Point of View Series
by Kristen

Part 15 -- Toys and talks (Sonny's POV)

Kristina was preparing to take MJ, Annie, and Chloe home with her, along with Ellie's beloved Dammit. Ellie had begged and pleaded to keep the little Beagle by her side, but Alexis was having none of it and had told Ellie that if she wanted to stay and help rectify the baby naming debacle, Dammit was going to have to leave. Immediately.

Ellie had pondered her choices carefully before entrusting his care to her aunt. But there had been instructions and "'ditions", as Ellie called them.

"You have to promise to take him out every fifteen minutes. If you don't, he has acc'dents and mommy gets really mad. See we are training him to use the potty, but he's not big enough to reach it yet, so that's why he has to go outside. I'll be really glad when he is big enough to sit on the potty, cause Johnny and Max gets really cranky havin to go out with me all the time. Also, he can't go in mommy and daddy's room AT ALL. Mommy says if she catches him in there again, he's toast, and even though I told mommy I don't think he could fit in the toaster, mommy said she'd figure out a way, and I don't want Dammit to get made into toast. So you have to promise me that you'll watch him really good Aunt Kristina. Ok?"

"Um Ellie, what happened in mommy and daddy's room," Kristina asked with a pseudo concerned air. Alexis rolled her eyes at Kristina's pathetic attempt at feigning confusion. She may not have known the specifics, but she knew that when Ellie had a story to tell, it was going to be a doozy. They all were.

"Well see, me and MJ got to wondering about that little kitty. You know the one mommy keeps hidden in her and daddy's room? We thought maybe the kitty might be hurt cause daddy had said it was really tight in there and so we got scared. And the last time we had heard him say that, he had been yelling at God about, it so we just wanted to make sure the kitty wasn't hurt or anything. See, I know how sad daddy would be if anything ever happened to mommy's kitty, cause he loves it so much. So anyway, me and MJ, and Dammit decided to go look for the kitty and while we were in there, Dammit had a little acc'dent."

Ellie is the only person I know who can rival Alexis when it comes to rambling. And the kid is only five for God's sake! She took a breath and plunged ahead. By this time, Alexis had buried her head beneath the covers and I had begun absently counting the tiles on the ceiling. Sometimes it is best to just look away.

"Little accident? You call what that damn dog did a "little accident," Alexis asked in a muffled, yet clearly indignant voice through the sheet.

Elle sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes at her aunt. "Mommy, I told you Dammit didn't mean it. And 'sides, your toy getting broken was my fault, 'member? Me and MJ wanted to play with it. But mommy, I think it was already broken cause it shakes a lot and rattles. What's it for mommy?"

"It better be for when daddy is out of town," I muttered under my breath.

Alexis swallowed nervously, and was at a loss for words. Clearly childbirth had had an effect on her. Kristina looked from my speechless mouth to Alexis', and for the first time in a long time, I was grateful for her and her "New Age" ideas.

"It's something I gave mommy to relieve stress," Kristina volunteered.

"Does it work," Ellie asked innocently.

"Like a charm," Alexis grinned. Then, seeing the glare I shot at her, she quickly added,"but daddy relieves my stress much better."

"Good answer," I told her with a wink.

"Well, I don't know what that dress thing is, but that toy felt good on my hands. Can I have one of my own," Ellie piped up.

"No," Alexis and I yelled in unison.

A small pout appeared on her face.

"I don't think it's fair that mommy is the only one to have a dress reliever AND a kitty. Why can't I have a kitty?"

Alexis hugged her, trying not to laugh.

"Sweetie, I promise that when you are my age, you will have a kitty and a "dress reliever."

"Over my dead body," I informed them both.

"That could happen Sonny," Alexis informed me sweetly. "It almost did nine months ago, remember?"

I rolled my eyes at her, as Ellie snuggled in for a "mommy and daddy chat" as she liked to call them.

"Alexis, that was YOUR fault, remember?"

"Mine?"

"Yeah, in the limo, remember? You were the one, who wanted to play without my," I paused, and looked at Ellie,"hat" on."

"Daddy, why would you need a hat in the limo? Hat's are for outdoors."

"Some hats are for where ever mommy says they are for," Alexis told her daughter, even though she was looking at me.

"Yeah, and that night, mommy didn't care if I wore my "hat" or not," I shot back.

"I wasn't thinking straight, it was too hot in there," she protested weakly. We both knew what was what, and it HAD been her decision to accept the consequences.

"Uh, Alexis, I gave you a chance to cool off and you didn't want to, remember?"

"Okay Sonny, if you'll recall-"

"You guys?" Kristina interrupted. We had forgotten she was in the room. We had forgotten anyone was in the room. We tended to do that sometimes. "Where is Ellie?"

"What do you mean where is Ellie," Alexis and I yelled in unison.

"I mean, I took MJ in the bathroom to change him and when I came out, she was gone. You didn't see her leave?"

I ignored the "you two are unbelievable" look on her face and began searching frantically around the room. I ran to the door and looked back at Alexis.

"Don't worry, she can't have gotten far Alexis. I'll find her."

"You better Sonny! That's my baby girl out there!"

I ran down the hall as Alexis unleashed a string of threats regarding my various body parts and me. I rounded the corner and gave a sigh of relief. My daughter stood talking to the only woman I knew in Port Charles to whom my wife was second in beauty, elegance, charm, and class.

"Hello Lila."

"Oh Mr. Corinthos, how lovely to see you. Your daughter has just told me the wonderful news. Congratulations."

"Thank you." I turned to my daughter. "Ellie, you scared mommy and me. We didn't know where you had gone."

"Daddy, I tried telling you, but you and mommy were arguing about hats and stuff and I got bored. I just wanted to see the babies and so I decided to go to the nursy all by myself," she said proudly. "But then I saw Miss Lila and I wanted to tell her about the babies."

"Ellie tells me you have two more beautiful daughters. You must be so proud, Mr. Corinthos."

"I am Lila. Alexis and I have been blessed."

"Have you named them yet?"

"Oh yes," Ellie shook her head vigorously, curls bouncing everywhere.

"Oh no," I thought to myself.

"Their names are Frick and Frack."

I looked at Lila, whose face was creased as she tried to think of something gracious to say. I shook my head at her.

'Little misunderstanding," I said.

"Is not daddy. Mommy and the hospital said that's their names, and mommy and hospitals are never wrong."

Her mouth was set in a stubborn pout and I knew that from here on out, no matter what we named them, to Ellie, they were Frick and Frack.

"Six children, such a large family. How is Alexis? Is she ready for more?"

"Oh no, mommy is making daddy have 'sectomy. Nope, no more babies," she shook her head sadly. Thank goodness Lila ignored her remark and tried to cheer her up instead.

"Well Ellie, you are a very lucky girl to have five brothers and sisters to look out for. And since you are the oldest, that means you are your mother's special helper. Why, you are practically a second mother!"

Ellie's face brightened considerably.

"That means I can have one of those toys that shake. Daddy, can we go get one now? Can we, huh?"

I guess it would be wrong to put a hit on the Quartermaine matriarch, huh?

part 16