Family Ties
by Susanne

Chapter 4 - Letting The Sadness Settle

Sonny was sitting in the back of his limousine alongside Jason, and they were having a discussion whether or not the driver should turn around.

Sonny: "She's my daughter Jason, and I intend to see her on her 7th birthday!" He exclaimed.

Jason: "I know that but if she sees you…She almost had a completely meltdown at your funeral - she didn't talk to anyone but Alexis for days."

Sonny: "Even if she did see me, and even if she did tell Alexis or Dr. Feel Good then they'd probably just say that it's the stress of losing her father. I did the same back when we thought Carly had died."

Jason: "I understand, but…"

Sonny: "No buts! I need to see her, Jase - today!" He exclaimed, as the driver announced that they'd arrived a few houses away from the house in which Cameron, Alexis and Kristina lived.

Jason: "How will you do it?"

Sonny: "I'll just walk up, and look at her. Nothing else - I need to see her."

Jason: "It probably won't be that long before you can come out of hiding. Benny seems to think that…"

Sonny: "I don't care what Benny seems to think! I've lost way too much time of my daughter's upbringing, and I don't plan on missing anymore." He replied, as he got out of the limousine disguised in a tracksuit with the hood draped over his head.

Inside the house Alexis was welcoming Jax, Zander, Emily and Nikolas to attend Kristina's birthday party. Seeing how closed off Kristina had been lately she'd decided to only invite immediate family.

Zander: "Where is the birthday girl?"

Alexis: "She's outside with Cameron - go on out she'll be thrilled to see you all!" She exclaimed smiling, as Zander, Emily and Nikolas made their way to the backyard, while Jax stayed behind with Alexis.

Jax: "So…How are you really doing?" He asked, as they sat down on the couch.

Alexis: "I'm getting by - it isn't easy but what else can I do? I need to go on for the sake of my daughter, and I don't appreciate you egging Cameron on about Sonny having faked his own death."

Jax: "It is possible."

Alexis: "As is him being dead. I don't want Kristina overhearing this because then she'll get her hopes up only to have them dashed when the truth comes out, which is that Sonny Corinthos is dead!"

Jax: "I guess you're right - besides if he were hiding out he'd have resurfaced by now, especially considering the fact that today is Krissy's 7th birthday. Because as much as I hated him I did rejoice in the fact that Krissy meant the world to him. Besides it's pretty cruel to fake your own death just in order to cheat your enemies when there's a little girl paying the price."

Alexis: "Exactly! And even though Sonny is known to be selfish then he'd never inflict this much pain on his very own daughter."

Jax: "So, that subject is closed - how are things going with you and Cameron?"

Alexis: "Great! Even though Sonny's death did put us on opposite sides: him believing that Sonny faked his death, and then me believing that Sonny was dead - I think that we're coming back to where we were before the shootout."

Jax: "That's good then - isn't it?" He asked noticing Alexis' faraway look in her eyes.

Alexis: "I don't know Jax - I don't know anything anymore. Having been through Sonny's death really made me see how fragile life is, and how it can just be taken away from you in a matter of minutes. I'm still one of the keyroles in Sonny's life even though he's dead: I'm the mother of his child, and his enemies know that - what if they come after me or Kristina next?"

Jax: "Sonny has guards on you, right?"

Alexis: "Helena managed to get past Johnny so I don't know how much of my belief I should put into believing that either Max or Johnny can protect us."

Jax: "You just have to believe in the love that you and Cameron share - for each other, and for Kristina. And to tell you the truth then I think that Cameron is far better father material for Kristina than Sonny was!"

Alexis: "It's true that Sonny had his faults but he was the father of my child, and therefore he'll always have a very special place in my heart - that'll never change."

Jax: "I know…Just like Brenda will always have a special place in mine…"

Alexis: "Speaking of Brenda - how are you and Skye doing?"

Jax: "OK - I guess! Even after having worked through the whole Brenda thing then I can't give Skye what she really wants.

Alexis: "A baby?"

Jax: "Yeah…Being with Kristina for those months really did something to the motherly side of Skye, and finding out that she couldn't conceive on her own was just a slap in the face. And then when she lost Kristina all together…"

Alexis: "How about adopting?"

Jax: "The thing is that Skye thinks that I want to have a child, who's a duplicate of me when all I want is a child that's proof of our love."

Alexis: "How about a surrogate mother then?"

Jax: "We're taking a mental vote on that at the moment - but enough talk about Skye and me - I want to meet that birthday girl!" He exclaimed, as he placed his arm around Alexis' waist, and they walked out to the backyard.

Cameron: "Hey you two…" He replied, as he kissed Alexis softly on the lips.

Alexis: "Where's Kristina?"

Cameron: "She's down at the swings - I thought I'd give her some time to be alone if she's lost in memories about Sonny!"

Jax: "Good idea!" He exclaimed sitting down next to Zander and Emily, while Alexis took a seat next to Cameron and Nikolas.

Kristina was sitting on the swings when a man dressed in a tracksuit neared the swings. Sonny was counting his lucky star that the swings were placed out of viewing range of the terrace that Cameron, Alexis, Jax, Emily, Zander and Nikolas were sitting on.

Sonny: "Preciosa?" He replied removing the hood from his head calling Kristina his nickname for her, which she immediately reacted to.

Kristina: "DADDY!!!!" She yelled before Sonny shushed her in fear of her mother and the guests hearing her.

Sonny: "We have to be very quiet Preciosa…" He replied quietly, as Kristina leapt into Sonny's arms before Sonny lifted her up so that he could smell the scent of his daughter.

Kristina: "I've missed you so much daddy - mommy said you were dead but I didn't believe her, and I was right you aren't dead!" She exclaimed placing her head on her father's shoulder.

Sonny: "Listen Preciosa…" He replied, as he sat down on the grass facing Kristina.

Kristina: "What is it daddy?" She asked with the light back in her eyes.

Sonny: "You can't tell anyone that you've just seen me."

Kristina: "Not even mommy?"

Sonny: "Especially not your mommy!"

Kristina: "How come? She's very sad - she even cries when I ask her where you are. Daddy?"

Sonny: "Yeah?" He replied tucking a few of Kristina's resistant black locks behind her ears.

Kristina: "Mommy still loves you!"

Sonny: "Come again?"

Kristina: "She told me so last night!"

Sonny: "I'm sure that she meant that she'll always care about me!"

Kristina: "She had tears in her eyes, and she told me that she still loves you - she did daddy - she did!" She exclaimed with wide opened eyes.

*** FLASHBACK ***

Alexis: "Try and get some sleep, OK? And tomorrow when Zander, Emily, Nikolas and Jax come you'll get chocolate cake, and a lot of presents."

Kristina: "Mommy?"

Alexis: "Yeah, baby…?" She replied tucking a few resistant locks behind Kristina's ears.

Kristina: "Do you love daddy?"

Alexis: "Kristina…?"

Kristina: "Do you mommy?"

Alexis: "I will always love your daddy because he gave me you - now go to sleep!" She exclaimed putting her forehead to Kristina's before kissing her goodnight on the lips.

*** FLASHBACK ***

Sonny: "Off course mommy loves me for giving her you because you're the cutest girl in the whole, wide world!"

Kristina: "Will you get back together with mommy when you return for real?" She asked with happy eyes.

Sonny: "Kristina - I'm married to Carly - remember?"

Kristina: "Yeah…" She moaned, as the honking of a horn could be heard - Sonny knew that it was Jason letting him know that time was up.

Sonny: "I have to go Preciosa - but take this…" He replied giving her his mother's ring on a gold chain, and placed it around her neck.

Kristina: "Is this Grandma Adela's?"

Sonny: "It sure is! Now you take care of that for me, OK? I'm counting on seeing that on you when I return?"

Kristina: "You will! Daddy I love you!"

Sonny: "I love you too Preciosa!" He exclaimed before hugging and kissing her goodbye, and then he was gone.

A few hours later Alexis was tucking Kristina in, and saw the necklace Kristina was wearing, and asked

Alexis: "Where did you get that?"

Kristina: "Daddy! Mommy…Daddy is alive - I saw him!" Alexis removed the chain from around Kristina's neck, and placed it on the bedside table.

Alexis: "I'm sure you did honey…" She replied smiling before tucking Kristina in, and turning out the lights. When Alexis stood with her back to Kristina's bedroom door she wondered if Kristina could be right?

chapter 5