Game Day
by Cowgirl

chapter 32 - The Home Stretch

Sonny awoke to the bright sunlight of another Sunday morning. His and Alexis' day . . . for the last several months Alexis Davis had made every Sunday the best day of his weeks . . . but this Sunday he knew would be the best Sunday of his life. He leaned his neck to the left and was disappointed to find Alexis not there with him. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, looking around until he spotted her, clad in the white terry cloth robe that the hotel provided, her hair pinned up in a ponytail, standing out on the balcony looking radiant in the morning sun. He sat up slowly and watched her, her arms perched on the balcony railing, a slight breeze blowing a few wisps of her hair. She had her eyes closed, her face turned upward like she was relishing every moment. He pulled himself from the bed and searched for his pants, pulling them on. He silently stepped out onto the balcony and wrapped his arms around Alexis, who leaned back into him, craning her neck around to see him. She smiled that dimpled smile that had come to melt his heart every time he saw it. "Good morning," he cooed as he placed a kiss on her cheek. She nuzzled her head back against his face. "Good morning yourself," she said as she placed her hands over his and returned her gaze to the city below. "I don't want to go back to Port Charles today," she said calmly.

Sonny sighed. "Then let's not. We could hop on my plane and go anywhere you want to go. My island, Greece, Spain, Italy . . . "

Alexis laughed. "If only."

"What if only . . . I mean it. Say the word and I'll have my jet pick us up here in New York."

"We can't."

"Why not?"

"We have to go back. I have clients, you have . . . business."

There was silence for a moment as both of them pondered going home. "What happens when we get back Lex?"

Alexis turned in his arms and snaked her arms around his waist. "What do you want to happen?"

Sonny looked down for a second then smiled, looking back at her. "I want . . . I want to make a life with you."

Alexis returned his smile. "Then that's what we'll do."

Sonny's smile faded slowly from his face, an expression of seriousness taking over. "It's not going to be easy Lex."

Alexis nodded. "I know that."

"There's not going to be too many people, outside of Kristina, that are going to be happy to see us together."

"I don't imagine there will be."

"Alexis . . . you've put a strain on all of your relationships because of your association with me. I don't want to see you lose all your friends and family because I'm your lover."

Alexis brought her arms up around his neck. "That's my decision to make . . . lover. Anyone, who knows me, knows that I'm going to make my own decisions and my own choices . . . and most of my life my choices have leaned toward the logical. This time . . . my choice is going with my heart . . . and my heart wants you."

Sonny leaned down and kissed her lips. They broke apart and smiled.

"Besides . . . " Alexis continued. "I'm not the only one who's going to have people upset with them about our relationship."

Sonny rolled his eyes. "I don't care what Carly thinks."

"What if she tries to use Michael?"

"She won't." He took her hands from around his neck and interlaced their fingers together. "Carly isn't going to come between us. I don't care what she says or does. No one is going to come between us Alexis . . . not even us. Not anymore."

Alexis bowed her head. "There's still the issue of . . . " she paused and looked up at him, biting her lip.

"My lifestyle," Sonny finished for her.

"Sonny, I love you because of the man that you are . . . but I don't know if I can deal with . . . " She stopped, dropping her hands from his, hugging them around her waist. She looked to him. "I want this to work so badly between us Sonny . . . but I don't want you to think you have to become someone you don't want to be to be with me."

Sonny rubbed his jaw. "We can . . . we can work it out Lex. We'll find a way to deal with . . . everything."

She looked at him desperately. "How Sonny? How can we deal with this? This is not a quick fix problem."

Sonny nodded and sniffed. He looked back into her eyes. "You want me to leave the life Alexis?"

Alexis looked away from him for a second and then back. "I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to do."

"So . . . what you're saying is that we can't be together if I stay . . . in the business."

Alexis separated their hands and walked a few steps away from him. She held up her hands in frustration. "I don't know what I'm saying . . . no . . . I do. I never want you to feel that you have to change the person you are to be with me. That would be nothing but a giant albatross in our relationship." She leaned her head to the side in an attempt to stretch away the tightness that had formed there. "But at the same time . . . I can't be the perfect mob moll. I can't just turn a complete blind eye to the things that I know go on in your life . . . even if we never discuss them."

She threw her hands up again and let them drop with a slap against her thighs. "So I guess we're at a crossroads."

Sonny moved from his spot on the balcony to the table and sat down, placing his elbows on the table and dropping his head into his hands. He stayed that way for several agonizing minutes before he blew out a loud puff of air and looked up at Alexis. "You drive a hard bargain counselor."

Alexis wanted to ask him what he meant, but at the same time was terrified at what the response would be. She stared at him intently, willing him to go on.

His tongue darted out and absently licked the corner of his mouth. "It's not going to be easy . . . and it's not going to be quick," he said finally.

Alexis knitted her eyebrows together. "What's not?" she asked cautiously.

"Getting out," he replied. "I have to think of a way to do it without the five families coming down on me for the rest of my life and keep my legitimate businesses in the process."

Alexis took a moment to process what he was telling her. "Sonny, I don't want . . . "

He stood up and moved to her, standing a few feet in front of her. "You want to be together right?"

She blinked hard and nodded. "But only if it's what you want Sonny. I'm not asking you to give up everything you've worked hard for."

He nodded and moved forward, placing his hands on her upper arms. "I know that. Alexis, I want more than anything to be with you. The love that is growing between us is something I've never felt before. For the first time in my life I want to do whatever it takes to make something work. And I want us to work. So if that means giving up control of my territories and letting Jason run them . . . so be it."

"I think that you should take some time to think about this . . . "

He tightened his grip on her arms. "I don't have to. There's no choice to make here Alexis." He moved his hand from her arm and touched her face. "I can't lose you," he said desperately. "I'm not willing to give you up."

Alexis closed her eyes and swallowed the lump that had risen in her chest. "You won't lose me Sonny." She opened her eyes. "I love you . . . and I'm willing to take whatever heat comes from my side of the fence. I don't care anymore what anyone thinks."

They moved closer, pulling one another into an embrace. Sonny wrapped his arms around Alexis and squeezed her to him, his hands caressing her back. He let out a soft chuckle and pulled back from her. "This is not going to be easy. We are going to get so much flack."

Alexis smiled. "It will be interesting to see the reactions." She shook her head. "Ned and Jax are going to blow a gasket."

"I'm sure I'll get an ear full from Carly too." He sighed. "Everyone will be shocked, that's for sure."

Alexis lowered her head and bit down on her lip. When she looked up at him again, there was a gleam in her eye that

Sonny found extremely intriguing. He cocked his head. "What are you thinking, Counselor?"

Alexis opened her mouth and closed it again. Taking a breath she looked into his eyes. "I think I know a way we could really throw them into apoplexy."

Sonny's eyebrows went up. "You mean like stopping in at Kelly's and going at it at the table?" he joked.

Alexis laughed. "Well, that would certainly do it . . . " she stopped, her face growing serious. "I was thinking more along the lines of . . . " She stopped and shook her head, not believing what she was about to suggest.

"Marry me, Sonny," she said with all the sincerity she could muster.

chapter 33