Love Endures
by Susanne

Chapter 6 - Returning Home

Tony Jones had been in with Alexis the next morning to inform her of what had happened, and Alexis had already known when she'd hit the marble floor that the baby was lost forever. Alexis was now sitting in the hospital room just staring into empty space, as Grace had given her some clothes she'd picked up for her. The plastic bag with the personal belongings was still lying where Sonny had placed it last night, and now only withheld Alexis' engagement ring and wedding ring. She didn't have the desire to put them on, as she constantly heard Ned saying

*** FLASHBACK ***

Ned: "You decided to live with, and for Sonny Corinthos so it's only fitting that I leave you like he's left every single woman he's ever been involved with!"

*** FLASHBACK ***

Grace: "Alexis? Is it OK if I come in?" She asked from the doorway.

Alexis: "Sure…Come on in!" She replied, drying away her tears.

Grace: "You look like hell!" She exclaimed, as she sat down opposite her friend and noticed how tired and worn out she looked only dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a green jersey, a pair of white trainers, and her hair up in a ponytail.

Alexis: "Thanks a lot…" She replied sadly looking at her empty fingers, which weren't covered by two pair of fingerings.

Grace: "Sonny is talking to Max about your transport home, and Jason & Elizabeth are bringing Michael & Kristina home later in the afternoon. Do you want to talk about it?"

Alexis: "Not really…All I keep on hearing is Ned's voice over and over in my head telling me that because I'm married to Sonny I don't deserve anything - not even a child!"

Grace: "He actually said that?"

Alexis: "Not literal but it was what he meant! And now I can't help but think that maybe he was right!" She replied going to the nightstand where she took the rings out of the bag, and held them up in front of her eyes.

Grace: "You're surely not blaming Sonny for what happened?"

Alexis: "NO! I just don't know how I'm supposed to believe in the fact that everything will be OK. I got pregnant 3 years after I married the man of my dreams, and now I can't even give him our dream child!"

Grace: "You will get through this Lexie! You just have to have faith in you and Sonny, and in the fact that everything happens for a reason. I know that it sounds stupid but you've got to remember that you still have two children at home; Michael and Kristina."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, as Alexis was sliding on first her engagement ring, and then her wedding ring.

Sonny: "Are you ready?" He asked standing in the doorway.

Grace: "Why don't I leave you two alone? I'll see you at home, OK?" She asked hugging Alexis on her way out of the room.

Sonny: "Thanks!"

Grace: "No problem…Just take good care of her…" She whispered walking out of the room. When Grace had left Sonny and Alexis alone in the room, Alexis leapt into Sonny's waiting arms wanting to feel safe.

Sonny: "Hey…It's OK. You're safe now because I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He replied, as he led Alexis to the bed where they sat down.

Alexis: "How are Michael and Kristina?" She suddenly asked.

Sonny: "They're just fine. They don't know, and I don't think we should tell them it would probably just confuse them."

Alexis: "I guess you're right…AUCH!" She complained, as Sonny stroked her sore cheek.

Sonny: "Sorry…Is the pain bad?"

Alexis: "Only when it's touched…" She smiled through her emotional pain.

Sonny: "Look…I talked to Tony, and he said that sometimes when women loose a child they want to be alone. If you feel like that then tell me. Just be honest, and everything will be OK!" He explained, taking her hands in his to offer her some comfort.

Alexis: "Actually…I was thinking about either sleeping on the couch or in the guestroom the next couple of days since I've got to take some pain medication every 2nd hour to prevent an inflammation to take place. You wouldn't mind would you?"

Sonny: "Not at all! But why don't I sleep on the couch? That way you can sleep properly. The couch really isn't that good to sleep on!"

Alexis: "Then why are you offering to sleep on it?"
Sonny: "If it's only for a couple of days I can handle it, but you couldn't. You'd probably begin whining about it…" He smiled his dimpled smile, as they kissed softly before Sonny took Alexis into her arms, and hugged her tightly wanting her to know that he was there for her when she decided to talk about what had happened to both her and their unborn baby, due to the careless actions of Ned Ashton.

When Sonny and Alexis entered the penthouse it was unusually quiet but that was of course also normal now that both Michael and Kristina were with Jason and Elizabeth.

Sonny: "I'm going to go, and make us something warm to drink, OK?" He asked helping Alexis out of her jacket.

Alexis: "OK! Coffee will be fine!" She smiled, as Sonny kissed her on the good cheek, and went into the kitchen to make them some coffee. Alexis went to the couch, sat down, took a pillow and clutched it to her chest together with closing her eyes to relax a second or two.

Johnny: "Alexis?" He asked when he opened the door.

Alexis: "Yes, Johnny!" She exclaimed opening her eyes slowly.

Johnny: "Mr. Corbin is here! Would you like to see him?" He asked softly feeling for both Sonny and Alexis over the loss of their baby.

Alexis: "Sure!" She exclaimed, even though she wasn't feeling like having anyone over at the moment.

Mike: "Alexis…I just heard…" He replied hugging her tightly, as Alexis met him halfway.

Alexis: "Who told you?" She asked going to sit down on the couch once again.

Mike: "I was over at Jason and Elizabeth's seeing Michael and Kristina play, and Jason told me. Is it true that Ned Ashton did it?"

Sonny: "Mike…What are you doing?" He asked entering from the kitchen with two coffee cups in his hands.

Alexis: "Sonny…It's OK! If you don't mind Mike then I'd just like to relax, and not answer too many questions right now!"

Mike: "Of course not I'm sorry. Jason wants you to know that they'll come by with the kids in half an hour!"

Sonny: "Thanks Mike!" He replied implying that he should leave. Sonny followed Mike to the door, as Mike asked quietly

Mike: "Am I right? Did Ashton do that to her?"

Sonny: "Yeah he did…I'll handle it Mike, OK?" He replied immediately making Mike know that Ned wouldn't get away with what he'd done.

Mike: "Alright…Take care Alexis, and you too Michael!" He exclaimed leaving Sonny and Alexis alone.

A little later after having enjoyed the coffee Alexis was sitting next to Sonny on the couch resting her head on Sonny's shoulder, while Sonny massaged her scalp, as they just sat in silence, and listened to some soft music, which was playing on the stereo.

Johnny: "Sonny, Alexis…Jason and Elizabeth are here with the children!" He explained, as Jason, Elizabeth, Michael and Kristina entered PH4. Sonny went towards them giving Alexis some time to gather herself before the children came near her.

Sonny: "And how was it at Jason and Elizabeth's?" He asked picking up Kristina from the floor, and leading Michael into the kitchen by the hand to give them something to drink.

Elizabeth: "Are you doing OK Alexis?" She asked hugging Alexis.

Alexis: "As well as can be expected! Thanks for watching them!" She exclaimed, as Jason hugged her too.

Jason: "It was our pleasure to help her especially since we love them very much. We'll leave you guys so that you can have some quality time together. Take care, OK?" He replied, as both he and Elizabeth hugged Alexis once more before leaving the penthouse.

Kristina: "Mommy!" She exclaimed running into the livingroom just as Alexis dried her eyes once more.

Alexis: "What is it sweetie?" She asked squatting down to the same height as her daughter.

Kristina: "Auntie Liz taught me how to make a clay impression of my hands and feet…Look!" She exclaimed, showing Alexis the two pieces of clay impressions showing off Kristina's left hand and left foot.

Alexis: "Oh sweetie…It's absolutely beautiful!" She replied hugging Kristina tightly against her chest wanting to make sure that she'd never go away.

Kristina: "Mommy…Why are you holding me so tight?" She asked, surprised by her mother's firm grip on her.

Alexis: "I just want to make sure that you're really here…" She replied kissing Kristina on her head before leading her to the couch where Kristina sat on her mother's lap while they looked at the clay impressions.

Sonny: "And what do we have here?" He asked, as Michael helped his father carry in some mugs with hot chocolate in them.

Kristina: "Look daddy…Auntie Liz helped me make these!" She exclaimed wanting her daddy to see them too. Sonny took Kristina off of Alexis' lap, as Michael sat down on Alexis' lap and Alexis wrapped her arms around him. Sonny looked over at Alexis, as if asking 'are you OK', and Alexis simply nodded her head 'yes', as the Corinthos' enjoyed some family quality time.

chapter 7