A Kiss Goodnight
by Cowgirl

part 2

Alexis awoke in a cold sweat. She had barely slept all night, wide-awake with the excitement of what had happened with Sonny last night. Was he really being sincere or was this something to make him forget about Carly? Did he kiss her because of what Kristina said or was he kissing her because he was telling the truth and he had wanted to kiss her even before Kristina's revelation to him? She swung her legs and looked at her closed and locked door. She knew Kristina was waiting out there to pounce on her. She looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "Might as well get this over with," she said as she headed for the door. She stopped suddenly and turned around. "Nope, I might as well be refreshed and ready for my day before I greet the firing squad," she said as she headed to her bathroom.

Forty-five minutes later Alexis walked cautiously down the stairs clad in a pair of jeans, her favorite lavender long sleeve sweater and a pair of running shoes. Kristina and Ned were sitting on the couch talking quietly. "Morning," she said cheerily as she tried to pass them and head for the kitchen. "I hope one of you has made coffee."

Kristina stood up. "Good morning. I made coffee. It's in the kitchen."

"Great!" Alexis exclaimed and went in search of it.

Kristina appeared in the kitchen minutes later. She leaned against the counter as Alexis prepared herself a cup of the steaming hot liquid. "So, did you have fun last night?"

Alexis shrugged not looking up from her task. "If you call being left at a table to be everyone else's third wheel while the person you escorted ran around after his ex-wife all night fun...yes, I had a marvelous time."

"I think it was more like Carly hanging all over Sonny, but it was rather rude of him to leave you alone all night."

Alexis turned growing slightly annoyed. "It's not like Sonny owed me anything. We weren't on a date...he didn't have to tend to me." She looked pointedly at her sister. "And besides that, after what I found out you said to Sonny, you really shouldn't sit in judgment of other people's behavior."

Kristina looked ashamed. "Alexis, I told you a thousand times, it slipped out. I didn't mean it."

Alexis shook her head. "You didn't mean it, but you said it and he heard it and now he probably thinks it's true."

"Well isn't it?" she asked bravely.

Alexis glared at her. "Aren't you in enough hot water with me already?"

Kristina held up her hands. "Fine. I'll drop it."

"I think it would be best for you if you did."

There was a silence as the two sisters sized one another up. Finally Kristina couldn't hold out any longer and Alexis saw it coming a mile away, but unfortunately didn't run fast enough. "So why were you and Sonny kissing last night?"

Alexis' mouth dropped open for a second. "Who said we were kissing?"

Kristina smiled. "Well, when that elevator door opened, you and Sonny jumped apart quicker than two polar opposite ends of a magnet. Not to mention that you were as red as a beet and doing that funny breathing thing."

Alexis turned her back to her and poured more coffee. "That still doesn't indicate that we were kissing."

"Oh? Okay then...what about the hand holding?"

Alexis wheeled around. "You just can’t learn to stay the hell out of my business can you?" she said, slamming her mug down on the counter spilling the hot liquid all over her hand. "Damn it," she grabbed nearby paper towels and began feverishly wiping the counter.

"So, just so I'm clear. You and Sonny weren't holding hands and you weren't kissing last night."

Alexis stopped her movements and walked closer to her sister. She looked toward the living room for any sign of Ned and lowered her voice. "So Sonny grabbed my hand and told me he was sorry for ignoring me all night...and yes he gave me a kiss. No big deal. It was a kiss goodnight between two friends. End of story...got it?"

Kristina nodded. "I got it, I got it...but don't forget, Ned saw it too and I don't think he liked it."

Alexis could feel her face reddening. "I don't care." She said trying to keep her voice down. "I don't care what Ned likes or doesn't like." She looked toward the living room. "Are you getting all this Ned?" she said as she made her way into the other room in time to see him scamper away from the kitchen door. She glared at him. "You were eavesdropping?"

Ned gave her a look of pity. "Alexis, we're all just worried about you."

She gave him a confused look. "All?" She was about to ask who "all" was when a knock sounded on the door. She stomped to it and threw it open to find Jax all smiles. "Good morning favorite ex-wife."

Alexis gave him a phony smile and waved him in. "I take it that he is the rest of "all", she said pointing to Jax.

"Alexis," Jax started. "Ned's just as worried as I am about you getting too close to Corinthos."

Alexis stared at all three of them wide-eyed. "What is this? An intervention? The three of you think you can tell me whom I can have as clients? As friends?" She didn't even realize she was shouting.

Ned took a deep breath, apparently willing to be the sacrificial lamb. "Alexis I know what I saw last night. You and Sonny were...close for better lack of a word and."

Alexis let out a frustrated whimper. "Oh my God. Exactly how old do the three of you think I am?" She shouted becoming more agitated. "Listen up and listen good. I will see whom I want; when I want and do whatever I want and I don't need permission or your guidance to do it do I make myself clear? If I want to go naked hang gliding off the top of Mt. Everest with Sonny that's my business."

She was about to continue on her tirade when another knock sounded on the door. She turned an incredulous expression towards her three companions. "What? You invited more people over here?" She threw open the door to find Sonny standing there and she felt herself relax just a bit. "Welcome to the brow beat Alexis hour," she waved her hand. "Come on in and take your best shot."

Sonny stepped in and eyed Ned, Jax and Kristina, raising an eyebrow. He shook his head and then turned his attention to Alexis. "You ready?"

Alexis stared at him dumbfounded. "Ready? For what?"

Sonny cleared his throat. "Uh...Alexis, we have that meeting today remember? At the warehouse with the accountants?"

Alexis drew her brow together in confusion. "We did?"

Sonny nodded slowly, a funny look in his eye. "Yes, don't you remember? You set it up."

Alexis looked at him a second more before she realized he was trying to rescue her. "Oh," she said going along. "Damn it...Sonny I forgot." She put her hand to her head. "Let me change my clothes and I'll be right with you."

"We could make it another time," Sonny said trying to conceal a smile.

"No." Alexis said abruptly, giving him a look. "No, I scheduled this...just let me change..."

"Well, I don't mean to be a jerk here, but if we’re going to keep the meeting you should probably just come as you are. They're waiting."

Alexis went to the closet and grabbed her coat. "Fine." She turned to the three behind her. "You'll excuse me," she said sarcastically then turned back to Sonny. "Ready?"

Sonny nodded and opened the door letting Alexis step out ahead of him. He turned back and looked at Ned, Jax and Kristina shaking his head once more then walked out shutting the door behind him.

Once they were out in the hall Sonny punched the elevator button. Alexis looked at Sonny and almost laughed out loud. "Thank you."

Sonny smiled.

"Where exactly are we going?"

Sonny smiled bigger and grabbed her hand pulling her towards his penthouse, leading her inside.

"I don't know who's more confusing you or them. What are we doing?"

"Just wait," Sonny said as he guided her to the couch, sitting her down. "Hang on a second." He opened the door and motioned Johnny in. The bodyguard stood just inside the door. "Johnny, as far as the people across the hall are concerned, Miss Davis and I got into the elevator and took off. You don't know where we went or when we'll be back."

"Yes sir," Johnny replied.

Sonny nodded. "And as for the rest of the world...I don't care who comes to the door...I don't care if God himself walks up and wants to see me...no one gets in here. Don't even knock."

"Got it," Johnny said and exited the apartment.

Sonny secured the locks and turned back to Alexis. "There."

"What was that all about?"

Sonny half shrugged and took a seat next to her on the couch. "Well, between your sister and her two musketeers and the way I treated you at the club last night and how upset you sounded a little while ago, I just figured you deserved a day to yourself with no interruptions."

Alexis leaned back into the couch. "Thanks again for the rescue."

"My pleasure."

She turned her head to look at him. "How did you know?"

"I came across the hall to talk to you and I heard you yelling." He shrugged. "I figured you might need a hand."

Alexis clamped her hand across her heart. "My hero."

Sonny laughed. "Well, the day is yours counselor. What do you want to do?"

"Sonny you don't have to baby-sit me."

"Maybe I want to."

Alexis was starting to get that nervous feeling about her, like when Sonny was too close, like last night. She stood up. "I really hadn't thought about what I wanted to do today," she said nervously.

"I vote for the naked hang gliding," he said flashing the dimples.

Alexis turned a shade of red as her jaw went slack.

"Can I make you something to eat maybe?"

Alexis turned to him. "That would be great."

"Good...how about an omelet?" he said as he headed for the kitchen.

"Sounds great. Want some help?"

Sonny stopped dead in his tracks. "Don't even joke like that."

Alexis hurled a throw pillow at him. "Funny."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ned, Kristina and Jax exited Alexis' apartment after a lengthy conversation about Alexis and Sonny. Ned and Jax doing much of the nay saying and Kristina torn between Sonny's dangerous life and how happy he seemed to make Alexis. They waited as the elevator was summoned and consequently opened. Jax entered and Ned turned to Kristina giving her a peck on the lips.

"I'll call you later. Tell Alexis I didn't mean to upset her."

"I will. I'll talk to you later," she smiled at Jax. "Thanks for trying to help."

Jax shrugged. "I think I made it worse, but your welcome."

The doors shut leaving Kristina in the hallway alone...except for Johnny. She looked at him and wagged her finger for him to come over to her. The bodyguard moved slowly and stopped a couple of feet away keeping Sonny's door between him and the unrelenting red head. Kristina smirked. "They didn't go any where did they," she stated.

Johnny looked uncomfortably at Sonny's door and then back to Kristina. "No."

She pointed at Sonny's apartment. "They're in there now?"

He nodded. "Not to be disturbed barring a natural disaster."

Kristina nodded. "Well, I'm no natural disaster."

"That's yet to be proven."

"You know you're awfully mouthy for a bodyguard."

Johnny smiled. "Glass houses Miss Cassadine."

Kristina waved her hand in defeat. "Yeah, yeah...don't worry I'm not going to bother them," she laughed to herself and went inside.

part 03