An Eye for an Eye
by Cowgirl

part 4

Sonny approached the door to Alexis' apartment with apprehension. He was nervous. What had transpired between he and Alexis this afternoon had opened a whole new door. A door that could make it possible for he and Alexis to restore their badly damaged friendship. He paused before knocking and took a deep breath. He was about to meet his daughter...his first born. He shook his head at the thought. He had a little girl...and that little girl's mother was Alexis. It seemed surreal to him that this was true. How could he have not known that Alexis was carrying his child and not Ned's? Surely he knew her better than that hadn't he? He had seen her not feeling well and had believed her when she passed it off as the flu.

He stepped away from the door and leaned his back against the wall next to it. He hadn't seen it because he hadn't wanted to at that time. All he had thought about back then was how happy he was Carly had been alive and well and back with him. He had turned his back on his best friend simply because it had been easier than dealing with the truth. And the truth was that he knew what he had done to Alexis had been cruel and wrong. He took her fragile psyche regarding love and relationships and he had broken it...and she put up no fight. She had simply respected his wishes, however verbally unexpressed, and let him go back to the life she thought he wanted...the life he thought he wanted. And now they were once again in one another's orbits, but this time it wouldn't be so easy to escape should one or the other feel the need. This time they had a little girl between them that bound them together whether they liked it or not.

Sonny sighed, stood up straight and once again found himself facing the door. Slowly he raised his hand and knocked. Moments later he heard a lock sliding out of place and the door opened. Alexis stood before him and she looked as nervous as he did. "Hi," Sonny said softly with a smile.

Alexis ducked her head. "Hi." She replied stepping back and waving him in. "She's all ready to officially meet her...her daddy."

Sonny nodded and stepped into the apartment. There she was, sitting on the couch, her stuffed lamb clutched in one hand, shaking it up and down. He moved to her and carefully sat down beside her. Gingerly his hand came up and touched one of her curls. He turned his head back to Alexis. "I don't know how I could have missed how much she looks like my mother." He said in a hoarse whisper. "That day I met her in the courthouse...her eyes were the first thing I noticed. I recognized them..." He shrugged. "I guess I thought maybe she had your eyes and that's why they seemed so familiar."

Alexis moved the couch and sat down on the coffee table across from it. "No, she definitely has your eyes. Your eyes and your dimples and your temper." She said with a slight chuckle.

Sonny smiled brightly. "My temper huh?" he said with a hint of pride.

Alexis nodded. "She hasn't started to hurl things into the fireplace yet, but I suspect it's coming."

Sonny wiped a hand across his mouth as he continued to stare at this beautiful creature that he helped create. "I bet she'll be...you know...as gentle as her mother."

Alexis looked at her lap for a moment before reaching out and taking her daughter's hand. "Kristina." She called softly and the little girl looked at her, a grin spreading across her face. Alexis smiled back at her. "Hey little one..." she said nodding in Sonny's direction. "This is Sonny. Sonny's your daddy...you can't understand that yet, but you will."

The little girl clapped her hands together and let out a squeal. Sonny cleared his throat and picked her up unable to not touch her any longer. "Hey there Kristina. You're a pretty little thing aren't you? Yeah you are."

Alexis stood up. "Look, she's about due for her dinner. While I go and get it ready why don't you set her down on the floor and play with her."

Sonny glanced up. "Yeah, I can do that." He waved his hand. "You go on ahead and get her food ready. We'll be fine."

Alexis nodded. "I know you will."

Two hours later Kristina had been fed bathed and put down for the night. Alexis had invited Sonny to stay and assist her and he happily agreed. Alexis returned from Kristina's room half expecting Sonny to be long gone, but there he was, standing in her living room looking out the window. "You know you should have someone come out and prune down these bushes in front of your window. They block the view of the street," Sonny said without turning to her.

Alexis licked her lips. "I'll do that." She took a deep breath. "Well I'm glad you were able to stop by and meet her."
Sonny turned around and smiled. "She's beautiful Alexis...just beautiful. I can't believe I have a daughter...a little girl."

Alexis smiled and nodded in agreement. "She's an angel."

There was an awkward silence as they both struggled with what to say next, how to act. Finally Sonny cleared his throat. "Uh...you know...I don't want to put any pressure on you or anything...I mean...am I going to get to see her again...you know.... More often?"

"Of course." Alexis replied awkwardly. "I told you that you would be part of her life and I meant it." She bit down on her lip and fidgeted with and imaginary piece of lint on her sweater as she contemplated what she was thinking.

"Sonny don't take this the wrong way, but I think for a while anyway, that you should come here and visit her. Or we could set up a prearranged place to meet...the park, Kelly's somewhere like that."

Sonny sniffed. "You don't want me to be alone with her?"

She shook her head. "It's not that." She ran a hand through her hair and winced. "Sonny, the whole reason I kept her from you still exists. I have done so much to protect her...I can't have that jeopardized."

"I understand."

"And..." She continued. "No matter what happens between you and Carly...I don't want Kristina around her."

"What's that mean? Whatever happens between me and Carly?"

Alexis let out a puff of air. "Sonny you and I both know that you and Carly always get back together. No matter how badly the two of you treat one another you always go back. Carly hates me and she was willing to hold Kristina's parentage over my head to get what she wanted." She looked at him firmly. "I have no doubt that she would sacrifice the safety of my child if she had to."

"Alexis..."

"Sonny that's the one thing I will stand firm on. I won't have that woman around my daughter."

Sonny raised his hands. "Fine and for the record counselor this time I'm done with Carly. It's over...there's nothing left and I have no desire to take her back or go back or whatever."

"Well whatever, just know that I mean what I say when I say that I don't want to see Carly anywhere near Kristina."

"Okay," Sonny retorted defensively.

Alexis put her hand to her head and sat down.

"What?" Sonny asked of her obvious distress.

Alexis looked up at him pointblank. "Honestly? The thought of having you back in my life scares the hell out of me."

He stood silently watching her and knowing what it must have took for her to tell him the truth and allow him access to their daughter. "I won't let anything happen to her."

"I know you'll try Sonny...oh God. I don't know how to handle this. I honestly don't."

"Do you really have such a low opinion of me now Alexis?"

She looked at him and nodded. "Yes."

Sonny cringed and looked at the floor. "You still hate me."

Alexis stood up. "I never hated you Sonny...not once. I hate the man you've become and I hate that..."

"That what?"

"That in doing the right thing in letting Kristina know her father that I may be exposing her to your dangerous life that you are unwilling to change for anyone. I hate that I hardly know you anymore and you're going to have an influence over her and that someday because of your lifestyle she may end up without her father...or worse."

Sonny's natural instinct was to be upset that Alexis was talking about him like he was the devil incarnate, but in the end all he really felt was sadness. Sadness because he knew that she was speaking the truth. He ran a hand across his mouth. "I should be getting home," he said wearily. "When can I see her again?"

"Just call when you want to and we'll arrange something."

He nodded. "What about Michael and Morgan?"

"I'll talk with Carly in the morning and see if she's willing to work out joint custody."

"Thanks."

Alexis nodded her head and didn't look up until she heard the click of the door closing.

Lorenzo entered his penthouse to find Carly frantically pacing the living room muttering to herself. "What is the big emergency? You sounded so panicked on the phone."

She wheeled around toward him. "It took you long enough."

Lorenzo sighed and moved to her putting his hands on her arms. "What is it?"

"Sonny knows."

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow. "Knows?"

Carly rolled her eyes, breaking from his grip and continuing her pacing. "About Kristina. He knows."

"How?" His eyes clouded over. "Did you tell him?"

"Of course not. If it were up to me he'd never find out about Alexis' brat."

"Why do you care so much that Sonny has another child?"

"Because it's Alexis' child that's why," she spat out angrily.

Lorenzo shrugged. "I was under the impression that Miss Davis and Mr. Corinthos were at odds...very bad odds."

Carly stopped her pacing and stood with her hands on her hips, her anger oozing from her body. "They were at odds but no matter what the witch says or does to him, he never ever can stay mad at her. She walks on water as far as Sonny's concerned." She slammed her fist down onto a nearby table. "It's always been that way." She leveled a steely gaze at Lorenzo. "Whatever it is you have planned for Alexis, I suggest you do it quickly. I'm getting really tired of her and now that he knows, I just know that she's going to help him get my kids."

Lorenzo moved to Carly and wrapped an arm around her, easing her onto the couch with him. "Tell me, how did Sonny find out?"

Carly sniffed. "It was after court today. I told her to use the information I gave her and she went easy on him. Anyway, I was about to go and find her after the proceedings and remind her of what she had to lose by disobeying me when I came upon her and Sonny in the hallway."

Lorenzo nodded. "And you eavesdropped I take it?"

"Damn right I did. They were arguing at first. Sonny was yelling at her about the things she brought up in court. She tried to reason with him...to get him to compromise saying she knows he loves his kids and he asked her then why is she keeping one of them from her." She closed her eyes. "He said it point blank that he knew Kristina was his. She admitted it."

"And?"

She turned her head to him and then stood up. "You know...if it had been me that lied about something like that he would have screamed at me until my ears bled, he would have thrown things and yelled about betrayal and having no loyalty." She shook her head. "But her? He understands why she did it. She turns on the waterworks and he falls for it. He...he held her like nothing bad ever happened between them." Tears were coming out of Carly's eyes like rain from a storm cloud now.

"And that burns you up doesn't it," Lorenzo said evenly.

Carly turned and gave him a cold, calculating stare. "You're damn right it does," she said with a low venomous growl.

Lorenzo's calm exterior was threatening to fold under the anger that coursed through his veins. It was as plain as the nose on his face that Carly's anger had nothing to do with her hatred of Alexis Davis the person and everything to do with her hatred of Alexis Davis...the object of Sonny's obviously very hidden and very strong affections.
He narrowed his eyes and peered at Carly. "I see." He said wanting to bait her further. "So Mr. Corinthos can never quite let go of the admiration he feels for the lady lawyer."

Carly turned such a shade of red that Lorenzo actually thought for a moment that she might explode. It was in times like this, he was learning, that whatever lies Carly tried to hide whatever schemes she was plotting or covering up would come tumbling from her lips. She was a brilliant schemer her plans could be flawless if it weren't for the fact that she lacked the refinement to follow through without divulging her entire agenda at the slightest provocation. "How do you think that will play out now that he knows Alexis is the mother of his first born blood child?"

He had hit his mark. He could see it in her face. The red had given way to a shade of purple and her eyes practically bugged from their sockets.

"She will never lay her hands on my husband ever again," Carly screamed with all the force of a hurricane driven wind.

There was silence as the realization of what she had just said sunk in. Lorenzo breathed deeply, his lips pursed, willing himself not to show the hurt and betrayal he felt finally knowing that he was nothing more to Carly Corinthos than a device plot to make her estranged husband jealous.

"Lorenzo I didn't mean..."

He held up a hand. "I suppose I have known this all along."

"You're wrong," she stammered. "What you're thinking is wrong."

"No Carly, I don't think it is...but it’s lucky for you that I still need your assistance." He turned away from her for a moment. "And you will give it to me."

part 5