what she wanted.

"Alexis…this is a nice surprise…"

The deep voice startled hers as she'd been so intent on her search she hadn't heard anyone else even come down the stairs. She turned around to face him.

"Carlos…you're a wine connoisseur?"

He shook his head.

"Nah I'm more into a good brand of tequila on special occasions," he said, "Otherwise a nice cold beer straight out of the bottle suits me."

"Your tastes are simple then. I mean I like tequila but well shaken margarita will suit me just fine."

He chuckled.

"I'll take my tequila straight and not mess around with all the frills. Keep it simple. Life is complicated enough."

"True…most of the time I stick to the basics like wine…so what brings you down into a wine cellar if you're a 'spirit man?"

He smiled.

"I'm shopping for the boss. He's got a list of wines I'm supposed to purchase for him."

She chortled.

"Julian can't do his own shopping so he turned you into an errand boy? That's quite a step down from being an enforcer isn't it?"

He shrugged.

"It's not business…He's decided to throw a big party to celebrate the holidays."

Her eyes widened.

"He's what?!"

Carlos seemed to enjoy her astonishment.

"Yeah I hear you. I've known the guy for a long time and he's always been focused on his work rather than having a good time. This…idea to throw a party is so out of character for him."

"I wouldn't know…though he does seem focused on going after Sonny. That doesn't leave him much time for anything else."

"He's got it in his head that he wants to have this party," Carlos said, "and invite everyone in town to turn out for it. It'll be the day after Christmas."

She nodded.

"I wish him luck with that but it'll take more than a party to clean up his image and get people to forget he's a mobster."

Carlos clucked his tongue.

"Alexis…he's so much more than just a mobster," he said, "and he's really serious about this…else I wouldn't be stuck underground holding onto his list."

She softened when she saw the earnest look on his face.

"I'm sorry. I realize you know him better than I will ever will and that's certainly true too about understanding him. So you need to get some wine…"

"What do you like? I mean what's your experience with the ones on the list?"

He handed it to her and she perused it.

"They're all fine choices…I noticed he has some chardonnay from a very popular vintage from the Floating Rib…"

"Yeah he insisted on that one," Carlos said, "But I'm to order them and then he'll have them delivered before the party."

"Then you're all set…I'm just here to pick up a couple bottles to share with my houseguest."

"Ah, Jasper Jacks…"

She smiled.

"Yes…I figured he'll need to relax after dealing with his ex-wife. Things have been a bit tense between them."

Carlos nodded.

"I'm not surprised. She can be quite demanding and prone to…hysterics when she doesn't get her way."

Carly in a nutshell, Alexis thought.

"Well Jax and I are taking his daughter to dinner and then going home to relax over some wine…what are your plans once you're done doing your boss' errand?"

"I'm going to drop by Sabrina's house and drop off my present," he said, "She's been a bit upset since the wedding didn't happen."

Alexis had heard about that whole episode on the grapevine, about Robin returning after two years and the uproar surrounding it. She knew Nikolas played a role in it but he hadn't gone into great detail.

He sighed.

"She's still in love with that loser. She can't see what's in front of her."

Alexis nodded.

"She's not the only one with that problem…"

Julian walked into the lobby of the MC past the taped off gift shop which was deserted now. Not that it stopped the hotel from doing its gift business as kiosks had been set up to handle it.

"Jax….you are so mean," a shrill voice said, "Jossie is just fine the way she is…I'm a great mother."

Julian watched Jax stand here with his arms crossed, glaring at Carly.

"She's running around thinking she's a cob of corn Carly," he said, "and you let her watch horror movies while you're with your boyfriend."

"They're harmless Jax. Jossie loves them especially the Saw films."

Jax sighed.

"I can't believe how wild she's become," he said, "Molly got her sorted out when we were at Alexis' but then I see her this morning and she's running around screaming again."

Carly pursed her lips.

"She's just going through a phase."

"She's disturbed Carly and I'm thinking she needs more time with her father."

"Now Jax…I think you're worrying too much over nothing," she said, "I'm the best mother in this town. My children have all turned out wonderful."

Jax wondered if she were on the same planet as did Julian. After all, Morgan was working alongside him against his own father.

Carly wagged her finger at Jax.

"You aren't going to take my child away from me," she said, "I'll sue you and even worse, I'll have Sonny handle it."

Jax gritted his teeth.

"You do what you have to do and so will I. Have Jossie ready for me at six."

Carly just stomped off in a huff and he stood there. Julian walked up to him.

"So you're still planning to stay for the holidays?"

Jax nodded.

"I've got business to conduct here anyway. It's always great to spend time with Alexis of course."

"I can imagine," Julian said, "She's an intelligent, formidable woman."

Jax nodded again.

"There's that but underneath it all, she's very warm, very giving and has a wicked sense of humor."

"So I've seen. You sound like you're still interested in her…"

Jax smiled.

"She's my best friend. Of course I'm interested in her and her happiness," he said, "and you have brought her unhappiness with your life choices. She deserves better than that."

Julian frowned.

"My relationship with her is none of your business…"

Jax smirked.

"None of hers either. She's having nothing to do with you and I understand why. You don't deserve a woman like her and she deserves much better."

Julian narrowed his eyes.

"One like you?"

Jax chuckled, his eyes sparkling

"It's not like that. But I will protect her…something for anyone who tries to hurt her or her family to keep in mind."

"I've got no plans to do that."

Jax tilted his face.

"But you do it anyway…because your family doesn't fit your plans…which involve harming Sonny who for all his faults is Kristina's father."

"I'm aware of that."

"Are you? If you were, you'd stop antagonizing Sonny," Jax said, "And before you accuse me of favoring him…he's caused me more than enough grief. My only concern is Alexis…"

Dante walked up to them interrupting them.

"Excuse me…do either of you have any time to answer some questions?"

Julian and Jax looked at each other. Jax spoke first.

"What kind of questions?"

Dante frowned.

"About the explosion in the gift shop," he said, "We're processing the evidence and well, we're looking to talk to a list of high profile people in the hotel."

Jax looked puzzled.

"You think it's one of the guests?"

Dante shrugged slightly.

"Someone was a target and we don't know who yet let alone why so we need to start canvassing likely candidates."

Julian folded his arms.

"I don't think it has anything to do with me," he said, "Your father's not stupid enough to target the hotel owned by his ex-wife."

Dante nodded.

"Perhaps not but we're looking at suspects too…"

"Now hold on a minute," Julian said, "I had nothing to do with this…"

Jax spoke up.

"Carly said she thinks it might have something to do with that man she's dating," he said, "His mother's psycho and has made threats before…"

Dante nodded again.

"We're looking into that as well as all other angles…but it doesn't look like Heather…so I'll be getting in touch with both of you for interviews."

Julian's brow knit.

"I'll have to think about that."

Dante countered.

"We'll need your cooperation unless you care to stand out more as a suspect Mr. Jerome."

Julian bristled.

"I don't have anything to do with this," he said, "I'm thinking you need to look elsewhere."

Dante sighed.

"We're looking at all different angles," he said, "Forensics might help us locate where the bomb was planted soon enough. It looks like one of the flower arrangements and we've got a list that we're cross-checking right now…but it'll take a while."

Julian wondered where he could find that list. Jax just nodded.

"I'll do whatever I can to help but I'm not sure what that'll be…I don't live here, I'm just here for business and family."

Dante nodded.

"That might be Mr. Jacks but you'll never know…you could be the target."

Jax sobered at the thought. Julian's mind just worked to find out how to proceed in his own investigation.