Baby Book
by SexisFan

Chapter 10

Alexis sat with the little plastic bag of popcorn resting in her palm.

Sonny, Sonny, Sonny. How in the world did she let him get into her heart and under her skin the way he had?

Alexis knew the answer. It had happened bit by bit, day by day. She opened the little plastic bag and inhaled the scent of popcorn and pine. Days like this one were perfect examples of how he came to claim her heart.

***** Sonny had finished painting the nursery for her but something was still missing. She couldn't figure out just what. But she wasn't about to furnish the room until she knew. The decorator hadn't been a bit of help. So autumn began to fade into winter and Alexis just let the room sit.

Sonny got nervous about it once in a while. He couldn't understand why she refused to even look at furniture until she knew what else she wanted to do to the nursery. He was certain their baby would end up coming home from the hospital to sleep in a dresser drawer. He could be such a mother hen sometimes.

Thanksgiving came, and still the nursery was nothing more than an empty pink shell. Sometimes it bothered Alexis, but most of the time she just avoided thinking about it. She was kind of hoping that inspiration would strike when she least expected.

In the meantime, she and Sonny prepared for the holiday. It would be an interesting one, for sure. Alexis' little house would be full to bursting at the seams, and she was completely thrilled with the idea.

Kristina and Ned had just announced their engagement, and they were more than happy to spend Thanksgiving with Alexis. Ned and Sonny weren't the best of buddies by a long shot, but Ned respected Alexis' need to make her own decisions - and besides, it had been so many years since he'd had a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving, he was willing even to put up with Sonny if he had to in order to avoid the screaming Quartermaine pizzafest.

Sonny's sister, too, was joining them for the holiday. If Sonny and Ned at the same table was an oddity, Sonny and AJ sharing a meal was a miracle. But the truce between the two had held over the past couple of months as AJ and Michael had been getting acquainted with each other, and Sonny had been taking on the role of an actual uncle in Michael's life.

Carly. Well, Carly had decided that she needed a break from shopping and scheming, so she'd taken herself off to a spa for the week, leaving Michael with Bobbie. When Alexis approached Bobbie about letting Michael come to Thanksgiving dinner at her house with his father and Courtney, Bobbie had agreed enthusiastically.

The plan then was for Sonny, Courtney, Michael and AJ to have brunch with Mike and Janine, while Ned and Kristina had brunch with the Quartermaine's. And Alexis was going to enjoy a quiet morning to herself before the whole crew convened at her place in the afternoon in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner.

Sonny had asked her to come with him to his family's brunch. And Kristina and Ned had begged her to come to the Quartermaine brunch with them. But Alexis had held firm. She'd invited Nikolas and Gia to drop by for a short visit if they liked before they headed off to the Taggert/Campbell family dinner. Other than that, she was going to soak up the peace of her little lakeside home. And maybe, if she was lucky, she could decide what it was that she still wanted to do with that nursery.

***** Thanksgiving morning dawned crisp and clear. The brightness of the sunlight slipping in through the blinds clued Alexis in to the realization that she'd slept well past her usual wakening time, a fact that would have pleased Sonny to know since he was so mindful of anything related to Alexis' health.

Alexis tucked the covers under her chin and rolled over in the bed - a feat that was becoming increasing more challenging as her belly grew. Snuggling down into her pillow again, she let her eyes drift shut. She was so warm and the quiet was so heavenly, maybe she'd sleep just a little while longer.

As she began to drift between wakefulness and sleep, Alexis became aware of a delicious aroma lingering in the air. Bacon. And something sweet. Alexis shifted restlessly in the bed, the dream setting a growling hunger growing in her stomach.

Gradually, the aromas intensified, rousing Alexis into full wakefulness - and the realization that she hadn't been dreaming.

Sonny.

Alexis rolled over again, reaching for the button on the intercom that Sonny had insisted on installing, just in case. Pressing the button, Alexis tipped her head toward the squawk box.

"This message is for the intruder in my kitchen. I want to warn you that I will be calling the police to report this crime. In five minutes. Unless eating breakfast in bed has me too busy to dial the phone." Alexis lifted her finger from the button and laid her head back on her pillow as she listened to Sonny's warm laughter floating up the stairs.

In just a tick or two under five minutes, Alexis' bed was graced with a breakfast tray laden with blueberry waffles drizzles with boysenberry syrup, two eggs over easy, several strips of bacon, and a cold glass of orange juice.

"You're spoiling me," Alexis mumbled around a bite of waffle.

Sonny was stretched out across the lower portion of her bed, propped on his elbow watching her. "Just taking good care of my girls," he purred, flashing those deadly dimples and pearly whites.

"Aren't you supposed to be having brunch with your family?" she pressed.

"I will. After I get done having breakfast with my family." Again with the dimples. He was killing her.

"You're going to be late," she persisted, taking a bite of egg.

He shrugged. "They'll get over it," he replied as he leaned closer and lifted a strip of bacon from her plate, then held it up to her lips.

Alexis looked into his expectant eyes and grinned. Leaning forward, she took a small bite of bacon, eliciting a smile from the most maddening and marvelous man she'd ever known.

"So, you just couldn't resist the chance to come over and fatten me up more, huh?" she teased.

Sonny laughed. "You look gorgeous."

Alexis rolled her eyes. She was starting to feel like a blimp, and she still had three months to go.

Sonny chuckled. "I came over to do something nice for you. . .and to get the turkey started."

"Isn't it a bit early for that?" she asked between bites of breakfast.

"It's a big bird. We have a lot of mouths to feed. And you're. . ."

"If you tell me that I'm eating for two, you're going to be wearing this waffle," she threatened, maybe not even half jokingly.

Sonny chuckled. "You nervous about today?" he asked, reading her well.

"A little," she admitted.

"Everything's going to be okay," he assured. "I'll be on my best behavior."

"That's not saying much," she teased.

"I don't usually get complaints about my behavior from you - at least not in the bedroom," he teased back.

Alexis blushed. Between her damned hormones and hisdamned dimples, she'd been putting up less than no resistance to him since that night they'd been painting the nursery. Little by little he'd started moving into her life, then into her home, then into her heart and into her bed. He wasn't a nightly fixture there - yet - but it was getting close to that.

And Alexis, well, she still had mixed feelings about their growing closeness. For all of his of his sweetness and charm in private, he was still who he was. His life was still what it was. His business was still what it was. It was easier for her to ignore out here in her little house on the lake. But ignoring it was probably the least wise option she could take.

Still, this was a holiday and Alexis was determined to not let those worrisome thoughts ruin it. She could worry tomorrow. Or after Christmas. Maybe once the new year had started. Today, she would enjoy being part of a family, part of a family with this outrageously complicated man.

"You're going to be late," she admonished him. "And you're interrupting my tranquil time."

Sonny grinned broadly. "So you want me to leave?"

Alexis nodded as she took another taste of waffle.

"You wound my ego, counselor." Sonny sat up and shifted to sit beside her. "I was hoping you might have missed me last night," he whispered seductively as his lips neared her neck.

"Were you somewhere else last night? I didn't notice," Alexis teased coolly, lifting the glass of juice to her mouth.

"Ouch," Sonny whispered seriously, tilting his head to study her face as she sipped her juice.

Alexis peered at him over the rim of the glass. She'd only been joking, she hadn't meant to hurt his feelings. Slowly she lowered the glass. As her lips began to part, ready to issue an apology, she noted a twinkle in Sonny's eye. Before she could question it, Sonny leaned in and took possession of her mouth with his, taking her completely by surprise.

The kiss was brief - but searing. Sonny pulled back, a wicked smile plastered across his face. "Guess I'll just have to work harder at making an impression on you, won't I?" he quipped, obviously pleased that his surprise attack had caught her off guard.

Before Alexis could answer, Sonny leapt from the bed and out of arm's reach - which probably saved him from wearing what remained of Alexis' juice in her glass.

"Gotta go, babe, or I'll be late. You've kept me in bed too long already!" he proclaimed laughingly before darting through the doorway, one of Alexis' pillows hurtling through the air to escort him.

"I'm not your 'babe'!" Alexis yelled indignantly after him, only to be answered by the sound of his laughter echoing on the staircase as he headed for the front door.

Damn him! Why did he have to make it so hard for her to resist him?

***** The afternoon and evening went so much better than Alexis could have hoped. Sonny, as he promised, had been on his best behavior, as had Ned and AJ - so there had been no fireworks and very little in the way of awkward tension throughout the day.

Alexis had rather enjoyed watching Sonny play host in her home. There was something oddly comforting about the way he fit there. As for her guests, they just seemed to accept without question the ease with which Sonny moved through the house as if it were his own.

We're a couple. The realization hit Alexis like a ton of bricks. Other people had started seeing her and Sonny as a couple, a unit, a pair. Suddenly she could imagine the conversations in which they were now referred to as Sonnyandalexis.

For a few brief moments, a wave of panic threatened to wash over. Then Sonny looked up from his plate, laughing at some story Courtney was relating about Michael. His dancing eyes met Alexis' gaze over the centerpiece, and as quickly as it had appeared, the fear dissipated. Nothing seemed to matter when Sonny looked at her like that, happiness radiating from every facet of his being.

So this is what it felt like to be totally in love.

Dinner was a rousing success, as she knew it would be having been prepared under Sonny's guidance. Alexis' lessons in the kitchen had gone well enough that she'd actually been able to contribute an equal share to the cooking. The potatoes - the first thing he'd ever taught her to make - had turned out to perfection, a fact of which she was quite proud.

Everything else had been equally as delicious, making it difficult for any of them to push themselves away from the table. Between the meal, the conversation and the laughter, they'd lingered at the table until afternoon threatened to turn into evening. Finally, Michael, fueled by energy of youth, could stand the sedentary gathering no longer.

"Can I go outside?" he asked his father, tugging at AJ's sleeve. "I wanna play."

"Sure. . ." AJ looked around the table and smiled. "I'll take him out for a bit to work off some of that dinner."

Alexis' eyes darted toward Sonny when she heard him gently clear his throat. "I kind of had an idea for something outside that would work off some dinner, something we guys could all do together," he suggested cautiously.

"What is it Uncle Sonny?" Michael asked excitedly.

"It's a surprise. . .for Alexis," he answered, his gaze capturing hers. Alexis could feel the surprise registering on her face, an expression that drew a slight smile from Sonny.

"Well. . .I guess that would be okay," AJ replied, sounding a bit hesitant and looking toward Courtney for support. Courtney flashed him a brilliant smile and nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Great! Let's go then." Sonny pushed himself away from the table. "Don't worry about the table Alexis. I'll get this cleaned up when I get back," he instructed.

"Don't be silly, Sonny," his sister responded warmly. "Kristina and I can help get the table cleared and the dishes done. You men just go take care of your surprise. . .and leave us to some girl-time."

In no time, the men were bundled up and heading out the door, only Sonny knowing what this surprise was going to be. Ned hadn't been particularly enthusiastic about trudging out in the snow, but whispered to Kristina - and Alexis overheard - that he wanted to be on hand just in case the truce broke and someone needed to carry back AJ's body. He got Cassadine frowns in stereo for that little remark, which hurried him on his way.

While the males were out in the weather bonding, the women made short work of clearing the table, storing the few leftovers that were left over, loading the dishwasher, washing the pots, and getting the kitchen put back into order. Courtney and Kristina fussed like mother hens over Alexis, begging her to sit and rest while they worked. But Alexis would have none of that, and with three pairs of hands working they were finished quite quickly.

While they worked, talk drifted to the topic of the baby. The aunts-to-be were both excited about the prospect of a niece and were bonding over all the fun they'd have dressing her and spoiling her.

"How's the nursery coming, Alexis?" Kristina asked as the last of the dishes were put away.

"It's not," Alexis replied dejectedly. "We got it painted weeks ago. But there's something missing, something more I want to do. Only I don't know what it is."

"Why don't we take a look?" Courtney suggested.

And so the three of them ended up in the little room that would greet Alexis' daughter when she came home in just a few short months.

"The color's nice," Kristina approved.

"Yeah, I like the color," Alexis agreed. "But it looks so plain. I didn't want wallpaper because it looks too busy. So I paint, and it looks too dull."

Courtney drew her eyes around the room, chewing on her lower lip as if in thought. "What about paneling? Just on the lower third of the walls."

"Wood paneling? In a girl's room?" Alexis wasn't so sure of that idea.

"They make all sorts of colors," Courtney assured her. "I'm thinking something that has a weathered look, like the soft gray of weathered wood peeking through a light wash of white. . ."

"Like the outside of an old clapboard farmhouse! I love it!" Kristina enthused. "It would give the room character."

Courtney continued, "The paneling would be easy to clean when the baby gets older and starts toddling around with her hands on the walls. The soft gray would keep the warm, cozy feel to the room. Top it off with a chair-rail molding painted white to match the other woodwork, and I think you'd love it."

"With lacy white curtains!" Kristina added. "And we could find an upholstery pattern, maybe a pink floral, to make cushions for the seat in the bay window. . ."

Alexis laughed at their enthusiasm. "Sounds like you two have this all planned out and ready to go!"

"Oh, please, Alexis - let us help! It would be so much fun!" Kristina's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"And it would be like our gift to our niece," Courtney added, wrapping a conspiratorial arm around Kristina's shoulder.

Alexis smiled at their warm gesture. "Doesn't sound like I have much choice, now, does it?" she teased.

"You'll love, we promise! And if you don't. . ." Kristina started.

"You can change anything and we won't be offended," Courtney finished.

And so it was decided. Alexis was touched, and a little relieved. She, too, had started to worry that her lack of inspiration might result in her daughter spending her first weeks in Alexis' underwear drawer.

***** The women were settled in comfortable conversation in the living room, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the quiet of the house, when the men finally returned from their expedition.

"I thought we might have to send out the dogs to find you guys," Kristina teased as the four snowy figures slowly unwrapped themselves from layers of damp clothing.

"Did you bring my surprise?" Alexis asked, curious.

"Boy, did we!" Michael answered excitedly. "It's HUGE!"

Alexis' eyes met Sonny's questioningly. "What in the world. . ."

Before she could finish her question, Sonny was at her side, ushering her toward the door. "Come and see," he answered. Opening the front door, Sonny waved her attention outside toward the porch.

Alexis leaned her head outside, feeling the cold rush of the November air against her skin as she eyed the porch. "What in the world. . ." she repeated.

"It's a Christmas Tree! A brand new one! And we hunted it all by ourselves!" Michael hopped around her legs as he unraveled the mystery of Alexis' surprise. "Uncle Sonny picked it out and I chopped it down with my dad! We all carried it back cuz it's heavy!"

Alexis turned to Sonny, melting when she saw the pride and caring in his eyes. "It's beautiful," she whispered, knowing instinctively that this act was all about wanting to give her as much as he could of the normalcy, happiness and security that she craved for their child.

"Uncle Sonny said we can start dressing it tonight!" Michael piped up. "We can, can't we?"

"Isn't it too early. . ."

"A fresh tree like this will last over a month," AJ assured her. "Keep it watered and we can set it up tonight without a problem."

"But I don't have a stand. . ."

"Got it right here," Ned held up the stand that Sonny had retrieved from the trunk of his car as they returned from their tree-hunt.

"Did you bring ornaments, too?" she asked Sonny, grinning. She was surprised when he shook his head 'no'.

"But I brought lights. And this. . ." He held up a bag of unpopped popcorn.

"Popcorn? For?"

"Stringing. If anyone should have popcorn garland on their tree, Alexis, it's you."

Warm laughter filled the room and Alexis' heart. The day couldn't get any better. She truly had so much for which she was thankful. Her hand roamed instinctively to stroke her bulging middle. She was heartened by the presence of her family and friends - and even by newly forged truces taking root - so heartened that on a day like this she felt very little fear about bringing her child into the world.

She looked in Sonny's shining eyes and knew. Somehow, it would work.

***** Alexis took one last whiff of the popcorn in the bag before close the zip-lock strip. The Thanksgiving evening had gone on for quite some time as they gathered in the living room to hang lights and string popcorn. Stories were shared, jokes were told, dessert was eaten. And before everyone left, there was a lighted tree draped in popcorn garland, waiting for the ornaments that she and Sonny would select together.

Alexis placed the popcorn back into the box and sighed. There were so many wonderful memories of that holiday season.

Including. . .Alexis reached into the box and pulled out a memento of one of her favorite holiday memories.

She wrapped her fingers around the cool, smooth surface, letting the weight slip from her fingers into her left palm where it began to take on the warmth of her body. Opening her hand, she used two fingers of her right hand to lift it from palm and hold it up to the light. Alexis inspected the play of colors in the piece, admiring it as if it was a jewel. And to her, it was much more. True, it was only a thick shard of glass worn smooth. But what it represented was priceless.

chapter 11