The Golden Chain
by Abelard

part 4

Though he couldn't quite believe it, Sonny actually fell into a routine as he lived his looking-glass life at the enormous Cassadine mansion in London. He participated in Alexis's meetings with her advisors for most of the day. Over the course of his first week with them, he grew conversant with their major projects and was able to contribute more to their discussion. Alexis seemed to value his opinions, and she'd let him take the occasional lead on several issues throughout the week. Sonny was pleased at that. Every time Sonny spoke, the Englishman, Raleigh, scowled and looked constipated. Sonny was pleased at that, too.

One of the recurring issues Alexis and her advisors discussed was Sonny's conundrum. They had been able to gather more intelligence about which of the other bosses were gunning for him and which of his men had sold out. But none of the solutions they'd come up was a guaranteed win, and Sonny agreed they should wait to act until they found the right plan.

In the evenings, after 12- or 13-hour sessions concerning Cassadine business, Sonny called Benny and talked through the decisions that had to be made regarding his territory. Then, Sonny called the house where he'd asked Carly and Michael to stay. He only spoke to Michael. Every time Carly managed to get him on the phone for five seconds, she screamed until he was almost deaf. Sonny realized Carly would never understand his reasons for agreeing to this fake marriage, so even though he felt badly about it, he avoided speaking with her at all.

Then, at around nine at night, Sonny's favorite part of his new routine took place. Somewhere in the vast expanse of the house, a high-pitched laugh would ring and echo through the corridors. Then, the sound of running. Then another pair of feet running, and a deeper, sexy laugh. And Sonny would leave his suite of rooms and run after them, and often they'd be all three in robes and pajamas. Well, Alexis and Kristina would be in nightgowns. He never did get a good look at Alexis's nightgown underneath her robe, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

On this particular night, their game of hide-and-go-seek led them into the gigantic empty ballroom. Kristina had found a sweet spot behind a suit of armor. But Alexis was wise to her. Alexis tiptoed around one side of the armor and motioned to Sonny to go around the other, and they shouted "Boo!" at her from both sides and tickled Kristina till she was squealing at them to stop.

Sonny lifted Kristina up and settled her on his shoulders. He glanced at Alexis; she didn't seem to mind. "Come on, let's go for a pony ride!" he said, looking up into his little girl's delighted face. He made a few horse sounds, stomped his foot like a pony rearing to go, and when Kristina shouted, "Giddy-up!" he ran crazy circles around the enormous, dimly lit room.

This went on for ten long minutes, with Sonny changing directions and zigzagging now and again. Alexis looked on and laughed at their antics from the sidelines. When he was tuckered out, he took Kristina from his shoulders and handed her to her mother's outstretched arms. "Alright, Miss K., time to put you to bed," Alexis said firmly.

Kristina said something in Russian to Alexis. Alexis frowned and said, "Early?! Baby, it is way, way past your usual bedtime. Go on upstairs to Clara and ask her to tuck you in. I'll be there in a second to kiss you goodnight."

"Okay," Kristina relented. But before she went on her way, she turned to her mother and said, "Is Sonny going to come to the ball?"

"There's a ball?" Sonny asked.

Alexis shrugged. "Just a party for some of our British executives and a few foreign dignitaries. Nothing too special." To Kristina, she said, "I'm sure Sonny will come, sweetie. It's in this very room on Friday, so what can he do? Sulk upstairs?" she said sarcastically, looking in Sonny's direction, knowing he was fully capable of doing just that if he wanted.

"Oh, I'll be there," Sonny said, never one to turn down a dare.

"Kings and queens are coming," Kristina said excitedly.

"Only two. Of each," Alexis clarified. "Now, off to bed," she said to Kristina, who dutifully scampered away up one of the winding staircases.

Sonny coughed. "Kings and queens, huh?"

"Too low-rent for you?" Alexis teased.

Sonny gave her a dimpled grin. "Hardly. It's just that I've never met, you know, royalty before."

"Excuse me?!" Alexis flashed her own dimples as she sounded mock-horrified.

"Come on, you know what I mean. I've never met a royal person who didn't used to pay me rent." They both laughed at that.

"Well, I'm giving Kristina a couple of lessons in high etiquette tomorrow. Maybe you can come, too," said Alexis.

"Sure," Sonny said, confused by her graciousness for the thousandth time that week. When they'd first brokered this deal over the phone, Alexis had sounded incredibly cold, threatening him and playing hardball with every sentence she spoke. But when he'd arrived in London, she'd been kind and generous, seemingly happy to let him spend time with Kristina, sit in on her meetings, do whatever he pleased. For a couple of days, Sonny thought he'd somehow, without trying, won Alexis over. It almost felt as if they'd unwittingly re-established their long-lost friendship. After nearly a week of being around her, however, he realized that Alexis's pleasant demeanor wasn't friendship. She didn't confide anything in him, or let him see her emotions. She only let him in at the edges of her and Kristina's life. Playing hide-and-seek around their castle wasn't real intimacy, after all. In fact, Sonny got the uncomfortable feeling that Alexis was treating him as a sort of pet, a stray dog she'd taken in and would soon give over to some charity. She tolerated his being here, in her world, in her house, with her daughter. She tolerated it well and smiled and chatted with him, but he constantly felt the arm's length she kept between them.

Sonny wondered if she let anywhere near her, in any meaningful way, anymore. He didn't know why, but he also found himself wondering whether he could manage to breach her well-cultivated defenses. "Can I walk you to your room - ah, *rooms*, I mean?" he asked. "I'd like to talk a little more, if you're not too tired."

"Sure," she said, and smiled that same tolerant, kind smile she'd given him all along. "Come on up." She pulled her robe closer around her to ward off the draft and began ascending the stairs. Sonny followed, a step behind. Suddenly, someone called out from the landing.

"Alexis! I've been looking for you all over the house." It was that blowhard, Raleigh. Sonny frowned at how casually the man addressed his wife - the Princess - by her first name.

"What is it, Hunter?" Alexis asked. Sonny frowned even more at how Alexis used her advisor's first name.

"I'd like a few words with you, please," said Raleigh. It was on the tip of Sonny's tongue to say no on Alexis's behalf, but he bit it back. This was Alexis's show, not his. He wasn't the master of the house.

"I'm sorry, Hunter. Perhaps tomorrow? My new husband and I are going to talk for a bit, and then I'm going to sleep," said Alexis.

"It's quite important. It's a business matter, and there is some urgency to it," Raleigh said insistently.

Alexis sighed. "Fine. Sonny, I'll see you tomorrow." She proceeded up the stairs, met Raleigh on the landing, and they walked down one of the half-dozen passages.

*He's selling, but she's not buying,* was Sonny's observation on the exchange. He didn't know how he felt about the fact that one of Alexis' advisors obviously had a crush on her. He didn't know how he really felt about anything in his mixed-up life as a Cassadine.

****

The next evening, instead of playing hide-and-seek, Sonny took Kristina up on her offer to play chess with him in her playroom. Thirty minutes into the game, he said, "Check." He'd lost a few pieces early on because he'd been distracted by the gold and silver chess pieces. But eventually, he regained his footing. Kristina was so good, he didn't want to dishonor her skill by throwing the game. So he'd played to his ability and come out ahead.

"You're pretty good," the five-year-old girl said seriously. "Menshikov is my chess tutor. He's the only one that wins over me all the time."

"What about your mother?" Sonny asked, curious.

"She's pretty good, too. Probably as good as you. But she doesn't beat me all the time. Just like you won't beat me all the time, if we play enough times." Kristina was so brash and confident and so young, Sonny laughed softly at how much she reminded him of himself.

Alexis appeared in the doorway, in her nightclothes and robe, as were Sonny and Kristina, as was usual at this time of night. "I didn't know you played chess," Alexis said.

"I can still surprise you," Sonny said. He wished he could surprise Alexis half as much as she could still throw him.

"I'm sure I'll never fully plumb the depths of Sonny Corinthos," Alexis said flippantly. He couldn't tell whether that was a flirt, a tease, or an outright dismissal. "Right now, however, it is time to educate Prince Mikhail Cassadine. You, too, Princess Kristina. Follow me; we'll start with the silver."

For the next hour, in one of what seemed to be a dozen dining rooms in the house, Alexis drilled her husband and her daughter in the proper way to use the myriad utensils at the table, the way to bow and curtsey to royal personages, how to tell the difference in rank between all the dignitaries, and what sort of conversation was appropriate and what wasn't. Kristina yawned through almost all of the lesson, and Sonny wished he could do the same, but he didn't want to be rude. Finally, Alexis seemed to be through with them. "May I go to bed now?" Kristina asked.

"That's the first time I've ever heard you want to go bed," Alexis remarked. "There's one more thing; what about dancing?"

"I know how to dance," Kristina said, rolling her eyes. "You can teach Sonny how. May I be excused, *please,* Mother?"

"Yes, you may. Good night, sweetheart." Alexis and Kristina kissed each other on both cheeks and Kristina trod away, happy to be free from etiquette training.

"Dancing?" Sonny asked.

"Well, I thought Kristina might like to learn, just for fun. But it appears I carried on the 'fun' a little too long," Alexis said as she gathered up the intricate, hand-made silverware from the elaborately carved oak table.

"I'd still like to learn," Sonny suggested. Alexis looked at him as if she thought he was joking. But it was clear from his expression that he wasn't. "Dance with me?" Sonny asked. He held out his arms in the appropriate stance.

Alexis looked uncertain of herself. But Sonny knew that if she refused, it would indicate that she was afraid. And *that,* he felt sure, she would never do. He was right. She stood regally straight and smiled as if it meant nothing to her, and walked into his light embrace. They began a waltz to no tune. They moved well together, as if they were floating rather than dancing. Sonny vaguely recalled that he had once told her she liked to dance, but there was no way in hell he would bring up that conversation tonight.

"I'm sorry it's taking so long to resolve your situation," Alexis said after a few moments of energy-filled silence. The physical tension between them was strong and taut, as it had always been. Sonny wondered if maybe it wasn't such a good idea to put his hands on her.

"It's not your fault I'm in this mess," Sonny murmured. "In fact, it's only thanks to you I haven't been killed yet. Really - thank you. I'm sorry I didn't say it earlier."

Alexis shook her head and didn't look at his face. "No apologies needed. I'll just take my fifty percent when this is through. That's payment enough," she said lightly.

But Sonny felt like being serious for a moment. "There's another apology I'd like to make, too," he said. Alexis's eyes went to his. "Alexis," he said somberly, "I'm so sorry about Kristina."

Alexis's eyes filled with tears at the mere mention of her name. They both knew he wasn't talking about their daughter. Alexis looked away again and said nothing. But she didn't step back; they kept dancing. So Sonny went on.

"You were right, all those years ago. It was my fault," he said and let out a defeated breath.

"You didn't plant the bomb," Alexis said softly.

"No, but it was my warehouse. It was my way of life that killed her. If I wasn't in this goddamn business, she'd still be alive. No matter who set that bomb or why she was there, you were right to blame me, and I just wanted to let you know that I understand that now. I'm so sorry. I can never make up to you for her."

Alexis looked at him again. It was a strange look. He couldn't fathom its meaning. They just stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity and kept dancing. Finally, she spoke. "Thank you. I mean that. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Sonny was more humbled by her acceptance of his apology than he ever remembered being in his life. "I…" He struggled for words. He wanted to say what he really felt. All of a sudden, it was very important to him to say the right thing. "I don't want you to let me off so easily," he said at last. "It takes a long time to forgive, I know that. But…" He faltered again, and again found his courage. Gazing into her golden-brown eyes, he said in a low voice, "But I hope that we get there someday."

Alexis returned his look and said, "I think all I really wanted, or needed, to hear was you say that you were sorry." And then Sonny saw in her face what had been missing all week. Depth of honesty. Her heart. The real Alexis. Years before, for a few incredible months, she'd laid herself bare to him nearly every day. A part of Sonny instantly felt a fool for having treated her openness so lightly, then. He'd taken the gift of their shared trust and practically thrown it away with both fists.

"Are we square, then?" Sonny asked hopefully. He didn't know about her, but he felt relieved.

But Alexis had more scores to settle. "Kristina was the reason for a lot of my anger towards you," she said, "but there was more."

Sonny slowed down their dance until they were really just swaying slightly in place. "Tell me," he said, willing himself to be man enough to hear it.

"Do you remember the night that…we conceived Kristina?" Alexis asked tactfully.

Sonny raised his eyebrows. How could he ever forget that night? He'd thought about it more times over the years than he would ever admit. "Yes."

"Carly saw us, do you remember?" Alexis prompted. Sonny nodded. "And she went out and had that, er, accident in her car."

"You don't have to go through all the facts. I remember." That had been a time of great emotion, but not clarity. Sometimes, when Sonny contemplated that time, it just seemed a blur. He seemed to have reacted to every succeeding event on instinct alone. And who knew if his instincts were even correct? If he'd read the situation accurately?

"Well, but I want to say something about it. This is what I've held against you, I suppose for years now, Sonny." Alexis stopped their pretense at dancing and placed her hands on her hips. She didn't look angry. She just looked very sure of herself. "I never forgave you for buying into Carly's lies."

Sonny almost did a double-take. He was quite literally, flabbergasted.

Alexis continued. "I mean, how stupid and blind could you have been? Carly faked her own death to get you back, Sonny, because she saw us together. And when she returned, you took her story as the gospel truth. I couldn't believe it. I held it against you, not because you loved her, but because you let yourself be taken in by her. Again. I thought you were better than that. Frankly, I thought you sold yourself short."

Sonny was so shocked his mind froze. He could feel his brain cells stuttering, trying to come up with an answer. He wanted to speak, he really did. He even felt his mouth open and try to work some words. But before sound came out, Alexis was turning away.

"Wait…" he managed.

"Alexis, there's a matter that needs your attention," Hunter Raleigh's voice said from the hallway. Sonny's fists clenched with rage. Of all the times for that aristocratic bastard to interrupt….

Alexis wasn't in the mood for Raleigh either, apparently. "Sorry, Hunter. Whatever it is can wait. I'm going to bed," she said dismissively, and walked right past him.

Raleigh stared after her for a few moments, then turned to go back to his own chambers. But Sonny stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Oh, Hunter? I wanted to have a quick word with you," Sonny said, mimicking the Englishman's haughty phrases on purpose.

"Take your hands off of me, Sir," Raleigh said. He looked at Sonny's hand as if it were covered in grime. That only made Sonny grip his shoulder harder.

"When you speak to my wife, you will use her proper titles. You will address her as either 'Princess,' or 'Your Highness.' Is that understood?" Sonny glared into the man's blue eyes. Raleigh reminded him of all the worst parts of Jax and Ned, as if the most hateful aspects of their natures had combined somehow in this one man.

Raleigh replied coldly, "Her Highness and I are on familiar terms with one another. She uses my given name freely, as I use hers, when we speak privately to one another."

"It is her prerogative to use your given name. It is not your place to do the same," Sonny instructed. He felt completely justified in saying this. He knew if they brought their arguments before Menshikov, the Vizier would come down on Sonny's side. If there's one thing the old man stuck by, it was protocol.

The two men stared at each other in the dark corridor and each felt the violent will of the other simmering. Finally, Raleigh backed away and gave Sonny a very, very shallow bow. "Yes, Your Highness," he said, and walked away.

As Sonny went to his rooms, he reflected on the strange night that had just passed. The things Alexis said to him were so unexpected, but they also rang so true, it was as if a fog had cleared from a part of his mind. He was certain they would continue that discussion - he'd be damned if he let it go. And as for Raleigh and his little puppy love for Alexis, well…*You win some and lose some, but it feels good to win,* thought Sonny as he fell asleep.

part 5