Part III (Finale)

Zander Smith walked across the tree farm as snowflakes fell lightly upon his dark silken eyelashes. He stopped, looked up to the sky, took a deep breath and hugged his arms around him. Christmas Eve… the scent of pine and balsam and roasting chestnuts filled the air and it made him feel almost festive. He stopped at the little makeshift vendor's stand, bought a cup of hot apple cider and stood quietly listening to the sounds of stillness filled with the cries of holiday cheer. He always tried to detour around holidays, they rarely turned out exactly as you hoped, never quite living up to your expectations - just like people. Well, he thought, certain people anyway. He shook his head, not wanting to remember all the Christmas pasts in his life, a road best not taken. Sometimes he felt just like George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life believing everyone around him would be better off had he not been born. But for the faith of two persons, his Clarences, he very well could have just chosen not to live, not in the sense of dying but of not becoming someone better. Emily, who loved him and taught him he was worthy of being loved, and Alexis, the person who of anyone who ever touched his life, including Emily, never lost faith in who he was and who he could become, even when he turned away from her. She was like his sister and he felt more of a binding tie to her than to his own family. The inheritance of blood does not a family make, he thought somewhat sadly. When he found out that Alexis and little Kristina were coming home tomorrow he decided to make their Christmas a special one and decorate the apartment. He spoke with Ned who agreed and asked Elizabeth to help him. He walked over, chose a deeply aromatic and very stately pine tree and loaded it onto his car. He wanted everything to be just perfect when Alexis and Kristina walked through the door and maybe, just maybe, he would have at least one Christmas memory worthy of keeping alive in his heart.

Lila Quartermaine sat in her wheelchair, a gentle smile upon her face, looking around the conference room at the bustle of activity and happily sighed. She loved Christmas and right here, right now, in this room was the reason why. Children laughing and singing, everyone filled with the spirit of the holiday and family - the kind of family that isn't born by blood but by the sharing of dreams and hopes and the joyful anticipation of one single day when history and a life born to give hope is relived again. She watched her son laughing with some of the nursing staff as he ruffled the hair of their children, Monica sharing a joke with Audrey, Edward talking with Amanda Barrington and laughed delightedly as Reggie on piano and Big Alice on chimes accompanied Lucky Spencer as he and his guitar led the children in singing Christmas carols. Yes, all seemed peaceful in this room except Lila knew better. She glanced with worry at her grandchildren, A.J. and Skye, looking lost and out of place. She watched with sadness in her heart as A.J. achingly looked with longing at his son Michael knowing this was yet one more holiday he would not share with him. She looked at Skye, the troubles of her broken heart written across her face for all to witness, a flask no doubt waiting in her purse. She looked for Ned but he was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps, she thought brightly, he was bringing Alexis and Kristina, and then thought better of the idea. She'd always hoped that he and Alexis would find each other again for she saw her as someone to not just love Ned but guide him in the same way she guided Edward. But being the observant woman she was, Lila knew where Alexis's heart lay no matter what face she and Ned decided to show the world. She saw that public face breaking down more each day just as she knew whose face she saw the moment she looked at that tiny baby. She hadn't interfered with their great drama but soon she would have a talk with Alexis about the virtues of truth and having faith to believe in your dreams - no matter how dangerous they may appear - even when everyone and everything, including your own self, tells you not to.

Alexis and Cameron walked down the hall with Kristina laughing as always. He'd taken Kristina in his arms and was swooping her back and forth, Alexis in turn laughing and terrified. She trusted Cameron with her and just had to laugh as this tall handsome man with the imposing almost Shakespearean voice turned to marshmallow when he looked into her daughter's face. The thought made her smile as quickly as it disturbed her. She liked him, he was becoming a good friend and she didn't want anything to change that. Her heart still ached from her last attempt at throwing caution to the winds and following it instead of her head so, for now, she would just keep to the course she set, any other considerations to be addressed in the future. They'd reached the conference room, a riot obviously in place through the doors.

"Wow, sounds like a great party!" Alexis said, her eyes gleaming as she glanced at Cameron.

"Are you ready to ford the streams of Christmas cheer, the wee folk jockeying for the best Santa position and hit the cookie table?" Cameron asked, chuckling as he bounced Kristina in his arms.

"Absolutely! Sugar cookies are my vice - after blueberry pie," Alexis replied with a grin.

Ned leaned against the wall around the corner from the conference room. He'd watched Alexis and Dr. Lewis stroll to the party, laughing and happy. That should be me, Ned thought sourly, I should be with my family. He watched as Dr. Lewis held his daughter and the urge to strike out was fierce inside him. He would wait until he and Alexis were alone and they would have to come to some agreement. He was tired being at her beck and call and not getting anything out of the deal. He felt himself used and she was going to know it. He hadn't rid her of Sonny to have another interloper intrude on what he wanted, what he deserved. He pushed himself away from the wall and walked down the corridor away from the party.

They walked into the conference room to be enveloped in Christmas spirit. Carols and laughter filled the air along with the giggling of children as they talked in whispers about when Santa would appear and snitched candy canes from the big tree when they thought no one was looking. Cameron was still holding Kristina as they moved slowly through the throngs in search of cookies and a quiet place to stand. Sonny saw them the moment they entered and as he watched them navigate the party, a feeling of jealous rage, then aching sadness hit him like a bulldozer. Ned bothered him, his way of subtly manipulating Alexis, the smug way he acted the part of father, almost as if throwing into Sonny's face that he won them both in the end, Alexis and her daughter, that he finally came first in Alexis's world. But he knew Alexis wasn't in love with Ned even if Johnny hadn't told him he got the impression things weren't going well between them and Alexis would be raising the baby alone. But this man was another story, an unknown story and Sonny had a feeling that Alexis had started along an undefined path with this man and now he needed to get the upper hand back. Why, thought Sonny, was she spending so much time with this shrink, much more time than with Kristina's father? So many things never made sense about Alexis's pregnancy and Sonny wavered up until the DNA test. He secretly hoped that one passionate night could have created that tiny baby, conceiving her with the woman he came to deeply love in the secret place in his heart. Would things be different if he'd told her? Sonny shook his head, he just didn't know no matter how much his hopes remained.

He watched the man check his pager, hand over Kristina to her mother and leave the party. Alexis stood alone watching the children sing along with Lucky. It still amazed him how beautiful she was, how gracefully she stood, swaying slightly to the music as she held her daughter. Memories of Puerto Rico invaded his thoughts - the music, the soft Island breeze, Alexis's laughter as she splashed in the fountain, the world stopping as they looked deeply into each other's eyes. He knew that night that something had changed, it had been there before dancing in and out of his subconscious, calling to him like the siren's song, enticing and heartbreaking. That night he realized in his heart what was calling to him was Alexis, her heart and her soul. His heart still called to her no matter what had gone on between them, all the things and people that broke them apart. He was about to throw caution to the winds and wander over when Alexis was surrounded by well wishers and friends, all eager to take a peek at little Kristina. He saw Maxie and Georgie run up, Michael not far behind, taking turns cooing over Kristina. His heart was in his throat as Alexis leaned down, moved the blanket aside and Kristina's tiny face appeared. At Alexis's nod, Michael reached out to pat her head and smiled a heartbreaking smile, wishing no doubt for a baby sister. He turned around, saw Sonny and waved him over. An odd expression crossed Alexis's face, Sonny thought, not hostility but regret accompanied by a gentle smile. Regret? For what, he thought?

Sonny walked over and nodded with a quiet, "Hello Alexis, happy Christmas." He leaned down and looked at the most beautiful face he'd ever seen, quietly slumbering amid all the chaos, dressed in a lovely crocheted outfit.

"She's beautiful, Alexis, just beautiful," Sonny breathed as he continued to watch her sleep. He touched her tiny hand, its fingers long and tapered like her Mother's, and reflexively she opened her little fist and wrapped her fingers around his thumb.

"Isn't she pretty Daddy and so tiny like a doll! I wish we had a baby. Hey, I think she likes you," Michael said as he gazed at Kristina.

"Yes, Michael, she is very pretty. I like her too. Isn't it almost time for the Christmas story? Shouldn't you and Maxie and Georgie be helping the children?" Sonny asked, wanting to be alone with Alexis, even in this crowd.

"Yep, and guess what? I get to hold Santa's jingle bells!" Michael called as he ran off.

"She looks strong and healthy Alexis, you must be so happy and relieved," Sonny said, his finger gently rubbing the little fist enveloping his thumb. He found he could not take his eyes off her.

Alexis watched as his daughter held onto him with all the strength in her tiny body. It was almost as if Kristina instinctively sensed his presence, even asleep, and reached for him. As she watched them, father and daughter unknown to each other, a wave of guilt washed over her, the backwash leaving a bitter taste. She knew what a child, his own child, would mean to him and she was the one keeping the truth a secret. It gave her sleepless nights from the moment she saw those two blue lines on the pregnancy test and that hadn't changed after she was born. All the reasons she lied were still there, still valid and logical and hadn't changed except Alcazar was no longer a threat. But his life and the presence of Carly in it were there and no matter how much she still loved him - and she did - she had to guard her child, their child, as carefully and as forcefully as she had from the beginning. She could not have him but she did have his daughter and that would be enough to sustain her the rest of her life - or so she tried to convince herself. The binding tie of the life they created together will never end and someday, Alexis prayed in her heart, he would know it too. In this moment, standing beside the man she loved in the quiet stillness of her heart as he touched his daughter for the first time, she almost wavered.

Cameron Lewis stood in the center of the psych ward looking right at Luke Spencer. He was lucid and just seemed tired, tired perhaps of chasing the spirits in his mind. They paged him since Luke was asking for him, interesting since he hadn't wanted to see him until he agreed that his hallucination was real. Sometimes Cameron almost believed him, other times he was just too textbook wacky.

"Luke, so what is so important you called me away from the hospital Christmas Party? You know we are marked on attendance. You haven't wanted to talk to me in awhile - why now?" he asked.

"Come on, Dr. Quack, where's that old holiday spirit? You're so jolly I can just see you knock off my former bro-in-law from his perch as the official hospital Santa. How about a little of the "Ho! Ho! Ho!" for old Luke and the rest of the fine folks here in the Twilight Zone?" Luke said with his usual snap.

"Is that what you want or something else?" Cameron asked, eyebrow raised and he had to admit, somewhat amused.

"Nah, just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, Doc, and a Happy New Year," Luke said holding out his hand.

"You're kidding, right? You just wanted to wish me a happy holiday season?" Cameron asked, somewhat stupefied.

"Yep, that's it. No hidden agenda, no wacky subtext, nada, zilch, zippo. Just feeling the Christmas spirit and thought I'd share," Luke replied with a grin.

Cameron just stared at him and said, "O-kay… a Merry Christmas to you too, Luke - whatever your reasons. Let's hope that 2003 won't find you still a resident of this fine establishment."

"Amen to that, Doc, amen! Now run along to your party. My sources tell me you've been hanging out with our fair Natasha and the peanut. Good choice but watch out for the wicked stepmother - she can be a killer," Luke said with a sardonic grin.

"Goodbye, Luke, I'll stop by after Christmas," Cameron said as he walked to the door.

"Okee-dokee, Doc, I'll be here - Summer will be too. Oh, and by the way, she says Merry Christmas too," Luke said, laughing at the expression on Cameron Lewis's face.

Cameron walked out the door, turned and shook his head with a laugh, and caught the elevator back to the party. He walked in just as Alan was starting to read the Christmas story. He looked for Alexis and saw her - and Sonny Corinthos. She never spoke much about him, only that he was no longer a client or a friend but he sensed so much more from what she didn't say. Now her former client and friend stood next to her, his hand holding Kristina's and Cameron decided to do a little bit of observation and see where it leads.

Zander dragged the tree inside Alexis's apartment then went to retrieve the packages he purchased for concocting his Christmas surprise. He looked around the apartment with a small sigh. This was a beautiful apartment with a great view but he still saw Alexis living in PH2, the ever present scent of popcorn in the air. It was the first place he ever lived that felt to him like "home" and he learned while living there it wasn't the place but the inhabitants that transformed that simple four letter word and gave it meaning. He set about putting together the tree stand and set up the tree on the side of the fireplace. The bell rang and he answered the door to find Elizabeth balancing boxes in her arms, shopping bags hanging from her wrists. Beside her were four large packing boxes and two large shopping bags filled with wrapped presents.

"Geez, Elizabeth, why didn't you call up, I'd have come down and helped you," Zander said as he relieved her of the boxes.

"What, I can't handle a few boxes and shopping bags? I think you underestimate me," Elizabeth replied with a smirk.

"Okay, okay, I get it," Zander laughed as he brought in the rest of the bags.

"Hey, great tree! Alexis is going to love it," Elizabeth said as she ran her fingers over the branches, testing for needle fall off. She wasn't sure how experienced Zander was at buying trees but she didn't want the tree to look Charlie Brownish after one day. It was perfect.

"Thanks for coming to help. I was never very good at the holiday tree stuff," Zander said as he brought out two sodas.

"No problem, I'm happy to help. You are doing something special and Alexis is going to love you for it. By the way, I mentioned what you were doing to Nicholas and sent over a bunch of the Cassadine family ornaments to hang on the tree. He thought Alexis would enjoy some feeling of home and family since she refuses to stay with him at Wyndemere. He said she wanted to be in her own home with her daughter for her first Christmas and can't blame her," Elizabeth replied as she rifled through one of the boxes. She opened a small box and wrapped in cotton batting was a jeweled ornament shaped like an egg.

"Zander, I think this is Faberge," Elizabeth exclaimed as she held it to the light, its jewels glinting.

"Leave it to the Cassadines to have a million dollar tree," Zander snorted as he looked into boxes and found more eggs, a few horse-drawn carriages, six carousels, each jeweled, down to the eyes of each painted horse. They found some smaller ornaments, carved wood and obviously handmade, just as beautiful as those bejeweled.

Zander looked at the impressive display before him and said with a sigh, "Well, I was going to string popcorn and drape the tree but with this display it may be a bit too… oh… lower middle class?"

Elizabeth laughed and said, "Well, this tree should have some of the real Alexis and that translates to P-O-P-C-O-R-N so I think it would be perfect. The tree then would be a true representation of the monarchy and the masses. Oh, wouldn't Stefan just hate that idea!"

"Yes, he would but Alexis, she's a woman of the people and I know she'd love it - and the irony!" Zander said with a grin.

"Well, let's get started… and I have a few other surprises too," Elizabeth said with a secret smile.

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and lay him in a manger…"

Sonny stood quietly as Alan read the story, still in the grasp of the tiny sleeping baby held in her Mother's arms. She slept with the peace of childhood and Sonny envied her the joy of simplicity. He felt Alexis next to him, her perfume scenting the air with memory. It felt right to him to stand here with her, to hold this child, almost as if they were a little family. He felt, for those precious moments, the longed for peace that went missing from his life when Carly walked back in and Alexis walked away. He fought the overwhelming urge to reach out, put his arm around her and hold both of them close as they listened to the magic of the Christmas story. He wanted her first Christmas to be special, this Mother and baby, and for her to know that a new beginning was just over the horizon if they both worked hard to attain it. He didn't know where it would take them but he needed her back in his life and he'd take it on her terms, whatever they were. He felt a pull on his thumb and glanced down at Kristina, now awake, her dark eyes gazing up at him. He smiled down at her and she smiled right back, two matching pairs of dimples glowing in the light of the tree. His heart stopped as he looked at feminine version of himself and then glanced sideways at Alexis, her eyes still on Alan and the children. A thought came to him and he quickly dismissed it. He looked down again at Kristina, her dark eyes watching him as seriously as her mother was known to, wisps of dark hair already on the verge of curls visible under her tiny cap. The thought came back, not so quickly dismissed and a sense of quiet happiness began in his heart.

"… and peace on earth, goodwill toward all people."

"Ho, Ho, Ho!" Tony intoned as he strode into the conference room, a set of jingle bells dancing on his big sack of toys.

The children gathered around waiting for Santa to call them for presents. Alexis glanced at Sonny who was still wrapped in Kristina's grasp, his eyes watching everything, a contented smile on his face. Strange, she thought, that smile was missing for a long time. With Carly nowhere in sight, he was relaxed and enjoying himself and in her heart she wanted to believe it was because he was here with her and Kristina. Yes, she still had her dreams.

"Alexis, may I hold her?" Sonny asked shyly.

Alexis looked at him, saw in his earnest gaze how much it would mean and found herself saying, "Yes, Sonny."

She handed her gently over to her father and watched as he gazed at her with such emotion it tore at Alexis's heart. She recalled how she felt the first time she was able to hold her, the downy softness of her hair, the sweet baby smell that lingers long after, and the sense of completeness that comes from being part of this new life. As she looked at Sonny gazing down at their little one, she could feel what he was feeling and the gift of sharing it with him overwhelmed her. She cried tears of joy in her heart, a single tear forcing its way out of her glistening eye, falling gently upon her cheek.

"Well Alexis, isn't this just grand. Putting your child in the hands of the local crime lord. You didn't seem like the negligent mother type - I guess I was wrong," Ned said sarcastically as he walked across the conference room.

"Ned, this isn't the time or place to have this discussion, let's go outside," Alexis whispered as she looked from Ned to Sonny.

"Why not have it here? Why be shy? Why not let everyone in on your little game?" Ned said.

"Ned, stop being an ass. You are embarrassing Alexis," Sonny said as he held Kristina protectively in his arms.

"What, she hasn't made it her special hobby embarrassing me? Walking out on our wedding, walking out on me countless times for any poor sucker who needed a hand, for you? Always someone else first, their lives more important than the person she swore she loved," Ned spitting out the words, "Just a convenience, that is all I've ever been to her - past, present and future."

"Will you stop, Ned, let's go outside and discuss this. You want all these children to hear you," Alexis said quietly, trying to get control of the situation.

"Is there a problem here, Alexis?" Cameron walked over to stand next to her. He'd watched from across the room and the dynamic was telling. He knew that Ned would be a problem but was only slightly surprised his problem would include Sonny Corinthos. What Cameron saw today in that room as she stood between those two men concerned him and he was fearful for Alexis and that little baby. Here were two men who obviously despised each other, with good reason no doubt, and Alexis was caught in the middle. He had to take control and get them away from the party.

"Cameron", Alexis said with obvious relief, "I need to speak to Ned privately. Can you please take Kristina back to our room and watch her until I get there? I promise to be there as soon as possible."

Cameron looked deeply into her pleading eyes and sighed. She was stubborn and arguing wasn't going to get him anywhere. She had to handle this by herself and he'd be there when it was all over to play whatever role she needed. He found she'd become important to him, chipping away at the wall that wrapped his heart and he didn't want to lose that growing relationship. He looked into Sonny Corinthos's eyes as he quietly handed him Kristina and saw an emotional vortex sweeping the darkness. This man was a mass of emotions closely held and that did not bode well. With one more look at Alexis, a warning in his gaze, he turned on his heel and walked out the door with Kristina.

Elizabeth placed the last ornament on the tree, stood back and called, "Let 'er rip!" Zander plugged in the lights, flipped the switch and there it was - the perfect eclectic Christmas tree. Priceless antique jeweled ornaments, modern $6.99 twinkle lights and strands of popcorn wrapped the tree. They both stood there, very pleased with themselves when Zander cried, "Oh no!"

"What, Zander? What's wrong?" Elizabeth said looking at him with concern.

"You can tell I'm really bad at this - no topper for the tree," he said sadly.

Elizabeth smiled and said, "Oh, at least one of us remembered" as she opened a gray box weathered by the years. Inside was a Victorian Christmas angel, its crème colored dress lacy with a burgundy hem of embroidered mistletoe leaves and berries. It was very old and very special. It belonged to her Gran and Grandpa Hardy, its presence always watching over their holidays.

"Elizabeth, that's great. Where did you buy it?" Zander asked as he touched the lacy dress, sadly remembering his own past Christmas angels.

Elizabeth smiled and said, "When I explained to my Gran today at the hospital why I wouldn't be at the party, she smiled and told me to go to the house and take the angel from atop her tree to Alexis's apartment. I knew all the memories bound up into that angel, so many holiday moments treasured between my Gran and Grandpa and it just seemed such a wonderful gift."

"It is perfect. Everything is ready, the tree, the presents, Alexis will be so surprised," Zander said with pride.

"Everything is ready? I think not. What is a holiday without homemade cookies?" Elizabeth laughed as she opened yet another bag with ingredients for cookies - including the pans.

"Cookies? You want to bake cookies?" Zander said rather skeptically.

"Me bake? Oh no - WE bake. Here's a nice Christmas apron - put it on and follow me!" Elizabeth laughed as she looked at the expression on Zander's face.

"Well, okay but this may be the first time the Port Charles Fire Department arrives to find a kitchen disaster not started by Alexis," Zander laughed as he headed off to the kitchen. The doorbell rang and he stepped over to answer.

The doorman tipped his hat and said, "Packages arrived for Ms. Davis. The delivery man said they were surprises for under her tree."

"Thanks, I'll take them. Merry Christmas."

Zander noticed that there were two brightly wrapped packages, the larger addressed to Kristina, the smaller to Alexis. No name of the giver - probably inside the package, Zander thought. He placed them beneath the tree and headed out to bake some cookies and, he thought with a smile, spend more time alone with Elizabeth.

"Ned, let's go outside," Alexis whispered, grabbing his hand.

"Afraid of what people will say about the upstanding Alexis Davis, righteous attorney and friend of the mob?" Ned hissed, pulling his hand away.

"Hey mister! You better be nice to that lady or Santa won't be giving you any presents," the little boy said as he looked at Ned with childlike displeasure.

Ned ignored the little boy and started to argue again when Alexis said, "I'm leaving now. You can either follow me to continue your tirade or stand here and argue with yourself." With that, she turned on her heel and left him standing.

As Alexis walked past the crowd of children, past her friends, she heard that little boy whisper quite loudly to his friend "I just bet that mean man is getting a big lump of coal from Santa this year".

"You don't know the half of it, kid," Alexis muttered as a silly grin popped onto her face.

Sonny looked on as Alexis walked out, Ned stalking after her a look of deliberate malice written all over him. What the hell got into Ned? There was a lot going on here and it wasn't being stated in words, it was all like a riddle. Whatever it was, he wasn't going to allow Alexis to face it alone. He knew she could take care of herself but the nasty look in Ned's eyes, the tone of his voice, showed Sonny the gloves were coming off - for whatever reason - and that disturbed him. He'd seen Ned mad before especially when Kristina was killed but this was something different, as if everything bad that happened between him and Alexis - or the things he imagined happened - boiled up from some cavern inside him and the volcano was ready to erupt. Navigating the room, he walked out just as Carly and Ric walked through the doors.

"Sonny," Carly said as she moved to kiss him.

"I have somewhere to be. Michael is helping Santa and having fun," Sonny said as he breezed past her.

"Okay, you know what? It is Christmas Eve so when can I expect you home?" she asked as she tried to get his attention.

"I'll be there when I get there," he said as he strolled down the corridor, his ears alert for the sound of angry voices.

Ned followed Alexis to the conservatory where she closed the doors and turned to face him. She felt ready for anything, the feeling she had standing side by side with Sonny and her daughter giving her strength. She'd had it with Ned - had it with his attitude, had it with his creepy belief that Kristina really was his daughter, had it with his manipulations, had it with trying to make up to him for walking out on their wedding. She deserved a life, a life she will choose for her and her daughter, and she was about to claim hers. She waited for the first salvo and it didn't take long.

"So, after all I've done to assure that you and Kristina will be safe, all that I've given of myself, you recklessly hand over our child to the man you say is too dangerous to be in her life?" Ned asked as he paced.

"First, she's not your child, she's my child. Second, I didn't just hand her over to him Ned. He asked me politely first," Alexis replied sarcastically.

"And just what would your sister say, your dead sister, if she knew you were ready to travel down Sonny's Blood Spattered Road again? We all know that the only Wizard that lives down that lane is the one that will either take your child away or will get her killed in the crossfire. You used to have more sense, Alexis," Ned yelled as he looked at her.

"My sister, were she here, would say that I am perfectly capable of deciding what do with my own life and that of my child. I know the dangers that I fear - that hasn't changed - but I will be the one to decide how I face them or not. I didn't ask you to step up and claim anything as yours. You did that without consulting me and started a lie that destroyed my sister and a whole chunk of my own self respect. Yes, I'm just as culpable because I agreed to keep that lie alive but you took advantage of a situation when I was not in control, for if no other reason that you despise Sonny, and turned my world upside down. I've tried to be your friend always, Ned, even though you seem to believe that all I need you for is convenience. Hell, if I wanted you I could have conveniently had you in the cottage that night. We both knew then we were nothing but friends and would never be anything else to each other. I was in love with someone else - misplaced yes but that doesn't make it any less heartfelt or important to me - and that was the bottom line. He would always come first with me, even when I chose to walk away so he could be where he wanted to be. And as to my having more sense, you are right and I'm relying the sense I now have Ned to say this is it. I want you out of my life and away from my daughter. You accuse Sonny of being toxic, well just look into the mirror Ned and look at what you've become," Alexis finished as she finally took a breath.

Ned just stared at her. If she thought for a moment he was going to just pick up his marbles and go home she didn't know him at all. He didn't go out on a limb for her and her child to not get some kind of reward.

"Alexis, be reasonable. Every reason to keep Kristina safe still exists. Just because you want things to be different doesn't mean you can imagine them into being. I can protect you and Kristina. Let me do that," Ned pleaded.

"Ned, I've said what I've wanted to say from the day you walked out of my kitchen and started this train wreck. I appreciate your concern, your love even, but I'm taking control of my life from this moment," Alexis replied with steely conviction.

Ned looked at her with eyes narrowed as he said, "Don't forget who is listed as father on that birth certificate. If necessary I will enforce my rights to Kristina."

Alexis was appalled and her voice raised in reply," Rights? Rights? And just what rights are those? To manufacture medical histories, to call the hospital records department and cite yourself as the father? That gives you rights? Not in my legal lexicon and Ned, I will fight you. I will fight you with all my legal expertise and the weight of the Cassadine family behind me. Don't cross me, Ned, you will be very, very sorry. If you think Helena was deadly, just try me on for size when you threaten me and my child." She stood her ground staring at him with dark eyes blazing with infuriation.

He stared back silently and quietly turned and walked out the door. Alexis breathed a sigh of relief and sat down shaking. That was uglier than she'd imagined and she had a bad feeling he would follow through on his threat. She wasn't sure where this left her but some of the burden was lifted and she wouldn't have to listen to him harp on how wonderful he was being or how evil Sonny was. That was a blessing and just in time for Christmas, Alexis thought merrily. She threw back her shoulders, leaned forward to smell one of the roses that bloomed in this lovely place, turned and walked out to see her daughter. Tomorrow they were finally going home, a New Year was beginning and somehow after today, she felt her world was looking up.

Sonny remained in the darkness of the conservatory alone. He'd walked in during their argument and stood quietly listening to angry accusations but most of all to truths. He was overwhelmed by them, terrified by them and overjoyed by them. Everything had fallen into place, all the puzzle pieces that nagged him for months were finally together, the picture it presented leaving him breathless. He thought about that tiny baby with the beautiful face, her dark hair and eyes and deep-set dimples an open-faced clue. The moment he looked into her eyes and she smiled, he knew in his soul that she was part of him. Somehow in his heart he'd known Alexis never slept with Ned. She loved him and when her heart loved, he knew it was forever. He tried to understand why she lost faith in him, faith that he would keep them all safe but that discussion would come when the time was right for both of them. Now he must show her that he could be trusted again, that their connection to each other was not irreparably severed, that he was worthy of her and of being in their daughter's life. He decided to claim his life - the life he wanted - and would deal with all the repercussions to come. He was father of the child of the woman who stole his heart.

He thought about the Christmas gifts Max delivered to the doorman at Alexis's apartment building this afternoon and smiled at their unconscious symbolism. He hoped Alexis would see it too and remember and have faith enough to dream.

It just may be, Sonny thought, a happy Christmas after all.

Christmas Day and they were home. They arrived to Zander's warm welcome, to a stunning tree, the scent of sugar cookies and gingerbread, and a boatload of presents. Alexis hugged Zander fiercely and smiled as he held Kristina in his strong arms and told her stories. He was going to make a first class babysitter, she thought with a chuckle. He had to leave for a short time but promised to return to share Christmas dinner with his family- cooked by Mrs. Lansbury, a present from Nicholas.

Alexis opened presents as Kristina lay in the bassinet next to her. She oohed and aahed for Kristina's benefit as she opened gifts from friends and family, amazed at the generosity of people. She saw two presents, beautifully wrapped but no clue as to the gifter. She opened the one addressed to Kristina first and saw a box from a very elegant children's boutique in Manhattan. She peeled back the layers of tissue to find a velvet dress of the deepest holly green, its collar made of petit lace and in the center of the dress an embroidered satin gardenia. It was so lifelike one could almost smell its rare perfume. No note accompanied it but none was needed. She knew who sent it and as she held it to her face, its velvet softness caressing her, she felt her heart smile.

As she opened the small box addressed to her with nervous hands, she stared for a minute and smiled again, this time with promise in her heart, as she touched the pin that nestled in the green velvet box. One single perfect gardenia made of the most fragile china, its painted surface glowing with freshness and beauty, lay as if waiting for the morning sun to touch its petals. She gently removed it from the box and noticed hanging from the corner a diamond in the shape of a teardrop, as if the flower itself were crying. It was a statement of regret but perhaps, Alexis thought, also one of hope. A small card floated to the floor and Alexis bent slowly to pick it up. She smiled as she read the words, holding the card to her heart.

"A new year, a new beginning… let's dream one day at a time"

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