Fate
by Susanne

Chapter 1 - The Order

The town of Port Charles was buzzing, as the prominent custody case over Kristina Davis was finishing off behind closed doors in the Port Charles Court. The truth about Kristina's true paternity had come out in the open after Ned had endangered the baby's life, and Alexis hadn't seen any other alternative than to tell Sonny the truth in hopes of him being able to rescue her before it was too late.

He had succeeded but after Alexis had been cleared off all charges in connection with the Luis Alcazar case, Sonny had filed for shared custody of Kristina after Carly had lost a child she'd conceived together with Ric Lansing. Cameron Lewis had been a great support for Alexis and they'd begun to feel a deep understanding for the other person.

Jasper Jacks had been there for Alexis and Kristina like never before. He was almost like a father figure to Kristina, but in reality Alexis knew that only one man could fulfill that spot, and that someone was Sonny Corinthos. Ned had kept his distance from the case, as he knew that he was to blame for Sonny knowing that Kristina was his daughter.

Inside the courtroom Alexis was sitting with her lawyer; Gina Santiago with Cameron sitting right behind her next to Jax and Skye, who were in the process of figuring out their relationship. Sonny was sitting with his new lawyer; Bill Jackson, and both Jason and Courtney were sitting behind him.

Bailiff: "All rise for the honorable Catherine Zuma!" He exclaimed, as the judge made her entrance, and took her seat before exclaiming

Judge Zuma: "Please be seated!" She arranged her notes in front of her getting ready to rearrange Sonny, Alexis and Kristina's lives forever.

Courtney: "God…Alexis looks so miserable!" She whispered with sympathy in her voice to Jason.

Jason: "Having your child ripped away from you can have that effect on most people." He whispered back.

Jax: "Sonny looks so smug sitting there knowing full well that he's probably going to get shared custody of Krissy and if he does succeed then that child is going to be in constant danger for the rest of her life." He whispered to Cameron.

Cameron: "Well…It's up to us to make sure that Alexis keeps her cool when the verdict is in. I have a feeling that whatever it is it's going to change Alexis and Kristina's lives for all time." He whispered back, as the judge began to speak.

Judge Zuma: "This case has been difficult from start to finish, and I don't think that any other judge would envy me sitting here having to judge, which parent is more suited to fulfill the task of being Kristina's legal guardian, and therefore also parent. On one side we've got a notorious criminal, whose lifestyle isn't any place for a child to grow up in even though Michael Corinthos has done this both in PH4 but also in numerous other locations such as the Quartermaine estate, PH2 when Mr. Morgan was occupying it years ago. On another side we've got a brilliant attorney, a terrific mother but also a woman, who admitted killing Luis Alcazar due to the torment and hurt he'd put her and many of her friends and family through. Well knowing that Ms. Davis was cleared on all charges due to self-defense I can't look away from that, and still hold Mr. Corinthos responsible for the gossip and second hand knowledge in this town. Therefore I decided to act as if Mr. Corinthos and Ms. Davis were just two ordinary people seeking if not full then shared custody of the child in question; Kristina. Through my many interviews with not only Mr. Corinthos and Ms. Davis but also with Mr. Jacks, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Morgan and Ms. Matthews I've come to the conclusion that Kristina Davis doesn't need to go through anymore confusing living arrangement. I've also done some checking and as far as I know the penthouse, which Ms. Davis occupied from the year 2000 - 2002 is currently available. Is this true Mr. Corinthos?" She asked turning to Sonny for answers.

Sonny: "Yes your honor. Jason Morgan moved out in the course of March!"

Judge Zuma: "Ms. Davis? Was this penthouse spacious for you? Did it satisfy your comforts?" She asked turning to Alexis for answers.

Alexis: "It was actually more than I needed your honor but just because…" The judge cut in exclaiming

Judge Zuma: "Thank you Ms. Davis! I now have the choice to either give full custody to one of you, or make it possible for you to share custody over this innocent child. I've never been for option 1 so I'm going to ask you Ms. Davis: isn't there any way you can see yourself living in PH2 opposite Mr. Corinthos' penthouse in at least the next 18 years of your child's life?"

Alexis: "Your honor I understand why you ask this. If I were you I'd probably ask the same thing or have come to the same conclusion as you. But in all honesty and with due respect you can't treat Mr. Corinthos like an ordinary citizen or an ordinary father seeking custody. He's involved in criminal activity your honor, and by allowing Kristina to be anywhere near him will result in her getting hurt. I know in my heart of hearts that Sonny is a great father but I can't let him be a father for Kristina if this means putting her in the middle of something dangerous and life threatening. I saw with my own eyes what this life did to someone I consider family. I can't let it happen to my flesh and blood too. I'm sorry but I can't do it." She replied with tears in her eyes.

Judge Zuma: "I see…I have great respect for you Ms. Davis, and I know that whatever I rule here today will affect your life tremendously. Being a mother myself I don't think I have to tell you how much I want to rule in your favor but sadly I can't. As I mentioned before then I've made some enquiries, which showed me that even though Mr. Corinthos has a questionable lifestyle he's also got security. I hope, as God is my witness that I'll never regret having ruled this. And Mr. Corinthos before you start celebrating having beat the system in some way I want you to be clear on one thing."

Sonny: "Yes your honor?"

Judge Zuma: "If you at any time get arrested for anything remotely criminal, which would put Kristina in danger I'll give sole custody to Ms. Davis no matter the consequences. Are we clear Mr. Corinthos?"

Sonny: "Absolutely your honor, but as I've told this court before then the only thing I'm involved in is coffee importing!"

Jax: "Oh please Corinthos! Is that the best you can do in trying to flatter a good ruling out of Judge Zuma?" He exclaimed jumping up from his seat due to his being overprotective of both Alexis and Kristina.

Judge Zuma: "Mr. Jacks I realize this is a delicate situation for everyone involved but please keep your personal feelings out of this?" She asked pounding the gavel for order in the courtroom.

Jax: "I understand your honor!" He exclaimed sitting back down next to Cameron and Skye.

Judge Zuma: "I hereby order Ms. Davis, Kristina Davis and Nurse Larson to move into PH2 by the end of this week meaning Sunday at the latest. I'll have someone following up on these living arrangements together with checking if both parents are conduction their lives in a manor suitable for a child. Good luck in raising Kristina together - this court's adjourned." She replied pounding the gavel exiting the room.

Alexis: "Oh my God! This can't be happening!" She replied placing a hand over her mouth in an attempt to breathe normally.

Cameron: "Take some deep, cleansing breaths Alexis…Come on…One, two, three. One, two, three!" He continued coaching her, as he'd made his way next to Alexis rubbing her back, as she tried to catch her breath.

Skye: "I don't understand this! How can they give custody to an animal like him? Just think about Carly? Having that spiteful woman for a stepmother!" She exclaimed.

Jax: "Skye? Would you mind getting Alexis some water?" He asked, focusing in on Jason and Courtney, who were congratulating Sonny.

Skye: "Not at all - I'll be right back!" She replied exiting the courtroom, as Jax made his way to where Sonny, Jason and Courtney were.

Cameron: "Listen to me Alexis! You've got to take it easy OK? This is not the end of the world. All you've got to do is wait for Sonny to screw up just like he always does."

Alexis: "At what cost? Kristina's life or my sanity?" She asked between breaths.

Jax: "I hope you're feeling proud of yourself Corinthos?"

Jason: "Jax? Maybe this isn't the best time to…"

Jax: "To what? To tell Don Corinthos the truth? That he's just signed his daughters death certificate?"

Sonny: "I did what I had to do Jax. Kristina's my daughter and Alexis is her mother and I'll always protect them!"

Jax: "Kristina doesn't even know you Sonny! The only persons she really knows are Alexis, Cameron, Felicia, Ned, Skye and me! But hey…If we're lucky someone like Alcazar will come around and make sure that you don't screw up Alexis' life once more and Kristina's for the first time."

Courtney: "Jax? Just because Sonny's been less than nice to Alexis lately doesn't mean that he's not going to respect her as Kristina's mother. I know that both Jason, my father and I are looking forward to getting to know Kristina."

Jax: "You, Jason and Mike aren't the worst people Kristina could be with Courtney. But where Sonny and Carly are concerned I smell trouble!" He replied joining Cameron, Alexis and Skye again.

Cameron: "Are you feeling better?" He asked, as Alexis' breathing had turned normal again, as Skye gave Alexis the glass of water she'd hunted down.

Alexis: "Yeah…Thanks Cameron! I know that I can always count on you!" She replied hugging him tightly before getting on her feet.

Sonny: "Alexis? We need to talk!" He replied joining the group.

Alexis: "I have nothing to say to you!"

Sonny: "We need to talk about Kristina - now I can have Max or Johnny pick you up!"

Alexis: "Tell those goons of yours to stay the hell away from Kristina and me, and as far as our transport is concerned I've got friends. I need some air!" She replied making her way down the courtroom, and into a restroom.

Jax: "You heard her Corinthos! Just leave Alexis alone, and let us; her friends take care of her. You've got no place in Alexis' life anymore!"

Courtney: "Will you excuse me Jason?" She replied, as she followed Alexis.

Jason: "Sure!"

When Courtney opened the door into the restroom she could hear a woman crying her heart out in one of the three stalls in the restroom. Courtney felt so sorry for Alexis after having witnessed how scared she was for Kristina's well-being and she couldn't help but think that the judge's ruling was catastrophical."

chapter 2