A Drunken Man's Words
by SexisFan

Chapter 15

The afternoon with Kate and her kids had been fun and full of laughter. They had stopped first at Beau's mom's, and Alexis was able to take a hot shower and change into clean clothes while Kate rounded up her little troop and packed snacks for everyone, including Quincy. Mrs. Richards had been quite enjoying having electricity for the whole day, and had been making use of it by keeping herself busy in the kitchen. By early afternoon when Alexis arrived with Kate, she had already baked cupcakes for the children, a batch of cookies, and had an apple pie in the oven.

Once Alexis was ready and the goodies were packed, everyone was loaded into Kate's car and the crew headed for the southern end of the island. They weren't going all the way down to the ferry landing, but would turn off to the east about two thirds of the way down the main road. There, both the island and road that cut through it made a dogleg turn toward the west, forming to the east the cape for which both the island and the lighthouse were named. There stood the Hatteras lighthouse with its distinctive black and white stripes spiraling in the fashion of an old-style barbershop pole.

Hatteras was the tallest lighthouse in America, Kate had informed Alexis, and probably the tallest brick lighthouse in the world. It had been built in the late 1860's, replacing an earlier lighthouse nearby. The beacon was needed in order to warn ships away from drawing too near to the sand bars radiating from the point of the cape. Those sand bars, known as Diamond Shoals, were in large part the reason for what may have numbered over 2000 shipwrecks in "the Graveyard of the Atlantic" over the 400 years since European settlers had arrived on North Carolina's shores.

Alexis had been treated to the impromptu history lesson as Kate guided her through a tour of the visitors' center set up in one of the original outbuildings constructed to service the lighthouse and house the keeper of the light. Of course the light was now automated and no lighthouse keeper was needed any longer.

After touring the visitors' center and climbing the steps to the balcony encircling the structure, they headed off to the beach a half mile away where the lighthouse had stood from it's construction until just a few years ago, when it was moved to protect it from the island's migrating shoreline. Originally, the lighthouse had been constructed about half a mile inland. But over the years, the eastern shore of the island had eroded so that the ocean was nearly lapping at the foundation of the lighthouse after 130 years. In order to protect the monument, which was still in daily use as a navigational marker, the lighthouse was moved inland, restoring the half-mile buffer between it and the sea. On the beach where the lighthouse had stood, a circle of foundation stones marked the original location. Engraved with the names of all the lighthouse keepers who had ever taken charge of the light, it was also a monument to the men whose job it had been to provide this measure of warning to those at sea.

Alexis, Kate, the kids and Quincy then spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach. They swam and sunned, played and snacked until even the most energetic of Kate's kids was tuckered out from the excitement. It was nearing dinner time when they started back toward the Richards home. Once there, Kate begged Alexis' patience while she got the children bathed and clothed in nightclothes. Then she set them down to eat dinner. Alexis offered to walk back to the cottage, but Kate was insistent that Alexis wait for Kate to drive her.

Alexis didn't want to seem ungrateful, but as Kate was delayed by one thing after another, Alexis started to feel a little antsy. It had been a good day, but for all the enjoyment Alexis had felt, she'd also felt as if something was missing. And that something was Sonny. In a corner of her heart, she had missed him all afternoon. Little things made her think of him, things she wished he was there to see or hear. She'd turn, expecting him to be there when she wanted to share some thought. Only he wasn't there.

This was a dangerous sign, she knew. Sonny shouldn't have a home in her heart. This whatever it was between them was supposed to be temporary. It was supposed to be without commitment or expectations. It was supposed to be a fling.

Finally, as the sun was beginning to set, Kate picked up her car keys and escorted Alexis to the car. It didn't long to reach the cottage, nor for Alexis to make her way inside in search of Sonny.

Only Sonny wasn't anywhere to be found. The house was quiet. No one was in the bedroom, no one in the kitchen. There was no one on the deck and nothing cooking on the grill. Alexis was starting to feel a wave of panic rise within her when she heard Sonny call her name from the path to the beach.

"Hey, how was your day?" he asked brightly, unaware of the fear she'd just faced as she thought he might be gone.

"It was good," Alexis answered, "and tiring. I don't know how Kate does it."

"Practice, I'm sure," Sonny smiled. Then, "I hope you're not too tired to take a little walk with me."

"Oh, Sonny, I'm exhausted. I don't know if I'm up for a walk."

"I think you'll like this one." He held his hand out to her, willing her to take it. "Trust me," he whispered.

At one time Alexis would have laughed in his face had he said those words to her. At one time she never could have imagined representing him, let alone being his friend. And at one time she never could have imagined. . .

"Okay," Alexis smiled, taking his hand. "But be warned that I may not be the best of walking company tonight."

Sonny simply returned her smile and led her away from the cottage, along the path to the beach.

When they crested the dunes, Alexis gave a small gasp of surprise. The stretch of beach that she had cleared that morning had been transformed into something beautifully romantic. A large white sheet had been spread out on the sand. Surrounding that was the twinkling of dozens of tiny flames flickering on candles that had been stuck into the sand and then protected by glass hurricane-lamp shades. Soft strains of jazz floated in the night air, courtesy of the portable CD player Alexis had purchased for herself her first day on the road. And off to one side was a fire, built in a shallow pit dug into the sand. From there, a delicious aroma wafted toward them as whatever Sonny had prepared for dinner continued to cook to what would undoubtedly be perfection.

Alexis was awed by his effort. All of this? For her? It was almost unbelievable.

Covering her wonderment with humor, she turned to him and smiled. "You've been busy," she teased.

"I had a few minutes to myself after Beau and I finished the roof," he teased back.

Still clasping her hand warmly in his, Sonny led her down the dunes to the beach.

As they drew near to the cloth Sonny had spread, Alexis noted additional special touches such as the china place settings and an arrangement of fresh flowers in a crystal bowl.

"Very beautiful," Alexis complimented, admiring his hard work.

"I know," Sonny replied, his eyes on her making it clear that he wasn't talking about flowers or dishes.

Alexis blushed a bit under his gaze, lowering her eyes in embarrassment.

"Dance with me," Sonny said, stepping closer to draw her into his arms.

Alexis gave no response. She simply slipped from her shoes, matching Sonny's bared feet, and allowed him to enfold her in his embrace. With one hand on the small of her back, Sonny held her close to his body. With his other hand, he held Alexis' palm to his chest, directly over his wildly beating heart. Slowly, gently they began to sway together. Alexis rested her head on his shoulder and let herself get lost in her senses. The soft, rhythmic roar of the breaking waves formed a perfect background for the sexy, soulful strains of jazz to which they danced. Then there was the heady perfume created by the mixture of scents surrounding her, from the salty tang of the ocean breeze, to the spicy aroma of dinner, to the clean, masculine scent that was Sonny. Visually, there was the darkening sky, still a gorgeous shade of indigo shot through with streaks of orange and pink from the setting sun. And there was the glittering candlelight along the sand, as if stars from the sky had fallen at their feet. And finally, there were the tactile sensations. The caress of the soft breeze. The cool softness of the sand tickling her toes. The warmth from Sonny's body as it pressed against hers. The firm pressure of his hand on her back. The soft heat of his skin where his fingers slipped underneath her shirt to rest on her bare back. And the tingle of pleasure that rippled through her as Sonny's thighs pressed against hers and his hips directed her with their rocking motion.

Alexis was trying to memorize every detail of this wonderful night when Sonny slid his fingers under her chin and tipped her face up to his. The intensity in his eyes threatened to stop her heart as she waited for what he would do next. Alexis gave a reflexive lick to her lower lip and held her breath.

Slowly, Sonny's lips parted. "You hungry?" he whispered.

Alexis exhaled in a soft sigh. "For dinner, you mean?" she teased.

Sonny smiled warmly. "For now," he answered with a wink.

Alexis laughed softly and let him lead her to their makeshift table in the sand. Settling down on the cool, white cloth she looked up at Sonny questioningly. "How did you manage all of this?" she asked, watching as he shuffled pots and pans around on the grate placed over the fire pit.

"I have my ways," Sonny replied jokingly.

"I know," Alexis replied, deadpan. "I'm not going to have to defend you over any of this, am I?"

Sonny laughed. "Well, I'm not sure about that. At some point I think I may have sold Beau into slavery to someone needing a deck built onto their house. But other than that, everything else ought to be pretty legal.

Alexis shook her head and chuckled at the typically Sonny-like remark.

In a few seconds, Sonny was back from the fire, a platter of delicious-smelling food in his hands.

"Not exactly gourmet fare, but it's not popcorn either," he teased as Alexis swatted his bare foot for the popcorn remark.

"So, what do we have if it's not popcorn," Alexis asked as Sonny settled on the sheet next to her.

"Roasted Rosemary Lemon Chicken Kabobs with roasted vegetables and wild rice," Sonny answered, serving the meal from the platter onto the china plates.

"Mmmm, sounds wonderful."

Sonny smiled as he reached into a small cooler and withdrew a bottle of wine. Expertly, he removed the cork and set about decanting it into crystal glasses. Handing Alexis one of the glasses, he raised his own for a toast.

"To Hatteras and hurricanes, a very - potent - combination."

Alexis smiled and met his raised glass with her own.

Sonny and Alexis slowly shared their meal, sharing too the details of the hours that they had been apart that day. Alexis educated him with what she'd learned about the Hatteras lighthouse, and entertained him with tales of the antics Kate's kids had pulled on the beach that day. Sonny described his efforts to put this evening together for her, admitting the roles that Beau and Kate had played in keeping Alexis busy away from the cottage while he put his plan into action.

"And whatever gave you this idea?" Alexis asked as they were finishing dinner.

"You did," he answered. "When I saw you out on the beach this morning. You'd worked so hard to clear this part of the beach so that you could enjoy it. I just wanted to give you a memorable way of enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Alexis swallowed, touched by the sincerity of his words. There were sides of Sonny Corinthos few people would ever know. Watching as he stacked their dishes to the side, Alexis counted herself very lucky to be one of those few.

"You have room for dessert?" Sonny asked, giving Alexis a sly wink.

"That depends," she replied. "If it's anything heavy. . ."

Sonny reached into the cooler again and drew out two containers. Opening one, he revealed a soft mound of whipped cream. Opening the other, he presented Alexis with a display of huge, red strawberries lightly sprinkled with sugar. Reaching into the second container, Sonny lifted a bright red berry by its stem. Gently, he dipped the tip in whipped cream and carefully raised it to Alexis' lips.

Following his lead, Alexis opened her mouth and took a tentative bite of the fruit, her gaze never leaving his. She watched as Sonny's eyes fell to her mouth. As he pulled the berry away from her lips, his tongue darted out to lick his own. Alexis lifted her hand to wipe an errant dollop of cream from her face, but Sonny's hand stopped her. Bending his head toward hers, he parted his lips and gently kissed the whipped cream from the corner of her mouth. Pulling back a bit, he watched her intently as she slowly chewed the bite of berry. As soon as she swallowed that first taste, Sonny's mouth again descended, kissing her with tenderness.

Again he pulled back and looked deeply into her eyes. "You want more?"

"Strawberries?" she asked.

Sonny laughed. "That, too."

Alexis grinned and fell back onto the sheet, stretching out with her face to starry sky. Sonny followed, stretching his length beside her, his head propped on his hand so that he could watch her,

"Maybe you'd like to dance some more?" he asked.

Alexis moved her head from side to side, indicating that her answer was no. "What I'd really like right now," she replied, looking deeply into his soft brown eyes, "is for you to make love to me."

Sonny lay looking back into her own deep eyes for several seconds, taking in the wonder that was Alexis. Then with agonizing restraint, he dipped his mouth to hers and kissed her softly.

Their other times had been full of fire and intensity, full of passion and insatiable desire. This time was different. There was still intensity, still passion and desire. But this time it was an emotional intensity. The desire burned for much more than the physical. And the passion was far more encompassing, far deeper, than mere sexuality. This time, they made love to each other. For Alexis, the feeling that she had carried deep within her since their time in the ocean had developed into a sweet longing that could only be fulfilled as they were fulfilling it now. Slowly and tenderly, under the weight of unspoken words, they moved together in a sweetness and beauty that was almost too much to bear.

Cradling her head in his hands, Sonny looked down into her blissful expression. "Alexis," he whispered softly.

Alexis opened her eyes.

"Look at me, Alexis," he pleaded. There were things he wished he could tell her, words he knew she couldn't hear. But the sentiments lived in his heart nonetheless. And he wanted her to know. He knew he couldn't speak his heart with his tongue. But if he spoke to her with his eyes, perhaps her own heart would hear and accept what her brain would never allow him to tell her.

"Look at me," he asked again, gazing deeply into her eyes.

And she did. She looked back at him with eyes as deep and emotions as raw as his own. As he moved against her, bringing her with him into ecstasy, their gazes were locked, each heart silently willing the other to know its depths.

They rested, after, in each others' arms. Sonny covered them with a lightweight blanket he'd brought down to the beach, protection against the cool night air. Under a blanket of stars, they held to each other, lost in thoughts neither could share out loud with the other, until they finally drifted off to sleep.

*******

Sonny awoke the next morning to find himself alone and naked on the beach. Jumping up, the blanket wrapped around his waist, he gathered up the pieces of clothing he'd worn down to the beach the night before. After dressing under the privacy of the blanket, he quickly made his way up the path to the cottage. There, on the deck, he found Alexis at the grill, also wearing her clothes from the previous evening.

"Don't tell me you're cooking for me," he pleaded jokingly.

"You should be so lucky, mister," Alexis replied. "It's only water."

"You're not making coffee, are you? I haven't anything bad enough to deserve that."

"Very funny," she shot back with a giggle. "It's not for coffee."

"Then what. . ."

"It's for shaving," she explained. I was lying next to you this morning watching you sleep. And you kept on scratching at your beard. . .like that!" she exclaimed, pointing at him just as his fingertips were scraping across the stubble on his jaw. "Obviously, it's bothering you. And I'm going to help you do something about it."

"Are you?" he asked warily.

"I am," Alexis answered confidently. "How hard can it be? Now sit," she ordered, indicating the picnic table where a razor, shaving gel, a wash cloth and a small towel were already laid out.

"Alexis, I don't. . ."

"Sit!" she playfully commanded again. Grinning at him wickedly, she turned his own words against him. "Trust me," whispered.

Against his better judgment, Sonny decided to take the risk. After all, it wasn't as if she would be using a straightedge razor.

Alexis turned and approached the table with a small bowl of warm water, setting down next to him on the table. Positioning herself between his knees, she took a deep breath and smiled.

"Here goes nothing!" she exclaimed.

Sonny grabbed her wrists as she moved to reach for the shaving paraphernalia. "Alexis, maybe this isn't. . ."

"Sonny Corinthos!" she taunted. "Are you CHICKEN?"

"No! I'm just. . ."

"A SISSY?"

"Alexis! I'm. . ."

"YELLOW?" Alexis laughed, enjoying his mortified expression.

"Fine. I give up. Do what you want," he conceded, raising his palms in defeat. "Just remember that you are NOT the primary beneficiary in my will."

"No," she replied in mock seriousness, smoothing shaving gel along the line of his jaw, "but I am the executor and that means all of the control with none of the taxes." Alexis grinned evilly as Sonny reached around and swatted her on the rear before resting both hands comfortably on her hips. "You better behavior yourself when I've got that razor in my hand," she warned teasingly.

Sonny held his breath as Alexis drew the razor across his skin in an initial swipe at his beard. By the third swipe, he'd relaxed enough to resume using his lungs. Alexis was moving slowly and cautiously, a fact that gave him great comfort. She was also making the most adorable faces as she concentrated so intently on completing her task well - and without injury. Sonny found himself struggling to rein in his desire to smile as he watched her alternately bite her lip, crinkle her nose, raise her eyebrow and stick out her tongue. If only he had this show on video, he'd have blackmail material on her that would be priceless, he laughed silently to himself.

"Hold still," Alexis ordered absently as she reached the area around his twitching mouth.

She stood looking at his mouth, deep in concentration, trying to figure out the best plan of attack for this tricky terrain. Sonny couldn't help but laugh at the intensity with which she was considering her next move.

"Sonny!"

"Alexis," he whispered, willing her in vain to look into his eyes.

"Sonny, I'm serious. You have to hold still." She closed one eye as if she was lining up a shot with a pistol. Sonny roared again with laughter.

"Alexis," he repeated.

This time she sighed with exasperation and looked up at him, meeting his eyes with her own. "What?"

"Just kiss me."

With that, he pulled her into a warm embrace, drawing her mouth to his in a kiss both playful and tender. Alexis, her task momentarily forgotten, slipped her arms around his neck and gave herself over to his kiss. Soon, the kiss began to deepen and Sonny's hands began to roam, slipping underneath the hem of her shirt to stroke her soft skin.

It was then that they heard a familiar whistle approaching from around the corner of the house. Alexis jumped back from Sonny's embrace, automatically attempting to cover their involvement. It was a move of denial that had become second nature throughout months in Port Charles when she was denying her attraction for Sonny to seemingly everyone in town.

"Alexis. . ." Sonny began.

"Shhh," she waved him off. "Hey, Beau! Good morning," Alexis greeted, a bit too brightly.

"Good morning," Beau replied, a bemused expression on his face. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked, grinning.

"Not a thing. We were just getting ready to make breakfast," Alexis fibbed.

"Breakfast? Not dessert?" he asked cryptically.

"Of course not," Alexis replied, wondering why he'd mention dessert.

"Oh. Then you'll need this," Beau answered, handing Alexis the small towel still sitting on the table. "Cuz if that's shaving cream instead of whipped cream around your mouth, you don't want to lick it off."

Alexis blushed deeply as both Beau and Sonny broke out into raucous laughter at her expense. "Very funny," she pouted.

Sonny reached out and drew her back into his arms. "Awww, come here baby. Let me make it better," he crooned, nuzzling her neck.

Alexis pushed herself away from him. "You knew the whole time!' she accused.

"You shushed me!" he defended himself.

Alexis sighed in exasperation and turned to Beau. "And YOU are developing a very bad sense of timing," she declared, pointing at him for emphasis.

Beau reined his laughter in to a bare chuckled. Bowing apologetically, he continued, "I am so sorry. I will deliver my news and be gone," he promised.

"What news is that?" Sonny asked, again reaching to draw Alexis back into his arms.

"Ferry will be running tomorrow," Beau announced. "So y'all can go home if you want."

******

Alexis stood in the shower, letting the water stream down around her shoulders where it then cascaded down the length of her body. Reaching for the shampoo, she was just about to squeeze out a dollop when the shower curtain fluttered and Sonny suddenly appeared beside her.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked, smiling.

"Conserving hot water," he replied.

"Sonny, the power has been on for three days. We don't need to conserve hot water."

"Better safe than sorry, right?" he teased, wrapping his arms around her and depositing a tender kiss on her neck.

"Since when is that your motto?" Alexis challenged him lightly.

Sonny shrugged. "It's not," he grinned. "I just want to spend every last possible minute on this island with you."

Alexis felt a bittersweet sense of joy and sorrow rise in her at his words. She knew what he meant because she felt it, too. Forgetting about her planned shampoo, Alexis threw her arms around Sonny's neck and pulled him into a fierce and demanding kiss.

When the kiss broke, Sonny looked at her with eyes darkened from desire. "You haven't made the bed yet, have you?" he asked.

Alexis shook her head no.

"Good," he replied, capturing her mouth in another kiss just as demanding.

*******

It was a couple of hours later that they finally made it out of the cottage and out to the car. Most everything had been loaded up the night before. There was only their traveling necessities, Quincy, and themselves to get into the car now.

Alexis fought back tears as she pulled the cottage door closed behind her. The past few days had been absolute heaven. Though the ferry had begun running, she and Sonny both decided to stay on a while longer. So for another precious handful of days, they had spent their nights making love and their days - well - making love. And in between they played tourist. Alexis took Sonny back down to the Hatteras lighthouse and shared with him all that she'd been unable to the first time she was there. They also went south to Ocracoke Island and she gave him the tour that Beau had given her. Then they went north, crossing on the ferry, to visit Kitty Hawk where the Wright brothers succeeded in creating the first manned powered flight of an aircraft. They stopped at Jockey's Ridge, an insanely tall series of sand dunes from which Sonny had somehow convinced Alexis to take a hang gliding lesson with him. They went to Roanoke and spent an evening in the outdoor amphitheater, watching a play portraying the story of the Lost Colony. They speculated about the fate of the settlers who disappeared from that outpost. Alexis wanted to believe that Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World, had somehow survived to bear her own children. Sonny teased her about being a romantic, but Alexis could see that even he was moved by the legend of the white deer that appears from time to time in the woods around Roanoke and is supposed to carry the spirit of the long-departed Virginia Dare.

It had been a wonderful week and then some. But it had to end sometime - no matter how much Alexis wished that it never would.

As Alexis locked the door, Sonny was stowing the last of their stuff in the car and getting Quincy settled in the back seat. Beau had arrived to say goodbye, making the parting all the harder for Alexis.

Stalling for time to pull herself together, Alexis turned down the path toward the beach. But as soon as she crossed the dunes, she broke down into sobs. Striding across the sand to the edge of the water, Alexis looked out over the sea and wept, her salty tears falling into the ocean.

She didn't know how long she stood there crying before he came to her. Feeling a warm, gentle hand on her shoulder, she knew who it was without even having to turn around.

"Are we alone?" she asked.

"Yes," Beau answered softly.

"I don't know how to do this," Alexis wept. "I don't know how to go home and stop loving him."

"Why do you have to, Alexis?" Beau asked.

Alexis shook her head. "You can't understand. There is no way that we can be together, Beau. No way at all. There are too many obstacles that will never change."

"Never is a long time," he reminded her.

"I know what I'm talking about, Beau," Alexis persisted.

"Fine. Maybe you won't be married. Maybe you won't have children. But that doesn't mean you can't love him and enjoy him for as long as possible. Does it?"

"Beau, it hurts so much already. After no more than two weeks, the pain of even thinking about having to give him up hurts so much I can't imagine what it would do to me to love him for months or - God forbid - years and then to have to give him up. It would destroy me."

Beau reached out and drew Alexis into a friendly embrace. Stroking her hair, he tried to soothe her pain in some small way. "Alexis," he whispered. "We all lose the people we love. It might take 60 years together for some people before it happens, but it happens to all of us." Beau lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes. "You can't let that keep you from loving anyone. You just can't."

"I'm no good at this 'staying in the moment' thing, am I?" Alexis smiled weakly.

"Not one bit," Beau teased back. "But you can get better, with practice."

Alexis nodded. "I won't have the chance to practice with Sonny though."

"Why not?"

"We agreed. When we get back to Port Charles, things have to go back like they were. We can't have anything but a professional relationship and a friendship back there," she declared.

"You know that best thing about decisions?" Beau asked.

Alexis looked up at him puzzled. "What's that?"

"When you make a bad one, you can always change it," he grinned. "Now let's go. Someone's waiting for you."

Alexis dried her tears with her hands. She would have to get through this somehow. And they did have a few more days to spend together on the road as they drove Alexis' new car back to Port Charles.

Reaching the driveway, they found Sonny leaning against the passenger-side door, scratching Quincy under the chin. Sonny looked up and smiled as Alexis approached.

"Guess this is it," he said apologetically. Alexis only trusted herself to nod.

"Thanks for everything, man," Sonny said, holding his hand out to Beau.

"You are more than welcome. And don't forget what we talked about," Beau replied, shaking Sonny's hand.

"No chance of it," Sonny smiled.

Sonny turned toward the car, opening Alexis' door and giving her a moment of privacy to bid her friend farewell.

Alexis gave Beau a hug the likes of which he wasn't likely to forget. As his mother would have said, Alexis simply 'hugged the stuffing' out of him. Wordlessly, she turned and climbed quickly into the car. Sonny shut her door and made his way around to the driver's side, taking his place behind the wheel. It pained him to hear Alexis' sniffles as she tried to hold back her tears. He hated that she was hurting and that there was nothing he could do to comfort her fears. Nothing but keep on loving her long enough and well enough that she might someday start to believe that they can have a chance together.

Sonny turned the key and put the car into gear. With one last wave to Beau, he pulled out of the drive and started down the narrow street to the main road. They had only made it halfway down the street when Alexis suddenly grabbed his arm and screamed 'stop'. Slamming on the brakes, Sonny turned to her, his eyes wide with concern.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his heart racing from the shock.

"Nothing," Alexis replied, unfastening her seat belt.

"Then what. . ."

Alexis turned in her seat and stood on her knees, looking back toward the cottage where Beau still stood at the end of the drive. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called back to him.

"How do you feel about redheads?"

"Love 'em," Beau called back. Alexis smiled and flashed Beau a thumbs up sign. "See you soon," she called with a smile and wave.

Beau merely laughed and waved in return.

Alexis returned to her seat and fastened her seat belt as Sonny removed his foot from the brake and started again down the street. Flashing an incredulous look at Alexis, he asked, "Kristina?"

Alexis shrugged. "Beau's an artist. He's a free spirit, yet still responsible. And he probably gets that feng shui stuff."

Sonny laughed, and Alexis joined him.

"I'm going to miss this place," she confessed softly.

"Me, too," Sonny replied, reaching for her hand.

"Know what I'll miss most?" she asked.

Sonny shot a leering look at her and grinned. "I can guess," he replied.

Alexis laughed and swatted his arm. "Not that," she giggled.

Sonny glanced at her in mock shock. "You pain me, woman!" he exclaimed, eliciting another laugh from Alexis.

"I'm going to miss the stars. In the city, you never really know how many stars there are in the sky. The night that we, um, slept on the beach was the most incredible night - in every way. And I think I'll always miss not being able to look up and see the stars the way that they were that night."

"Well, you're in luck then," Sonny said. "Beau was telling me about this meteor shower that happens every year, the second week of August. He said it's something you wouldn't want to miss, and he invited us back to use the cottage that week - if you want."

Alexis felt her heart jump with joy. "Do you think we should?" she asked.

"I don't give a damn if we should, Alexis," Sonny replied. "All I care about is whether you want to."

"I do," she answered.

"Then it's settled."

Alexis smiled shyly. "Since we'll be on vacation again and not in our real lives, I guess then we'll be able to have another week like - like we just did."

"So when we're on vacation and away from our real lives, we can be together? Like we were together here?" Sonny asked.

Alexis shrugged. "I guess we could try. Beau said if I keep practicing I can get better at this 'one day at a time' thing."

Sonny let go of Alexis' hand and reached into his pocket, fishing out his cell phone. Flipping it open, he started pushing a series of buttons.

"Who are you calling?" Alexis asked.

"Benny."

"Sonny, we aren't even off the island yet. Can't business wait for. . ."

"Benny! Listen. I need you to find me the best travel agent in New York. Yeah, I said travel agent. Someone good, and someone who can keep their mouth shut. And I'll need brochures. Travel brochures, what kind of brochures do you think? Why?" Sonny turned to Alexis and gave her a smile and a wink. "Because I'm going to be taking a lot more vacations from now on, that's why."

The end.