The Long Road Revisited
by Terry

Chapter 1

Johnny stepped onto the private elevator of the Harbor View Towers and pushed the button for the seventeenth floor then leaned heavily against the back wall. The irony of his new residence never quite left him these days. He was living next door to his former boss, Sonny Corinthos, and they now happened to be good friends. Johnny chuckled as he dropped his head a little shaking it over the ironic curves life could throw a person on any given day.

Today proved its self to be one of those days that would stay with him for a while. In working his regular shift at Ferncliff Sanitarium a new patient was brought in that reminded him of the months he spent there with Alexis while she battled her way back from catatonia. Kevin was constantly reminding him that he couldn’t afford to get emotionally involved with every patient he came in contact with, but Johnny couldn’t help it. Too much of his adult life had been spent following orders that could and often did cause harm. He simply wanted to make up for some of the damage he was responsible for while working for Sonny. If that meant taking a little extra time to help one of the less coordinated mentally impaired patients bring a spoon to their mouth without spilling its contents, then that’s what he did. And when someone attempted the action alone and finally succeeded, Johnny made the biggest production out of the event he could praising them as though they just won a marathon.

His apprenticeship at Ferncliff under the guidance of Kevin Collins began only a few short weeks earlier. His life, since leaving the sanitarium with Alexis, could be described as nothing short of phenomenal. The day the four of them walked away from the white columned entrance of the sanitarium he, Joy, Sonny and Alexis all boarded Sonny’s plane for a much needed vacation to Puerto Rico leaving Alexis’ unsigned ‘Patient Discharge Approval’ terms, somewhere between Port Charles and the island. They returned home just in time for Alexis to deliver a beautiful healthy baby girl she christened Kristina Joy Davis-Corinthos. Joy was ecstatic that Alexis not only asked her to be godmother to Kristina but honored her by giving the child her name as well. Johnny got a kick out of watching Joy strut around as if she owned the world. But the most astounding truth he lived with every day was that Joy did indeed own his world and it didn’t bother him one bit.

Johnny knew without a doubt that he owed a debt of gratitude to his new found friends who cared enough about him to help him get to a comfortable place in his life and he knew without question that he owed Alexis Davis more than any of them. And then there was Joy… always and forever his beautiful Joy.

Shifting his thoughts, a small grin appeared on his face as he reflected on the fact that he was now doing something he loved while building a future that he could look back on and be proud of. A normal week consisted of 30 hours of hands on patient care and then attending school at night to earn a degree as a Physician’s Assistant. Kevin personally saw to it that Johnny received full pay for the limited time he spent at the sanitarium as well as a full benefits package in exchange for a contract of employment for 5 years immediately following his graduation. Hardly a day went by that Kevin didn’t kid him about owing 5 years of his life to Ferncliff before Johnny could strike out on his own to use the skills Kevin generously paid for. Johnny usually just laughed and went on about his business knowing in his heart he would have given Kevin twice that for taking him under his wing and giving him a chance to prove his worth.

Most days, Johnny completed his daily schedule with a feeling of accomplishment and enormous satisfaction while the rest were completed in a fog of exhaustion. Following Kevin Collins around the wards in the morning and then pulling his own shift of ‘ward care’ in the early afternoon sometimes left him so fatigued he found it hard to remain alert enough to drive home.

But, today was an exceptional day. Kevin was called away for an out of town conference and Johnny was looking forward to a couple of days of well-earned vacation. Letting his head fall back to rest against the wall of the elevator his thoughts were drawn back to Joy. Closing his eyes he could see her putting the finishing touches on dinner and then racing to make sure she looked her best for his arrival. Her work schedule was two hours ahead of his, which didn’t leave her much time to prepare for his arrival home, but she always managed to have dinner on the table and look as if she just stepped off the cover of a beauty magazine. Time and time again he told her that she didn’t have to make such a fuss over him, but Joy simply smiled and patted him lovingly on the cheek before returning to whatever task she happened to be engaged in at the moment. So following her lead, Johnny began taking an extra set of clothes to work with him and used the resident’s shower before going home. It made some days a little more hectic, but he didn’t mind. He never wanted anything to spoil the moment he walked through the door of penthouse three into the arms of his waiting wife.

The ring of the elevator signaled its arrival to the seventeenth floor bringing Johnny out of his musings and he stepped forward eagerly anticipating the thrill he would feel at the sight of the woman who waited for him just a few steps away. Impatient for the doors to open, Johnny raised his hand and lightly struck it a couple of times in aggravation at being delayed even the briefest of moments. Finally as the doors opened Johnny released a short laugh at his impatience and eagerly stepped off the elevator. Two steps later he stopped abruptly at the sound of raised voices coming from penthouse 2.

Sighing heavily he continued on knowing instantly what his best friends were arguing about. He had inadvertently stumbled upon them engaged in the same argument more times than he cared to admit, and truth be known it was the only thing that Alexis and Sonny argued about these days. Both were adamant in their stance on the issue and would not give an inch.

Johnny opened his door to find Joy waiting on him and just as he pulled her into his arms they both jumped at the sound of a door slamming so hard it rattled the pictures on the wall.

Joy’s head fell softly to land just under Johnny’s chin as she asked, “They’re at it again, right?”

“Yeah. This one must be pretty rough. You know the only time Sonny storms out like that is when he’s had enough and knows he’s going to blow.”

They both heard the sound of Alexis’ door opening quietly and then jumped again as the sound of Sonny’s door slamming though not nearly as forceful. Joy shook her head laughing knowing that Sonny just stomped all over one of the few things Alexis requested of those she cared about. It took only a few days of living next to Alexis Davis for Joy to realize you don’t walk out on Alexis in the middle of an argument and you certainly don’t slam any doors in the process. What concerned Joy the most at that moment though was where her goddaughter was and was she anywhere near her father’s insane display of immaturity. Joy reached up and kissed Johnny, winked at him and slid past him to run check on Kristina.

Joy held nothing against Letitia when it came to childcare, but she and Alexis were in agreement that little Kristina would never be left with anyone who did not have a 110% vested interest in her care or her safety. Words were never spoken regarding the issue; it was simply a jointly agreed upon state of mind. Kristina’s interests were to be adhered to above everyone else’s. And if there was one thing Joy would not abide, it was Sonny’s booming voice in the same room with her namesake. And as much as Alexis demanded he lower his voice when they argued, Sonny still had not learned to adequately control his temper… especially when it came to a discussion regarding the individual rights of his adopted son, Michael.

In a few short months Joy and Alexis managed to build such a close bond between them that it sometimes stunned Johnny. It was quite comical at times watching them begin and end sentences for one another, never finding a need to question the motives, actions or thoughts of the other. Whatever Alexis needed… Joy was right there and the same held true of Alexis for Joy. Their friendship allowed not only Joy to flourish, but also the friendship had a profound effect on Alexis. One could say that with Sonny, Alexis found her wings, but with Joy she was learning how far she could spread them. It was rare to find anything other than contentment in her eyes now and Johnny sometimes found it hard to associate the woman he knew now as Alexis with the one he knew before her confinement at Ferncliff. The four of them had come a long way together and were now almost inseparable.

Joy and Johnny watched in fascination as their friends worked together to find a mutually agreeable living arrangement. Sonny wanted them all under one roof while Alexis adamantly refused to give up her own space. They could stay at his place one night and hers the next, but for Alexis to move in with Sonny lock, stock and barrel? She just wasn’t ready to take that step yet. Arguments were rare, but when one did come up, it tended to be loud and at times costly. It was however, a credit to Sonny that he restricted himself to his own penthouse when he felt the need to physically express his anger. The first time Joy witnessed such an outburst Johnny was forced to carry her bodily from the room as the sound of her laughter drove Sonny into a deeper rage. Hurrying past Alexis he was forced to stifle his own laughter as he watched her face turn red with the effort to contain her laughter at Joy’s response to Sonny’s inability to restrain his ridiculous outbursts. Life on the seventeenth floor of the Harbor View Tower was definitely not boring.

Hearing someone behind him, Johnny turned to find Alexis standing in the doorway with a look of apology on her face.

“Not necessary, Alexis. It’s getting to be a regular occurrence these days. He still won’t budge, huh?”

Alexis shook her head and looked around quickly to see if Joy was home. “I guess she ran over to check on Kristina.”

“Yeah, right after the second door slammed.”

“Not to worry, I took Kristina upstairs to Letitia before it got too bad.”

“I wasn’t worried. She’ll be back in a second with the wee one so come on in and sit down. You look like you could use a break.”

Moving toward the sofa, Alexis sat down heavily refusing to add insult to injury by discussing her most recent attempt to sway Sonny’s mind regarding Michael’s rights.

Johnny sat down beside her and put his arm over her shoulders. “No need to explain, we know what’s going on. I mean it’s a little hard to miss. And while Joy understands exactly what you’re trying to do for Michael… she and I don’t agree any more than you and Sonny do. I guess it’s a guy thing.”

Johnny winced as Alexis stood up abruptly and turned around to face him with an intense frown on her face.

“So you agree with him. You agree that Michael does not have the right to know who his biological father is? I’m sorry Johnny, but you more than any one of us should understand simply because you never knew who your father was. I grew up without knowing who my father was and when I finally did find out I can tell you it was a tremendous relief for me in ways I couldn’t begin to explain. I finally knew for a fact that he actually did love me. Johnny, that kind of connection means something to a child… to an adult.”

Johnny reached up took Alexis by the hand and pulled her back down beside him speaking quietly with his own level of intensity.

“And what if I did know who my father was. Given the kind of life my mother led, do you honestly think that knowing who my father was would have made a difference in my life… for the better? Alexis, I don’t care to know who my father was. He could never replace what my Nana Rose gave me when she pulled me out of that place and gave me a home with her. I’m sorry if it hurts your feelings that I don’t agree with you, but I see both Sonny and Michael’s side of it. And after seeing how Ned and the rest of those Quartermaines treat each other… They neither forgive nor forget. Michael is better off without them.”

Johnny and Alexis looked toward the door as they heard Joy come in carrying Kristina. Johnny could tell by the look on her face that the last part of his conversation was fixing to cost him. He leaned forward to accept the baby that Joy was placing in his arms.

“Johnny, look at this little angel. You know how much Sonny loves his daughter and you know how much Alexis suffered because she tried to hide this beautiful creation from Sonny. Can you imagine this little girl growing up not knowing Sonny was her father or that you and I were not her godparents, because that is exactly what would have happened if Alexis hadn’t ended up a patient at the home. None of us would be together and Alexis would be out there on her own… alone. Can you honestly say that little Kristina would be better off without Sonny given what you know now of the whole situation? Why wouldn’t the same hold true for Michael? Is it our right to keep a son from knowing his heritage… or taking from him his right to choose for himself? Sonny is doing the very thing to Michael and AJ that Alexis tried to do with him and this little one. So why do you two feel the need to hang on to such a double standard? He gets to know his daughter but Michael does not get to know anything of his real father? You guys aren’t making any sense here.”

Johnny stood up carefully readjusting Kristina in his arms and slowly walked across the room toward the balcony. With this little miracle in his arms, he was finding it hard to continue holding on to his belief that Michael didn’t need to know who his biological father was. But, that still didn’t stop his concern for the boy knowing the type of man AJ Quartermaine was. Johnny knew for a fact that Michael’s best bet for a happy home lay with Sonny and Alexis. There was not a child ever born that deserved to have AJ and Carly as parents. He looked back at Alexis as he heard her quietly call to him.

“Johnny, you know it has never been an option for Michael to live anywhere other than with Sonny and I until he graduates. I would not let that happen. All I’m saying is that he has the right to know who AJ is so that when he gets older it becomes his choice as to whether he wants AJ to be a part of his life… or not. Operative words here are ‘his choice’.”

Letting his eyes fall once more to the miracle in his arms Johnny smiled and tweaked her nose eliciting a tiny dimpled grin before walking back and returning Kristina to her mother. Standing back up he gazed at the two of them and shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Alexis. I’ve just seen too much of the way those people treat each other. Michael deserves to be protected from them. I saw how Ned treated you while you two were together and then at the home. And what happened when you made a choice he couldn’t handle, he walked. They are all of the same blood, the same mind-set. Michael should never have to worry about people walking out on him every time he makes a mistake.”

Alexis shifted and attempted to stand while trying to keep from awakening her daughter who it seemed preferred sleep over listening to a bunch of grown ups arguing. Seeing the effort it was taking, Joy and Johnny reached down and with a hand at each elbow helped Alexis rise without disturbing the sleeping child. Johnny was having trouble handling the look on Alexis’ face. He could tell she was disappointed in him, but there was something else he couldn’t readily define. It didn’t matter though, her disappointment in his opinion hurt enough.

“Thank you for at least listening, Johnny. Don’t worry about it. This is between Sonny and I. I shouldn’t have even brought it up. Let’s just forget it. At this point I’m not willing for there to be any discord between us. I don’t know what I would do without you…” looking over at Joy she finished her thought, “either of you.”

Returning her gaze to Johnny she saw his realization of her disappointment in him and its effect on him. She reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand. “Don’t worry, Johnny. You know how much I love you whether you agree with me or not. That won’t change. You and I are a part of each other. Now I’m going home with my little girl and see how long it takes Sonny to let go of that head of steam he’s got going and remember it’s dinnertime. I’ll see you two later.”

Joy watched Alexis close the door behind her, then turned and reached for Johnny. His face was an open book and she could tell he was worried. He didn’t often disagree with Alexis, but when he did he felt it in his soul. This time the subject they disagreed on was so much more critical than anything they had ever disagreed on before. Joy’s heart ached at the sadness she saw in Johnny’s eyes. Alexis meant so much to him. Wrapping her arms around him she whispered… “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

Johnny pulled her close and squeezed tightly dropping his chin down lightly on top of her head. He let go of his worry regarding Alexis. Joy was in his arms and that’s all he needed.

“Yeah, I kinda liked it too. Care to tell me again just like you did this morning? I could definitely use another go around just like that. What do you say? Care to join me in the hot tub for an hour or two?”

Joy leaned back with a twinkle in her eye and responded teasingly.

“Sometimes I almost regret sharing with Alexis my fantasy of making love to my husband in a hot tub. I would never have imagined she would take me seriously enough to have one installed as a 6-month anniversary gift. I find myself wondering on a regular basis now if my husband has forgotten that a bed can be used for other things besides sleeping.”

Johnny laughed, scooped Joy off her feet and laid her playfully on the sofa. “Oh I remember alright. But, I don’t seem to hear you complaining much about our antics on the balcony last night… or in the shower the night before… or in the kitchen yesterday afternoon. Want to try somewhere else?”

Joy laughed gaily and pulled him closer. Dinner would simply have to wait a while. There were more important things that needed her attention at the moment.