Second Chances
by Susanne

Chapter 4 -- Helping An Old Friend

Alexis, Kristina and Christopher had just gotten off the plane and gotten their luggage, and were making their way to the lounge where she'd arranged for Jax to come and pick them up. Jax & Alexis had always been able to confide in each other about everything. She'd been there for him when everyone had thought that Brenda had 'died' and Jax had been there for her when Kristina had died, and also now with John. Jax had visited a couple of times when John had been away on business, and the children had loved Jax at first sight.

Jax was making his way through the crowds of people welcoming back their loved ones from trips. He looked into a nearby lounge, and saw a woman with 2 small children sitting at a table. The woman was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, a white shirt and a brown suede jacket along with a pair of black sandals.

Jax: "Alexis?" He asked standing a few meters from the table where Alexis, Kristina and Christopher were sitting. Alexis immediately looked up with teary eyes upon seeing her friend after such a long time. She took Kristina and Christopher's hands and went in the direction of Jax - when Jax & Alexis were a meter apart, Alexis let go of the children's hands and threw her arms around Jax's neck exclaiming
Alexis: "I've missed you so much!!" Jax simply hugged her back replying

Jax: "So have I, Lex! So have I!"

Christopher: "Hi uncle Jax!" The little boy exclaimed, as Jax and Alexis backed away from each other, and Jax picked Christopher up from the floor and hugged him tightly.

Jax: "Hi yourself Champ! And how have you been Ms. Kristina?" He asked kissing Kristina on the top of her head.

Kristina: "Fine…" She silently replied hiding behind Alexis, as she had a shy gene in her.

Alexis: "Is the apartment ready for us to move into it?"

Jax: "It sure is - Brenda's on a business trip so she won't be here to welcome you home but she sends her love."

Alexis: "Thank you!" She exclaimed, as they made their way back to the lounge to take their bags with them out to Jax's waiting car.

Later on when they had arrived at Alexis' old apartment in downtown Port Charles, Kristina and Christopher had been put to bed considering how long they had been awake. Jax was sitting in the livingroom while Alexis was carrying a tray with coffee and biscuits into the livingroom.

Alexis: "Here you go! Don't worry I've improved." She smiled upon seeing the skeptical look on Jax's face upon seeing that Alexis had made coffee.

Jax: "All right…Here goes nothing!" He exclaimed, as he took his coffee cup and drank a little coffee.

Alexis: "So?" She asked smiling, loving how Jax's smile told her that she'd succeeded in surprising him with her newfound cooking talents.

Jax: "Who are you? And where is the real Alexis Davis?" He asked with a smile.

Alexis: "Let's just say that with 2 children you've got to be a whiz in the kitchen - especially with Chris and Krissy when they're as food happy as they are." She smiled, as she sat back in the couch with her legs up under her body with a coffee cup in her hands.

Jax: "Why haven't you mentioned him yet?" He suddenly asked, as Alexis looked straight into Jax's eyes.

Alexis: "Why haven't I mentioned who yet?" She asked taking a sip of her coffee.

Jax: "Sonny! He will notice you being back in Port Charles with Chris and Krissy, and they resemble him just as much as they resemble you."

Alexis: "If you're talking about the color of their skin - then yes it is very Puerto-Rican but I have both Swedish, Russian and Greek genes inside of me."

Jax: "What will you tell him WHEN you run into him?"

Alexis: "Hello?" She replied with a smile on her lips.

Jax: "Why do you continue to joke about this? I am serious Alexis. And what if John comes looking for you?"

Alexis: "He won't!!"

Jax: "How can you be so sure…?"

Alexis: "I just do! Now can we please change the subject?" She interrupted him looking adamant that they change this particular topic.

Jax: "Alexis…The times that I visited you guys John was never there - that tells me that you're terrified of this guy, and Sonny has people, who can help you."

Alexis: "And how exactly would that work, huh? That would entail me telling him about Christopher and Kristina being his, and then hearing his big speech about how I betrayed him in every way possible. But then of course if I were Carly that would be OK because she can't think for herself so therefore that's her excuse every and each time she betrayed him."

Jax: "Alexis…Carly isn't with Sonny anymore."

Alexis: "What? You mean to tell me that the 'honorable' Sonny Corinthos has been single for years now?" She asked sarcastically, as she made her way to the window with her coffee cup in her hands.

Jax: "Yeah…Ever since she and Ric left town he's been completely closed off!"

Alexis: "Poor Sonny - he's just so unfortunate, isn't he?"

Jax: "Listen…I know that you've been through hell these past couple of years but so has he! Now it wouldn't kill you to give the man some slack - would it?" He asked getting a skeptical look from Alexis.

Alexis: "Why is it that you're suddenly going to Sonny's defense all of the sudden?"

Jax: "What? Brenda has asked me to be nicer to the guy…"

Alexis: "Not even Brenda could make you be this civil to Sonny after everything that he's put you through - I remember all those times that you warned me against him…" She replied going back in time.

*** FLASHBACK ***

Jax: "You used to represent Sonny on the principle that anyone, even a career criminal, has the right to a defense. But now you're on retainer. Which makes you what? A part of his coffee business."

Alexis: "I am Sonny's attorney. But I'm your ex-wife, which is why I know that this is really about Brenda."
Jax: "Oh, let's leave Brenda out of this, ok? She's gone."

Alexis: "But I'm here, working for Sonny but devoted to you. Now, I'm clearly not a perfect substitute, but that's better than having to let Brenda go. And as long as you keep fighting Sonny that means that you haven't let Brenda go. You see how this thing works?"

Jax: "I will love Brenda until the day I die. But I love you, too, and I can't just stand by and watch Sonny ruin your life."

Alexis: "Do you ever think that I would ever let anyone have that kind of power over me? Now, this is a product of Carly's imagination, all of this. Stop listening to her. It's nonsense."

*** FLASHBACK ***

Jax: "Let's just say that he's changed in the years you've been gone."

Alexis: "So much so that you'd actually give up this hate relationship you've got with the guy?" She asked eying Jax skeptically.

Jax: "I'll do everything for Brenda - just as I know that Corinthos would do anything for you if you just gave him the chance."

Alexis: "Jax…Swear to me that you won't tell him that I'm back in town - swear it!" She exclaimed looking Jax dead in the eyes.

Jax: "I wouldn't betray your trust Alexis - you know that. But you have to realize that it won't take long before either Sonny, Jason, Courtney, Max or Johnny sees you around town."

Alexis: "I'll deal with that when I get to it. Right now I just want to relax and feel at peace away from my 'beloved' husband."

Jax: "OK! I need to get home anyways - take care, OK? And call me if you need ANYTHING!"

Alexis: "I will! She promised, as she walked him to the door, where they hugged each other goodbye and Jax then left.

About an hour later Alexis was lying on the couch relaxing her eyes when a little voice belonging to her handsome son asked

Christopher: "Are you sleeping mommy?"

Alexis: "Just relaxing my eyes a little sweetie - what's wrong?" She asked as she sat up and opened her arms inviting him to come to her, which he did, as she lifted him onto her lap.

Christopher: "I couldn't sleep - he won't come here will he?" He asked referring to John, who'd Christopher had become extremely frightened of the past couple of months.

Alexis: "No one can hurt us here in Port Charles Chris - no one, OK?"

Christopher: "OK!" He exclaimed, as he snuggled close to Alexis' chest and she played a little with his hair amazed of how much it resembled Sonny's, which had always been curly too when he hadn't put anything in it. And Alexis' was also normally frizzy and curly unless she did her best to keep it straight, which took some work.

Alexis: "John won't ever hurt us again sweetheart - you can count on that!" She assured her sleeping son, as she hummed a lullaby she used to hum to her children when she used to sit with them in a rocking chair after having fed them.

Alexis knew that it would be a tough ride to get their lives back together again but she also knew that she had enough determination and willpower to make that happen. She wanted Christopher and Kristina to grow up in a non-violent environment unlike their parents. She wanted them to have everything that she hadn't had and she knew that she was the one person, who could provide that for her angelic children, who meant more for her than any other person in the entire world except from her sister Kristina maybe.

chapter 05