Family Reunited
by de

Chapter 12 and Epilogue

"You hungry?" Sonny asked as he and Alexis arrived at his hotel.

"Actually, I am," she responded with a shy smile.

"Okay...dinner first...gambling and dancing later," he said with a dimpled smile.

Sonny and Alexis had finished a nice dinner in the private dining room and then made their way to the casino. Alexis fared as well in the casino as she had the last time she and Sonny had gone to his casino in Puerto Rico. The one difference this time was she kept two chips instead of one to remember the night - one for each of their children.

"Dance?" Sonny asked as he held his hand out to Alexis.

"I always wondered why your son refuses to talk in complete sentences...it must be genetic," Alexis smiled.

"Hey, you only need enough words to get your point across," he said with a smile. "Now, you and our daughter, not so much."

She playfully slapped him on the shoulder, displaying her own dimples.

Sonny took her hand and they walked toward the dance floor. She was a little taken aback when they walked past the dance floor.

"I thought you wanted to dance?" she asked with an eyebrow raised.

"I did...I do...I just don't want an audience...just me and you," he said leading her out onto the terrace by the fountain. The faint music drifted out onto the terrace with them.

"You want to walk in the fountain again?" he asked her with an eyebrow raised.

"I haven't had that much to drink this time," she laughed.

"You said you didn't have that much to drink that time," he stated, his eyebrows raised.

"I thought you wanted to dance?"

"I do. Come here," he whispered, as he pulled her to him.

"You look absolutely beautiful tonight," Sonny said in her ear. "I have to say, I usually prefer you in diamonds, but the pearls are a nice touch."

"Your daughter has good taste. She picked them out," Alexis explained.

"She does have good taste. Gets it from me," Sonny stated proudly.

"There you go again with that ego," she said as she rolled her eyes.

"But you like me any way," he whispered.

"I tolerate you," she replied quietly, as he laughed.

Sonny pulled back slightly and locked eyes with Alexis.

Her heart began to beat faster as she watched his face become serious.

"Alexis," he whispered. "You may just tolerate me...but...I," Sonny glanced down for a second before bringing his eyes back to Alexis' eyes. "I Love You."

Alexis gazed into Sonny's eyes. The nervousness that she had felt since their arrival in Puerto Rico faded as she saw the truth in his eyes. Yes, he did love her.

"I..." Alexis began.

Sonny quickly put a finger to her lips.

"Don't say anything. Just enjoy the night. You and me. No kids. No one else. Just us, Alexis. The way it was meant to be," Sonny said as he leaned in and brushed Alexis' lips with his own. When the kiss ended he held her to him as they swayed to the music.

Alexis pulled back slightly.

"The music stopped," she said quietly.

"I didn't notice," Sonny whispered.

"Let's go home," Alexis said as a blush crossed her cheek.

"I've got a better idea," Sonny said as he took Alexis by the hand.

Sonny opened the door into a familiar suite at his hotel and led her inside with his hand on the small of her back.

"I want this night to end the way I wanted it to end the last time we were here...when we were interrupted by the phone," he said softly as he took her into his arms.

"Sonny...what about the kids...Maria was expecting us home," she said, with a hint of disappointment.

"Well...actually," Sonny stated with a mischievous smile. "She's not. And neither are our children."

"So, you mean to tell me...I'm the only one that didn't know what you had planned tonight?" Alexis asked.

"I was afraid if you knew you wouldn't go to dinner with me," Sonny said sadly.

"Sonny," Alexis said as she pulled him close. "It's not...you...I...just was never really good with relationships. I know that you aren't the same person you were before. And, I know I've changed in a lot of ways...but...as much as I want this to work out...I don't want to lose what we have."

"Alexis, you had never planned to be a mother or wanted to for that matter. Even so, when you found out you were pregnant, you said you never once considered terminating the pregnancy," Sonny said with a serious expression on his face.

"No...Sonny," Alexis began.

"Shh," he said. "Let me finish. You did everything you could to protect your unborn child. And then when you found out you were having twins, you did everything to protect both of them. You gave up the career you had worked so hard for, your best friend, your apartment, everything for those children. "You took a chance. You are an amazing mother. Take a chance on us. I wanted you the first time we were in Puerto Rico. I wanted you the night our children were conceived. I wasn't the kind of person that deserved you then. I am now. I don't want to go through the rest of my life wondering what could have been. I want it all. I want you. I love you."

"And, I love you, Sonny," Alexis whispered. "Yes. Let's take a chance. I want this. I want you."

Alexis leaned into Sonny and captured his lips with hers.

Sonny pulled back from Alexis and gazed into her eyes. A shy smile crossed his face.

"Alexis...I don't want to ruin the mood here...but...you know...I wasn't really planning ahead...I need to make a quick trip..."

"Sonny," Alexis stated with a smile on her face as a slight blush crossed her cheeks. "What do you mean you weren't planning ahead? You reserved this room for tonight because, as you said, you wanted to be together like you wanted us to be that night. Did I get the wrong idea about what you wanted to do that night?"

"I was afraid if I...expected this night to be this way...that you...wouldn't want the same thing," he smiled sheepishly, looking down at the ground.

"Sonny?" Alexis whispered softly as she leaned into his ear.

"Yeah?" he choked out.

"You were prepared last time...and...well...I gave birth to twins...I'm just saying," Alexis said as she curled the edges of her lips upward and her cheeks turned pink.

"What are you saying Alexis?" Sonny asked seriously.

"Well...it didn't work last time...so why should we ruin the mood...let's just...well...if it happens...it happens...I can think of worse things...I mean I have never regretted those two beautiful children we created that night..."

"Well in that case...come here," Sonny whispered as he pulled Alexis to him and captured her lips with his.

Epilogue

Alexis sat in front of her mirror brushing out her hair. She smiled and reached out and touched the worn photo tucked in the corner of the mirror. It had been taken on a Puerto Rican beach 17 years earlier. The photo had been taken the day after she and Sonny had decided to take a chance on life and become more than just best friends and parents to their two children.

For the first time, Sonny and Alexis were together in every since of the word. As each day went by, Alexis felt the fear and apprehension she had about opening her heart to Sonny slipped away. The twins had brought Alexis happiness she had never known in her life. She had felt grounded and loved with them in her life. But, with Sonny, she realized she felt something she had never felt before, whole.

Sonny stood in the doorway watching Alexis. He couldn't help but smile. He thanked God every morning and every night for giving him the things he had always wanted, a family that he loved and that loved him. He was happy. And it felt good. He tried not to think about it often, but he wondered if he would still be alive today if he had not made the decision to become a better person, someone that deserved to have Alexis in his life.

"Why think about it?" he told himself. "God gave you everything you ever wanted in Alexis. It just took awhile for you to open your eyes and see it."

Sonny walked up behind her and took the brush out of her hand and finished brushing her hair. Their eyes met in the mirror and they smiled at each other.

"Thank you," Sonny whispered.

"For what?" she asked looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"For everything. For letting me love you. For our family," he said seriously as he pointed to their wedding photo in a sterling silver frame on the dresser. "For becoming my wife."

"I never knew happiness until you," he said with a sincere smile, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

She stood and placed her arms around his waist pulling him close.

"Back at ya," she whispered in his ear.

Sonny had been pleasantly surprised that the transition from best friends to lovers had been smooth and easy. He was sure that Alexis was going to over-think and complicate things. But she didn't. She just let it happen and seemed to enjoy every moment spent with him. Marriage had always been in the back of Sonny's mind but he knew Alexis had always had an aversion to it. Things were going so well, he didn't want to mess it up.

Then, it was time to start thinking about their yearly vacation.

"Have you thought about returning to Puerto Rico in April?" Sonny asked as they sat in the living room, Alexis flipping through her latest law journal and Sonny thumbing through some coffee contracts.

Alexis sat up and placed the law journal on the coffee table in front of her. She removed her glasses from her nose and placed them on the coffee table.

"Actually, I have," Alexis said softly. "Do you really want to go back to Puerto Rico? We could go somewhere else. I mean you go there on business regularly."

"If you want, we could go somewhere else...I...just...I thought...you know...since we've been in Puerto Rico the last two years...you'd want to go back," Sonny stumbled. "I know that I go there all the time...but not with you and the kids...it's not the same."

"Two years ago you found me and got to meet your children for the first time. Last year...well...we decided to take a chance on us...and it's been perfect," she said quietly as a smile crossed her face. "You think you can top that?"

"Actually...I was thinking..." he said as he rubbed his fingers across his lips. "I was thinking we could get married?"

Alexis' head snapped up and her eyes met with Sonny's.

Sonny watched as she sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. He realized he was holding his breath. It felt like forever before she began to speak.

"Sonny...," she said as she glanced down at her hands and then looked back up at him "First of all, breathe. I'm only going to answer once. So, if you pass out on me...you'll never know what I'm going to say.

Sonny took a deep breath and smiled nervously.

"Yes, I will marry you," Alexis said with a smile. "I think that would be perfect."

She raised her eyes to look at his. She laughed when she saw the shock in them.

"What did you think...I'd run from the room and flag down the closest semi?" she said with a laugh.

"It's just...I know how...you feel about marriage...I..." Sonny began.

Alexis raised a hand and stopped him mid-sentence.

"You knew how I felt about marriage. But, Sonny, in the last year I've known a happiness a hundred times greater than I yearned for all my life," she said. "Bottom line Corinthos...you've got me...whether you want me or not...let's get married."

"When?"He choked out.

Alexis laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Puerto Rico in April, remember?" she laughed.

"Yeah...right," he said with a smile. " I know that. But...I...like...mean...what day in April?" he asked.

"I haven't really thought about it...but I have this idea that you have," she stated as she arched an eyebrow at him.

"Actually, I...was kind of thinking...you know...that April 23 seems to be a pivotal day in our lives," he said as he glanced up to see how she reacted.

"Oh, well...see...I was thinking you were going to say April Fool's Day," Alexis quipped.

Sonny's eyes snapped up to hers and she saw the seriousness in them.

"Sorry..." she whispered as she furrowed her brow.

"Right now...I'm the happiest I have ever been in my life...but the first time I felt real happiness...was on April 23, 2002. I know that everything fell apart the next day. I know the timing was off...but I'm not sure I ever would have taken the chance to know happiness...if we had not spent that night together. That night changed me."

"That night changed me too," she said as a tear escaped down her cheek.

Sonny took her in his arms and held her close.

"Then, April 23 it is," Sonny said, as tears of joy ran down his face.

He pulled back and looked into Alexis' eyes and saw the same feelings reflecting back at him.

"I love you, Alexis," Sonny whispered.

"I love you too, Sonny," Alexis responded as Sonny's lips captured hers.

Sonny and Alexis were married, their two children at their sides, in the Puerto Rican villa they had re-connected in three years earlier. They spent their wedding night in the suite where they took a chance on love one year ago, the same room they had been in when they passed that chance by so many years ago.

"It seems like yesterday," Sonny commented as he picked up the picture frame.

"Well...it was a lot longer than that," Alexis laughed as she swatted his chest.

"You are more beautiful today then you were then...and I love you more today than I did then," he said with such sincerity.

"I know...I feel the same way," she whispered.

"Well...are you ready for tomorrow?" Sonny asked.

"I think I'm more nervous than I was when I graduated from Harvard."

"Why?"

"I have no idea," she answered. "Well, how do you feel about your little girl graduating?"

"I can't tell you how proud I am," Sonny beamed as he sat on the edge of the bed. "She is so beautiful...so smart...so amazing...just like her mother."

"And stubborn...head strong...demanding...like her father," Alexis teased.

"Yeah, she is," Sonny smiled proudly. "That's why she's graduating with her MBA and law degree from Harvard."

"True," Alexis answered with pride.

Education had been important to both Sonny and Alexis but neither pushed in a way the twins felt they had to compete. Kristina and Kristopher were both intelligent, well adjusted children.

After their marriage and before the children started school ,Sonny and Alexis decided they wanted to raise their children in the United States. They wanted their children to have the opportunities afforded them by living in America.

By that time, Nicholas and Gia were happily married and she had finished law school at the top of her class. Gia had been much more receptive to Nicholas' involvement in the family business after Stefan and Alexis had become involved. Nicholas had been shocked when Gia expressed an interest in working alongside him. Alexis was more than happy to relinquish some of her legal duties to the business, which afforded her more time with Sonny and the children. Things couldn't have turned out better when Nicholas and Gia asked if Alexis would consider taking over the Cassadine holdings in the States. So, Sonny and Alexis had returned to New York, Manhattan, not Port Charles.

Kristina may have looked more like Alexis, but in a way she was much more like Sonny. She had inherited her mother's way with words and her father's business prowess and she was a master at using the Corinthos charm to get what she wanted.

She had excelled in school, pushing herself, as well as her parents. She had kept Sonny and Alexis on their toes.

Kristopher had inherited his parent's intelligence and had his father's good looks and charm. But he had a talent that could only come from a perfect combination of both his parents. Kristopher had Alexis' talent to argue a point, but he was able to do so with few words. He listened and said what needed to be said. Nothing more, nothing less. He did not inherit the ability to ramble from his mother, like his sister had.

It surprised neither Sonny nor Alexis when Kristina announced that high school was a waste of her time and she was ready for college. They insisted that she complete the high school curriculum, which she did in less than three years. She insisted on following in her mother's footsteps, and entered Harvard to begin her studies prior to her 17th birthday. She chose to study pre-law, like her mother, but also decided on a second major, business.

From the time Sonny first moved in with his children, Kristina had always been taken with his work. Many times, she tried his patience as she asked question upon question.

Sonny was touched when Kristina told him she was adding the business major. Alexis had been extremely proud of her daughter's accomplishments, though she had not been ready to let Kristina go.

Kristopher did as well in school as Kristina, but he was content to take it as it came, not push it. He enjoyed school and his friends. His parents and his sister were proud when he graduated from high school at the top of his class. Kristopher received full scholarships to Yale, Stanford, Northwestern, Duke and of course, his mother's alma mater, Harvard.

Kristopher had always adored his mother. After moving to New York, Alexis decided she wanted to pick up where she had left off with her law career.

"You were the best...you are the best, Alexis," Sonny told her when she mentioned that she had been thinking about resuming the law career she had given up for her children.

It didn't take long for Alexis to re-establish her reputation and her desire to help the underdog. Sonny had always enjoyed watching Alexis in the courtroom but he seemed to enjoy it more when it wasn't him she was representing. Many times Sonny would take the children to watch their mother at work. And, while Kristina had taken great interest in her father's work, she enjoyed watching her mother.

But, it was Kristopher who was fascinated by his mother's expertise in the courtroom. It meant a lot to Alexis that Kristopher loved to watch her work but she did not understand fully how much he enjoyed it until he came to her after she won a tough family law case. He was a senior year in high school at the time.

"Mom, you're the best," he said as he hugged her tightly. He stepped back and looked at her as he rubbed his finger across his lips.

Alexis knew her son was thinking seriously about what he was going to say. She couldn't help but smile, remembering the many times she had seen his father do the same thing.

"Mom."

"Kristopher."

"I hope that one day I can be half the attorney you are," he whispered.

Alexis pulled him into her arms as the tears spilled down her cheeks.

"I love you so much, Little One," Alexis whispered in his ear.

Kristopher had completed his undergradute degree in pre-law from Harvard and was now in his first year at Harvard law.

Alexis had been surprised that the mother-son bond had grown stronger as Kristopher had gotten older. She was sure that was something she would lose with him, because, even though she and Kristina were very close, from the time Kristina could talk she had insisted on her independence.

Here, he was, in law school, and he didn't mind when his mother called him "Little One."

The only request he had ever made of her concerning her name for him was when he became a teenage.

"Mom, I really do love it when you call me that...it means a lot to me...you mean a lot to me...just could you make sure you don't do it in front of my friends..."

Alexis could have been hurt by his request, but she was so pleased that he didn't just tell her to stop as his sister had.

And, Kristina had made that request at the age of two.

"Not little...not a baby...I'm a big girl..."

"Alexis come sit next to me for a minute," Sonny said.

She arched an eyebrow and squinted her eyes.

"What have you done now?" she asked in her best attorney voice.

"Nothing...yet," he smiled innocently.

"I was thinking...I know Kristina has had some great job offers...and I'm really glad she has decided to relax and travel before she starts to work...I mean she has studied so hard...I'm glad she's gonna breathe before jumping into a stressful job," Sonny rambled.

"Sonny...you sound like me. Spit it out already," Alexis laughed.

"I was wondering if you would mind...me putting another offer out there on the table. I mean Kristina knows my business forward and backward... I...just thought...she may want to take it over..."

"What are you going to do, Sonny?" Alexis asked. "You know the two of you are too much alike to work together. You thought I was difficult when I was your attorney. It won't be like when she was younger and you asked what she thought. She will tell you what she thinks and fight you on it. After all, she is YOUR daughter."

"I know, Alexis," Sonny said as he smiled. "I was just thinking I might...you know enjoy spending more time with my wife...and the other members of my family."

"Are you sure you want to do that Sonny?" Alexis questioned. "Your business means so much to you."

"Yeah...but so does my family. I built Corinthos Inc. into a very profitable, legitimate business, so I could give you and our children the lives you deserved."

"Yes, you did and we have been very happy," Alexis added. "You are an amazing businessman."

"Yes we have been happy," Sonny said. "And I might have been good, but Kristina is the best. I don't want her taking it if she doesn't want to but I want to give her the option if she does."

"It's okay with me if that's what you're asking," Alexis said.

"Yeah...I just wanted to make sure...you know...you wouldn't mind having me around?" he said as he nuzzled her neck.

"I could think of worse things," she teased.

"Sonny."

"Alexis."

Alexis took Sonny's hands in hers and raised her eyes to his.

"My life has been amazing," Alexis said as a tear fell down her right cheek.

Sonny raised his hand to he face and wiped the tear away.

"Yeah it has," he agreed.

"I mean...things weren't always easy...kids will be kids..." Alexis laughed.

"You mean Kristina will be Kristina," Sonny laughed.

Alexis rolled her eyes.

"I can't think of a time I wasn't happy," she said.

"I can," he said.

"What? When?" She questioned and she elbowed him in the stomach.

"How about the time right before the twins 10th birthday?" he asked displaying his dimples.

"Oh...then," Alexis said lowering her eyes.

"Yeah...then...you know there aren't a lot of people who are very happy when they think they are dying," he laughed.

"Yeah...well I had no reason to think it was anything else," she said in her defense.

Alexis had been so excited about planning the twins' 10th birthday party that she was very disappointed when she started feeling under the weather. She felt more tired and run down than when she did when the twins were just home from the hospital after their birth.

In her fight for the underdog, Alexis had taken on a class action case representing a number of women who were dying of ovarian cancer. It was one of the most heartbreaking cases she had taken on since her return to practicing law in New York. A lab had erroneously reported that the women were healthy when in fact they had early stage ovarian cancer. By the time the illness was detected in the woman, it was in its final stages. The only thing Alexis could give them was the security that their families would be taken care of. Alexis had done a lot of research into the disease, and well, she was sure she had ovarian cancer.

Alexis knew the importance of catching the cancer early so she made an appointment with her gynecologist. The only problem was, the first available appointment was in two weeks.

Sonny knew something was wrong. He could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. It was the only time he remembered her keeping anything from him since they re-established their friendship. Alexis did not give Sonny any reason to believe she was ill. Sonny was scared to death that Alexis was no longer happy being married to him so he stayed far away from the subject. It didn't take long for the twins to know something was up.

Alexis was almost in tears the entire day, waiting for her afternoon appointment. Her hands were shaking so badly when she signed in for her appointment her signature was unrecognizable.

She sat in a chair in the doctor's office, with her chin on her chest. Her eyes were closed.

"This can't be happening," Alexis told herself. "They need me. I need them. I'm not ready to die."

The nurse called her name and her head snapped up.

"This is it," she told herself.

She took a deep breath and walked through the door. Her head was in a fog as she undressed and waited for the doctor.

Alexis went over her symptoms with the doctor and expressed her concern and her desire to live.

"I'm going to order some blood work and a pelvic ultrasound to start," Dr. Simms said. "Alexis, you know that one of the problems with ovarian cancer is that the symptoms are similar to so many other problems. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"How long is it going to take to get the blood test results," Alexis asked. "I tell you what. I'll put a rush on them. I can't promise but maybe this evening."

Alexis knew Dr. Simms was right. She shouldn't jump to conclusions but she couldn't shake the fear of losing her family...of them losing her.

Alexis went home and was trying to keep her mind on some legal documents when Sonny arrived home.

"Hey."

"Hey," she said back not looking up from her work.

"I'm gonna get dinner started, do you have any requests?" Sonny asked.

Alexis did not look up from the documents and did not respond.

"Alexis?" Sonny said in a frustrated tone.

"What?" she answered in a similar tone, as she looked up and arched an eyebrow.

"Never mind," Sonny mumbled as he walked into the kitchen.

The tension over dinner was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Kristopher and Kristina didn't say a word. They just looked back and forth between their parents. They quickly finished their dinner and asked to be excused.

Alexis didn't even respond to their request.

Sonny wasn't sure what to make of it. They had fights over the years. Alexis would be angry with him. Sometimes she wouldn't speak to him but he could not remember her ever ignoring the children.

"Go ahead," Sonny told them.

He waited until they made it upstairs and he heard a door close.

"What the HELL is wrong with you?" Sonny demanded.

Alexis raised her eyes from her dinner plate and glared at Sonny.

"Excuse me?" she said. "Is there any reason you are speaking to me in that tone?"

"Maybe because you haven't heard anything I've said to you when I've used any other tone," he spat.

Alexis didn't know what to say. At that moment the phone rang and she jumped.

Alexis abruptly got up from the table and went to the phone.

Sonny stood and stared at her. He then ran his hands over his face and then moved his hand to the back of his neck as he looked at the ground. He then raised his eyes to Alexis.

"Hello?" Alexis said as she picked up the phone receiver. She tried to control the knot forming in her throat. "Speaking...yes...what? Are you sure? There's no mistake? I see. Thank you. I will do that."

Sonny had no idea who was on the phone but he became quite concerned when all of the color drained from Alexis' face, her knees buckled and she grabbed the corner of the desk to keep from falling. As she hung up the phone, she stood still holding onto the desk.

Sonny walked up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Alexis?" he whispered.

Alexis turned and fell into his arms. He held her tightly as she sobbed.

"What is it, Alexis?" Sonny pleaded. "Please tell me."

Alexis took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She took Sonny by the hand and walked him over to the couch.

"Sonny..." her voice cracked.

"Alexis...please...tell me what's wrong," Sonny said, as his own voice cracked with emotion. Her hands were shaking. He couldn't remember Alexis ever responding this way. The closest she came to this, he thought, was when her sister died.

"Oh God, Alexis...tell me now...Please...what's happened?" Sonny pleaded.

"Sonny...it's really...okay," Alexis said softly.

"It's okay? How can you say that? You are acting like someone died..."

Alexis put up her hand and interrupted him.

"No...Sonny...no one died...I just thought someone was going to die," Alexis attempted to explain.

"I don't understand, Alexis," Sonny said in frustration.

"I thought I had cancer. I thought I was dying," Alexis choked. "But...I'm not...so it's okay."

"Why is this the first I've heard about this?" Sonny asked as he arched his eyebrows in confusion and hurt.
"I didn't want you to worry," Alexis explained.

"So...I've spent the last two weeks thinking that you were going to divorce me.? No, Alexis...you didn't worry me," Sonny said in frustration.

"What...are...you talking about?" Alexis asked.

"The way you've been acting. I thought you were tired of me," Sonny said.

Alexis reached out and put her palm on Sonny's cheek.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to do that," Alexis said as the tears started falling again.

Sonny wrapped his arms around Alexis and held her close.

"Alexis?" Sonny asked.

"Yes?" she responded.

"If you're not dying...and you're not leaving me...what's wrong?" Sonny asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"I'm pregnant," Alexis whispered so softly Sonny wasn't quite sure he heard her.

"What did you say?" Sonny asked softly.

"I said that I AM PREGNANT!" Alexis spat as she dropped her head to his shoulder.

A smile quickly spread across Sonny's face as he pulled away from Alexis and looked at her.

She smiled back at him.

Sonny shook his head.

"Okay...let me get this straight...one night we use protection...and we have twins...then we decide not to use protection and it takes us seven years before you get pregnant?" Sonny said as he cocked his eyebrow.

"It's not like we've every done anything the easy way," Alexis sniffed. "We're complicated."

"You certainly got that right," Sonny chuckled. "So, Alexis, you're alright with this? I mean you've been crying since you found out."

"I've been crying mostly because I'm relieved that I'm not dying...I wasn't ready to leave you and the twins. As for the baby...I'm shocked...not that I wasn't shocked last time you got me pregnant..." Alexis laughed as she swiped at her cheeks again.

"So...what happens now?" Sonny asked.

"Hey...that's my question," she teased. "I make a doctor's appointment and a little later have an ultrasound and an amnio."

"Alexis...forgive me for asking this...but...I...read somewhere...that...you know...after you have twins...you have like a 40 percent chance of having twins or triplets the next time...you know...you get pregnant?" Sonny softly questioned.

Alexis' head shot up and her eyes got big. She picked up the pillow off the couch and hit him over the head with it.

"Hear this Sonny Corinthos...if I am pregnant with more than one child, again, you will NEVER...lay a hand on me again...is that understood?" Alexis said through clenched teeth.

Sonny looked at Alexis displayed his dimples.

The twins had been thrilled to learn about the new addition to the family.

This pregnancy was a new experience for Alexis. Sonny was there for her through everything. He was even careful not to push it to far when it came to making sure she took care of herself. She had succeeded in doing the one thing he never had been able to do, make sure that a child of his was born alive and healthy. How could he question a woman who had done the one thing that had never been able to be done before?

He was there to hear the baby's heartbeat the first time. He was so excited. Alexis watched as a tear leaked from his eye and ran down his cheek.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here for this...for you...the first time," he began.

"Well...actually Sonny...you were," Alexis said with unshed tears in her eyes.

Sonny looked at her with confusion in his eyes.

"Remember when you and Carly were here waiting for one of her checkups and you heard a baby's heartbeat...and Carly got so upset and left...she got upset because she knew I was in the other room...and she knew that...you were the father of my child."

"What?" Sonny said in shock. "You never told me Carly knew."

"Sonny, you said we should put the past behind us. What would you have done? What difference would it have made three years later. I tell you now not because of what Carly knew or didn't know. I tell you so that you know you did hear your first born child's heartbeat...well at least one of your two first born children," Alexis laughed.

Alexis took Sonny's hand and squeezed.

"Only the good, Sonny...we've come so far...no hurt feelings now," she pleaded.

"I'm sorry...it's just...I'm really glad Alexis...to be able to share this with you," Sonny said as he cast his eyes down to the floor.

As Sonny brought his eyes up, they locked with Alexis' eyes.

"You know this is a gift from God?" Sonny asked.

"Yes, Sonny...I believe that it is. I love you."

"I love you, too, Alexis...and I love you too..baby or babies."

"Hey...hey...you're about to overstep your bounds," Alexis said as she swatted him on the arm and smiled.

Sonny had been by Alexis' side for the ultrasound and amnio.

"Alexis, breathe!" Sonny urged during the test.

"I'll breathe Sonny when I know how many more mouths we will have to feed," Alexis sighed.

"Well Alexis, you can breathe, you're only having one this time," Dr. Simms laughed.

"Are you sure there can't be another one or two hiding in there? I mean this is a lot earlier than when I had my ultrasound with the twins," Alexis questioned.

"Alexis...I assure you I would be able to tell if you were having twins or triplets," the doctor laughed.

"Yes, doctor, I am neurotic! I mean I use protection and get pregnant with twins; don't use protection and it takes seven years; think I'm dying and find out I'm really pregnant," Alexis rolled her eyes as she looked at her doctor.

"You can blame it all on the hormones," Dr. Simms chuckled. "Would you like to know the baby's sex?"

"No." Alexis said as she looked at Sonny. "I want to be surprised."

"Whatever you want is fine with me," Sonny smiled.

And, after attending Lamaze classes and surviving four hours of labor, Sonny and Alexis welcomed a new son, weighing in at 7 pounds 3 ounces.

"We've talked about a lot of names...but you said we had to wait until he was born to decide" Sonny said as he sat next to Alexis, their newborn son nestled in her arms.

"Well, you told me once that you thought this baby was a gift from god," Alexis stated softly as she caressed the baby's face with her fingers.

"Yeah...I did say that...and I still think that's true," Sonny responded as he grasped the little boy's tiny fingers.

"Well in that case, it's Jonathan...after all...it means gift of God," Alexis said as her eyes locked with Sonny's.

He smiled and nodded in agreement.

"But what about his middle name?" Sonny questioned.

"Well...see...I was thinking your initials are M.J. I kind of thought it would be neat to give him the initials J.M.," Alexis smiled.

"Okay...just the initial?" Sonny asked as he took the baby from Alexis' arms.

"No...actually...I was thinking Jonathan Michael Corinthos."

"Do you how much I love you?" Sonny whispered to Alexis as he cupped his hand on her cheek.

"Not as much as I love you," she whispered back as the tears began to fall from her eyes.

Everyone in the Corinthos family doted on Jon. And as much as Kristina looked like her mother and Kristopher looked like his father, Jon was a perfect combination. Jon had curly chestnut hair, his mother's eyes, complexion and build, and his father's dimples and smile. Jon reminded Alexis more of her sister than either of the two children named after her.

Kristopher was quiet and shy with some of his father's temper. Kristina was strong-willed and demanding. Jon was a free spirit. He was always smiling. He was always happy.

"Well...I might not have been happy when I thought I was dying...but I can't tell you how happy I was during the pregnancy. It was amazing having you there...sharing everything with me," Alexis said with a smile. "And then having you there with me when Jon was born. There aren't words..."

"I know what you mean...I thought I'd never have kids...then I find out about the twins...I was so happy...I never expected that I could be happier...but Jon...well...he's something," Sonny said.

"Alexis, I want Kristina to have the company I worked so hard to build...but I really want to spend more time with Jon. He's growing so fast. I got to do all the things with you that I didn't when you had the twins...our lives were so busy with the twins when Jon was born...I feel like I missed out on some of the things that I enjoyed with the twins when they were little."

"Yeah...we just took him along when we did things with the twins," Alexis agreed. "But maybe that's why he is the way he is. He is so loving...so happy...so easy going."

"Yeah...I was afraid...being the baby and all...he would be spoiled...and would be worse than Kristina," Sonny grinned.

"You know...we talk about how bad Kristina was..." Alexis began and Sonny interrupted.

"WAS?"

"Okay...was and is," Alexis laughed. "But other than being demanding, having a temper and insisting on perfection...she was a good child."

Sonny raised an eyebrow and tilted his head sideways as he looked at Alexis.

Alexis swatted Sonny on the thigh.

"She didn't use drugs...she didn't hang around with questionable friends...we never had to go to the PCPD to bail her out," Alexis said giving Sonny a sideways grin and elbowing him.

"Okay...okay..." Sonny said raising his hands out in front of him in defeat. "Okay...Kristina was both of us combined...but she wasn't neurotic like you..." Sonny said as Alexis interrupted him.

"Or a criminal like you?" She added with a smirk.

"Alleged criminal!" Sonny responded displaying his dimples. "So we've established that Kristina wasn't really that bad," he laughed.

"Did you speak to Kristopher today?" Alexis asked.

"Yes. He said he'd be by in the morning so we could all go together," Sonny responded. "There is so much of you in him...he is so caring...you always fought for people because no one fought for you...he wants to fight for them because he really cares."

Alexis placed her palm on Sonny's check.

"I don't know...from the day he was born...when I looked in his eyes...I always saw the little boy that I saw hidden behind the fear, hurt and anger when I looked in your eyes. I think that if you had a childhood like he did, with a loving father, you would have been like he is."

"If I had a mother like he did...one that put me first..." Sonny said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Alexis placed her arm around Sonny and pulled him close.

It seemed like they had been there for hours when Sonny broke the silence.

"If Kristina wants to take over my company, I'd like for us...you, me and Jon...to take a vacation," Sonny said.

"I like that idea," Alexis said with a smile. "Puerto Rico?"

"I was thinking about someplace else," Sonny said.

"Where?" Alexis asked.

"Well, the other day when Jon and I went to the library...," Sonny began.

Alexis' eyes widened, and her chin dropped.

"YOU went to the library?" she asked in disbelief. "It's a good thing you gave up your 'alleged business' a long time ago...do you know what that would do to your reputation?" she said playfully.

"Yes...we went to the library...after we walked on the nature trail in the park," Sonny said in exasperation. "What? You don't think I can do those things? And I don't care what anybody says about me...my son enjoys those things and I enjoy doing them with him."

"I thought the two of you spent your time together going to sporting events – baseball, football, hockey?" Alexis questioned.

"Kristopher likes baseball. Jon...he likes to stop and smell the roses, so to speak," Sonny said with a grin.

"We watched the butterflies and the birds in the park," Sonny said. "He's amazing. He knows so much about those kinds of things."

"You know where he is tonight?" Sonny asked.

"He's at the youth board meeting..." Alexis began.

"Yes...he started out there but...he stopped by to see Mrs. Garcia...she is taking her citizenship test in two days and he wanted to take the time to help her review since he is going to be tied up with the graduation tomorrow," Sonny said.

"He has spent the last year helping that 70-year-old woman learn to speak English, learn to read and then take the next step to achieve her dream, becoming a U.S. citizen. He has learned American History right along side her in order to help her pass her written test," Sonny said with pride.

"I know," Alexis said with a smile. "And he talks about how much of an inspiration she is to him...when...to me...he's the inspiration," Alexis said softly.

"Yeah...he does...and he is," Sonny responded with a proud smile.

Both sat on the bed in silence.

"So...what did you do at the library, if you don't mind me asking?" Alexis said, breaking the silence.

"What do you usually do at the library? We checked out books." Sonny said, raising an eyebrow.

Alexis smiled at him.

"He...really liked that book that Stefan sent him on Greek Mythology...so he got some more books about stuff like that."

"Sonny, in all seriousness, I think it's wonderful that you spend time with Jon...he adores you," Alexis said.

"I can't explain it Alexis. It's like...with Kristina and Kristopher we got the chance to give them a life that both of us had only dreamed of as children...but with Jonathan...it's different. He sees the world in such a different way. It's not like he's naïve...he knows good and bad...right and wrong...but he only sees the good in people. When I'm with him it's like I see the world through his eyes...and it's amazing," Sonny tried to explain as unshed tears gathered in his eyes.

"One day he wanted to know about where I grew up. We stopped the limo and walked through Bensonhurst. I got to see it through his eyes...and I've got to tell you Alexis...it made me feel so different...better...about myself."

"You walked with my son through the streets of Brooklyn?" Alexis asked, a look of disbelief on her face. "And this is the first I hear about it?"

Sonny smiled remembering that day like it was yesterday.

"Stop the limo," Jon said to the driver. "I want to see things for myself."

"No..." Sonny said. "It's not safe. Your mother..."

"Dad...why are you so afraid of her? Haven't you learned by now her bark is much worse than her bite?" the boy said with a soft laugh.

Sonny chuckled.

"Dad...it's gonna be ok. You can't spend your whole life afraid. You have to experience life...don't let it pass you by."

Sonny reluctantly followed Jon from the limo.

"now what?" he said, as he stood on the street corner.

"We walk," Jonathan said.

They walked side-by-side down the streets of Bensonhurst...where Sonny played as a child...where he ran numbers as a teenage.

Jon walked with a smile on his face. He stopped and took in a deep breath. He closed his eyes and a smile spread across his face.

"Don't breathe too deep...you'll choke," Sonny said.

"here you go, Dad...Ddn't look for the bad...look for the good. Can you smell the apple pie baking? The smell before a rain storm...?"

"Hello," Jon said to an elderly woman walking down the street.

She smiled at him and nodded.

"Jon what did we tell you about talking to strangers?"

"Dad...seriously," he said as he stopped. "The things that happened to you here Dad are in the past. Don't remember them. Look at what's here now."

Sonny stood stunned.

"I'm not naïve dad...I know there are bad people in the world...but there is so much good. Sometimes you just have to let go of the bad and look to the good. You know...it is what it is...don't dwell on the bad...the negative...open your eyes and see the good.

"It's not like I'm trying to make friends with drug dealers or anything," he quipped as he began to walk again.

Sonny quickly caught up to his son and placed his arm around the boy's shoulder.

He was right. The bad was behind him. He had experienced so much good with Alexis...with his children.

That was the day that Sonny had decided to let go of all the bad and see the world through his son's eyes.

"I truly believe that Jonathan was God's gift to us. I think that he's our chance to see the world the way we should have as children," Sonny stopped and took a deep breath.

He was just going to put it out there and hope that Alexis was receptive to it.

"And, that's why I want us to go to Greece."

Alexis' eyes snapped up to meet Sonny's.

"I know there are still so many bad memories for you there...but I want you to see Greece through Jonathan's eyes," Sonny said, a tear falling down his cheek.

"I want you to see Greece the way you should have when you were a little girl."

Sonny enveloped her in his arms.

"Oh, Sonny," Alexis said as tears fell onto her cheeks. "Yes...I want to see Greece through our son's eyes. I want to see the world through our son's eyes. It is such a beautiful place."

And they did just that.

THE END!