Second Chances
by Susanne

Chapter 2 -- A New Day Has Come

The next morning Alexis was standing in the kitchen preparing breakfast together with Kristina, as Alexis had forced herself to learn how to cook.

Alexis: "Did you sleep OK last night sweetheart?" She asked knowing that her daughter had had trouble in that department, as John had yelled at her because she'd spilled some juice on the livingroom floor.

Kristina: "Yeah…Can I go in and watch "Looney Tunes" mommy?" She asked, as she'd finished placing the buns on the dish.

Alexis: "Sure…" She sighed, as she watched Kristina exit the kitchen, and go into the livingroom to sit on the floor in order to watch "Looney Tunes".

Christopher: "Hi mom!" He exclaimed entering the kitchen and grabbing a bun from the dish.

Alexis: "Hey…Chris why don't you join your sister in the livingroom?"

Christopher: "Why?" He asked surprised that his mother didn't have something he should do for her.

Alexis: "Can't I even be kind to my own son anymore? Go on - scoot!" She exclaimed, as she went to the dining table where she placed the dish with buns on together with butter, cheese, etc.

John: "Morning!" He exclaimed entering the kitchen before pouring some coffee.

Alexis: "Good morning - when will you be home from your trip?"

John: "Probably sometime tomorrow afternoon - why do you ask?" He asked quickly downing the coffee, which Alexis had improved in making.

Alexis: "No reason - I just wanted to know when I should expect you home!" She explained, as she was happy that he was in a good mood this morning.

John: "Why don't you invite Mr. Jacks? He'd probably love to see our small rug rats."

Alexis: "Perhaps…Christopher, Kristina! Breakfast is ready!" She yelled into the livingroom, and soon she could hear the TV being turned off followed by Christopher and Kristina entering the kitchen, and sitting down at the dining table.

John: "You two be nice to your mom, OK? I have to go out of town on business - Until tomorrow afternoon…" He replied kissing Alexis on the head before heading out the door, and into his car.

Alexis: "So…Does either one of you have an idea as to what to do now that we've got the house to ourselves?"

Christopher: "What about visiting uncle Jax? We haven't seen him that much, and I miss him!"

Kristina: "Me too mommy - pretty please!" She begged looking at her mother with a look, which resembled Sonny's almost too much.

Alexis: "Listen…We live far away from Jax, and it would be unfair to ask him to come to us with such short notice."

Christopher: "Then we could come to him? Please mommy…"

Alexis: "I'll call Jax, OK? And in the meantime why don't you two go upstairs and play a little, huh? Mommy needs to talk to uncle Jax alone."

Kristina: "OK mommy!" She exclaimed, as she followed her brother upstairs.

Alexis didn't know what to do anymore. She knew that by staying until tomorrow afternoon meant going through the abuse again. She needed to make a fresh start but could she possibly do that in Port Charles with Sonny living there? She walked to the couch, and sat down before reaching for the portable phone, and dialed Jax's number.

Voice: "Jasper Jacks!"

Alexis: "Hey…Guess who?" She asked drying away some tears, which had come due to the fact that she was about to rearrange her life and the children's for good.

Jax: "I don't believe it…Alexis? What's wrong?"

Alexis: "You remember how you said that if I ever needed some help you'd be willing to move heaven on earth for me?"

Jax: "Yeah…You know how I feel about you. Is it John?"

Alexis: "Isn't it always? I can't stay with him anymore Jax - and it's not just me I'm worried about anymore it's Chris and Krissy. Will you help us?"

Jax: "You know that I will but are you sure that going to Port Charles will be enough?"

Alexis: "What do you mean?"

Jax: "I've got your old apartment ready for you as of right now, but still John can come and look for you, and maybe hurt you even worse."

Alexis: "I'll protect my children no matter what, and I swore to myself a week ago that, that was the last time that he hit me."

Jax: "OK - if you just get on a plane with Chris and Krissy then I'll take care of the rest - you're in good hands Alexis!" He promised her, as they hung up, and Alexis readied herself to telling the children about their new living arrangements.

In the meantime back in Port Charles in PH4 Sonny was having a meeting with his friend and employee Benny. Sonny and Benny were both sitting on the couch drinking a cup of coffee about to discuss business.
Benny: "Boss? Are you sure you want to go through this now with Michael being sick and all?" He asked worried about Sonny.

Sonny: "Rosa is upstairs with him, and as she's a certified nurse I think that she can handle it! How about we get down to business?"

Benny: "Alright! Concerning that favor you wanted from Rodriguez then he's found out that Mr. Jacks paid in cash for Ms. Davis' old apartment downtown, and that he's been moving furniture into it ever since early this morning!"

Sonny: "And that's all?"

Benny: "Boss I don't think that this concerns our territory - and I don't think that Ms. Davis is returning to town either."

Sonny: "Who says that this has anything to do with Alexis?"

Benny: "Boss I think that I know you just as well as I know myself, and you've been missing something in your life ever since Alexis left town after her sister's memorial service."

Sonny: "This has nothing to do with Alexis!! This has to do with Jasper Jacks moving in on my territory!!" He yelled getting up from the couch.

Benny: "And would this territory be the woman you let go?"

Sonny: "You're way out of line Benny!"

Benny: "Am I? In the five years Alexis has been gone you've been just about as closed off, as you were when Lily and your baby died. Brenda saved you back then, but Brenda's not here now and if you don't take care of yourself it's going to affect business."

Sonny: "How did Brenda get into this discussion? I thought we were talking about Jax!"

Benny: "You've got someone upstairs who needs you 24/7 - Michael needs the only father he's ever known!"

Sonny: "Legally I am Michael's father!!" He yelled loudly, as Jason entered PH4.

Jason: "What's going on? I could hear you guys from the other penthouse."

Benny: "Maybe you can knock some sense into him!" He exclaimed leaving Sonny and Jason alone to talk.

Jason: "Let me guess? Alexis?" He asked sitting down on the couch, while Sonny stood next to the fireplace staring into space.

Sonny: "God! I miss her so much Jason!! The way she'd rant, and the way she made me want to be a better man."

Jason: "Why don't you try tracking her down then? It's better than sitting here sulking thinking that you're miserable."

Sonny: "I am miserable!"

Jason: "Last time I checked you had both a sister, a father and a son! This animosity between you and Mike has got to stop if you ever want to have a decent relationship with your father."

Sonny: "It's not that easy Jason - it's not like Mike has ever tried to make amends, and if he has then he does something stupid afterwards like not telling me that I have a sister!"

Jason: "OK…So the man has made some mistakes but you're not flawless - you've made some of the same mistakes - like letting the woman you love go, and I'm not referring to Carly!"

Sonny: "I'm very well aware of whom you're referring to Jason! Maybe I just have to realize the fact that I wasn't meant to find a soul mate."

Jason: "You can't control these things Sonny! And it doesn't happen to all of us so if you want to have Alexis in your life then go out and find her, and fight to get her back."

Sonny: "Let's concentrate on getting Michael past his pneumonia first, OK?" He replied sitting down next to Jason on the couch.

Jason: "Why don't you come by for dinner tomorrow night? Courtney's cooking, and Mike's going to be there too."

Sonny: "I don't know Jason…" He hesitated knowing deep inside that he needed to have a relationship with his father, as time was moving forward even if he wasn't.

Jason: "Tomorrow at 6 o'clock - be there!" He exclaimed exiting PH4, as Sonny remained sitting on the couch staring into space, as Rosa entered the livingroom.

Rosa: "Michael is looking much better than yesterday Mr. Corinthos!"

Sonny: "Sonny, please…"

Rosa: "Sonny! He should be ready for school Monday!"

Sonny: "Thanks for everything Rosa!" He exclaimed showing her out, and after she'd left he was left with a feeling that tomorrow everything would look very different.

chapter 03