I can hear cries and I know that my nap is officially over! But its a good thing that Fia is waking me up from my nap now because if I slept all the way through I would have the hardest time getting back to sleep at night. I would be so cranky the next day because I have to feed Sofia in the middle of the night and I would have absolutely no sleep. I look at the time its been about 4 and a half hours since Sofia ate so I need to get her some food. I stretch for a couple seconds to make myself more awake and then go get Sofia. She needs to be changed as well as fed. Once I get her diapers changed we go to the kitchen together. Her bottle is ready when I hear a knock on the door. I doubt it is Britt she should be home by now and Sam is still busy with her case. I already texted my parents but maybe it could be them wanting to see the baby. I don't want to yell "who is it?" because the baby may cry at the sudden raised voice. I carry her and walk slowly so I don't alert anyone I am home it could be a crazy person. I look through the peep hole and it looks like its Dante.

What the hell is Dante doing here? Maybe if I don't make a peep he won't think I am home and will leave. Yeah let me just shut up and he will get the drift no one here. Sofia has a smile on her face as I am feeding her she puts one of her chubby arms in the air and reaches for my hair and pulls I let out an

"Ow, Sofia that hurts." Shit no Dante must have heard me and all the baby can do is laugh. My hair is significantly longer than when I left so its easy for Sofia to pull on it.

"Maxie you in there? Its Dante open up!" Dante gives another knock and now I can't do anything but open the door. I get close and maneuver myself and Sofia to open the door.

I see Dante and he just looks tired but not a normal tired like a desperate tired.

"I'll close the door focus on your baby." He closes the door and I to the couch and relax myself in the cushions and Sofia pays no attention to anything besides her bottle.

"Hey Maxie, you are probably wondering what I am doing here huh?"

"Dante you are welcome here so if you feel the need to come then you come okay?"

"I don't want to go home. I don't want to see most people in my life because they dwell on things I don't want to dwell on. Lulu and I are separated you know. Don't think its your fault or anything ever since she came back its like she has been different. I was hoping Connie would be the key to her being a semblence of her old self but if it was possible she became worse. She has turned into this being with this weird rage and its scary to see. Blaming me for things I cannot change. It is like the wife I had is longer there. I really think something changed in her while she was gone. Losing Connie made it worse but it felt like she didn't really want a life with me anymore and she only cared because of the prospect of having a child. You are probably wondering why I am spilling my guts it may have to do with me sneaking into my father's collection. I don't even want to speak to him right now because he is having issues with my mother and I don't want to be inserted in their love life and feel like I must choose a side. So I don't want to go home it is a reminder of the marriage that is crashing and burning."

I can see how Dante could become so bitter and rigid from how his life is going but he doesn't. He is still Dante the man that tries to do right by everyone in his life even when they wrong him. I am a part of the people who wronged him and I will always hate myself a little for adding to his burden. I am glad he is away from Lulu though with all the stress that comes from living a cop life this kind of stress on top of it only makes it worse. I remember the days when Mac was dealing with two girls all by himself and trying to keep this town afloat. It was a daunting task and it made his hair gray. I don't want that for Dante. His life should be easy but his dad is a mob boss, his mother has a relationship with said mob boss and he has a wife ready to blame him for anything she can. It must be tough because its driving him to drink and he is too good of a person to become a slave to the drink.

"Dante everything will be okay. I can't promise when but just live your life and things will fall where they may. If that means separation from Lulu so be it. I can't tell you what to do with your personal life but I can tell you do what makes you feel the most sane. There's somethings you can't change so don't try to move heaven and earth because it won't happen. If you need a friend Dante you can come here. I know all your real friends are back in New York City but you could talk to me if you want..."

"Maxie with friends like you who needs enemies..." I gasp and Sofia drops her bottle I don't know from me gasping or because she was done with her bottle and wanted my attention. In the future she better not drop bottles! I can't believe Dante said that about me but doesn't alcohol make people say the truth they try to hide when they are sober.

"Dante I am sorry what I did, I can't take it back okay no matter how much I want to I can't so if you can't get past it I suggest you leave. Why would want to be voluntarily be in my company if you feel this way."

"Maxie I'm sorry. For the most part I am past the drama dealing with Connie or Georgie whatever its just venting but what I said was wrong. I know you didn't mean it as a malicious thing. Sometimes you can be shallow or oblivious but never in my company have you truly try to hurt anyone."

"I accept your apology. I know in the past I was shallow and oblivious but I am trying to be better."

"I don't want you to think that you have try to better. Maxie you are a good person all you need to be is Maxie. I remember you know..."

"Remember what?"

"We talked right before you left. I remember we talked on the peer about a lot of things. I wanted to text you if you got home safe but I lost my phone in the cab. When I got a new one I thought to text you but I didn't want to ask Lulu for your number because that would been awkward and stupid. I filed for separation not longer after you left. I didn't feel like always coming home to a game of battleship. I wanted to see how you were but I couldn't."

"Its okay Dante I did think it was weird how you were so concerned with my safety and then I texted you and never got a reply. I figured you just forgot about that night."

"I seldomly forget anything Maxie. How was Mexico?"

"It was exhilarating! I loved being there and connecting with people. I was helping build houses and restoring some old artifacts that my ancestors made. I brought back some but they are at Mac's house right now. Most of my stuff is there actually. I am going to get them tomorrow because I don't want to go anywhere right now. I made a lot of friends there and I came back with someone special to me." Sofia is now the center of my world. Everything in life revolves around her for now and I am all right with that.

"She looks pretty special to me. She is your goddaughter right?"

"Yeah she is but legally she is my daughter. I formally adopted her when my friend died. Mexico City did it rather quickly for me because I am royalty and for once I am glad being an Aztec princess has some status and clout. It made it easier for her to get a visa in the U.S. when I adopted her." Dante grazes her cheeks with his knuckles and Sofia leans into the touch.

"Can I hold her?"

"Dante you are drunk! No you can't." Is he freaking crazy?!

"I am not drunk I only had one drink hours ago at my dad's I would never drive impaired." Ugh he gives me this sad look with his pretty brown eyes. Did I just say pretty brown eyes?! Maxie eww that's Lulu's husband do not think about him like that!

"Fine but if she doesn't like you I am taking her back!" Sofia is particular on who can hold her so far its only been 3 people she doesn't get fussy with. She probably is going to cry her ears off when Dante tries to hold her. She does it to almost everyone.

"Hey baby girl, look at you... You are a pretty little angel huh?" Sofia is a traitor! Laughing and basking in the praise. She bouncing on Dante's knee I doubt she even knows what he is saying. She is primarily told stuff in Spanish. So he keeps praising her and being the traitor she is just welcomes it and snuggles into him. I can't help but roll my eyes typical a guy gives you praises and you don't know how to act like anything other than a giggling baby. I finally pick up the bottle she discarded on the floor. Its so easy to do now since I don't have my arms filled with a baby.

I must say it does look kind of cute Dante speaking to Sofia like she is the only thing he sees. I just watch them interact. Sofia giving Dante a high five with her little hand smacking his gigantic one. She starts slap his chest with baby power which is only cute. I just put my feet on the coffee table and relax and watch them. Dante is going to be a great father one day. He is so attentive to a child that isn't even his I can't imagine if this was his baby. He would probably give her the world and the moon if he could.

"Hey Maxie you can't fall asleep now, we won't allow it will we Sofia?"

Only response I get a burst of giggles like that is an acceptable answer. I just roll my eyes at the both of them but I can't help but smile.

"I didn't want to interrupt the party the two of you are having. I clearly wasn't invited." Just to show I am not being serious I give Dante a smirk. He smiles genuinely and it is the first time I have seen him smile in a long time.

"Maxie thanks for letting me hold her."

"You can keep holding her until she makes herself tired she likes you which is weird because she is weary of most people she doesn't know."

"I guess that makes me special huh Sofia?" The traitor just nods like she is under a spell. "Maxie I am curious since Connie passed what happens with Crimson? Do you still work for them."

"Crimson as far as I know exists but they are in a limbo and I don't work for them anymore. I haven't told anyone yet but its not like it can hurt to tell I got a job as The New York Times Magazine. I work as an editor for their Fashion and Style division." I haven't told anyone about this job yet. I interviewed with them while I was still in Mexico but they know I live in Port Charles.

"Does that mean you will be moving to New York City? I can see you there though. You would probably love it. Congratulations that is a very big deal isn't it baby girl?" Sofia just nods which makes me wonder can she understand what we are talking about?

"Thank you. I would have to go to New York City sometimes for special events like the MET Gala and some awards shows but for the most part I am telecommuting. Maybe one day in the future I can live there but right now I want to live here." This job is one of the lucky few that let's me telecommute because that doesn't happen often so I am so thankful for it and it is something that I love doing so its the best of both worlds.

"That sounds like an awesome job. I am glad you like it. When do you start?" I have four eyes on me now.

"I start in a week and I am beyond exited but also nervous but that's good right to be nervous because I am?" I am starting to babble and freak out a little bit.

"Yeah Maxie its okay to be nervous and excited it makes you human but if you want my opinion I think you will do great and they are lucky to have you. Fashion and style is what you do so don't overthink it." Dante is being very nice to me and it quells the doubt a little.

"Thank you for the kind words Dante. Oh look Sofia is asleep. I should put her to bed it is getting a little late for her."

"If its late I can go you must be tired."

"Dante I am not tired but she is. You can stay if you like I am not as agreeable as Sofia is but you can stay if you want."

"All right I can stay for a little bit." Dante said he didn't want to go home if he left I would be afraid he would go to a bar and drown his sorrows there and that would help no one.

I go to put Sofia to bed and it takes no time at all and I come back out and I ask Dante to tell me what's been going on with him the last 4 months. We just share stories back and forth and before I know it Sofia cries on the baby monitor and I know its time for her in the middle of the night feeding. I make a bottle for her and proceed to her room and I find Dante there holding her.

"Can I feed her please?" I wonder if this is a slippery slope letting Dante do such a thing but the look on his face of happiness holding her makes me give him the bottle. As he is feeding her its like they are in their own world and I am clearly not invited. I should be jealous but its a beautiful sight to see. The day Dante becomes a father will be the luckiest day for whoever his child is.

So that's the chapter. Dante doesn't have much people in Port Charles around his age that he calls friends. He left them all in Brooklyn and the friends he had in PC are all off the Canvas. Dante knows Maxie isn't a bad person and is starting to see her in a new light when he talked to her right before she left. They have a lot of stuff in common and they find a small connection in that. Dante just wants a piece of sanity in his life and he gets that just talking to Maxie and being around her baby. Olivia annoys me to no end so in my story I don't see Dante going there because to me Olivia would find a way to talk about her problems with Sonny or tell Dante he must think of what Lulu is going through to excuse her behavior. Dante needs to worry for his hurt and Lulu is in charge of Lulu's feelings so when she lashes out it is on her. Dante will be seeking a divorce and it will be a quick one because in Lulu's eyes she doesn't want to be with anyone who puts anything above her happiness which she feels Dante does with the law. In her mind things are black and white she feels Dante betrayed her but she fails to see if Dante was caught committing perjury who that would ruin potentially both of their lives. But I digress I hope to update soon.