Second Chances
by Susanne

Chapter 7 -- Confronting Each Other

After having left Alexis' apartment Jason had gone by Benny's to get a file that Benny had sampled for Sonny. Jason immediately knew what the file entailed - Alexis' life from when she left Port Charles and until she resurfaced in Port Charles. Jason felt like he was betraying Alexis by giving Sonny this file but Sonny would see and read the file with or without Jason bringing it to his attention.

When Jason arrived in front of PH4 he knocked on the door, and it only took Sonny 15 seconds to open the door, well-knowing that what he was about to see wouldn't be pretty.

Sonny: "Thanks Jason…" He replied taking the file from Jason immediately, as the two friends walked into the livingroom where Sonny sat down on the couch and opened the file, while Jason kept his distance. When Sonny looked at the first couple of pictures he was relaxed - they were off Alexis in a hospital bed holding a pair of twins in her arms looking tired but absolutely beautiful with her hair gathered in a pony tail - another picture showed Alexis in her wedding dress walking down the aisle at what he assumed was her wedding to the man she was running away from. Alexis looked beautiful wearing an ankle length, white dress with spaghetti straps and with her hair gathered in a small bun in the back of her head. She smiled the smile Sonny had been missing for several years now. Suddenly Jason could hear Sonny's breathing becoming rather irregular, and therefore Jason asked

Jason: "What's wrong?"

Sonny: "This is what's wrong?!!!" He yelled, as he walked to his desk where Jason was standing and placed multiple pictures of x-rays showing the damages Alexis' body had endured during her marriage.

Jason: "My God! How could someone…?"

Sonny: "Do this to her? Because I wasn't there to prevent it!"

Jason: "You can't seriously be blaming yourself for this?" He asked unable to believe that these pictures were of the Alexis Davis he'd known for years now and whom he'd just recently seen with her beautiful little girl.

Sonny: "I didn't think that I was worthy of Alexis' love, and therefore I let her go - right into the arms of Ned Ashton, who didn't do a damn thing to prevent her from leaving Port Charles and hooking up with a man, who's going to regret the first time he ever laid a hand on her. I want you to find out who this John Benson is, and when you do bring him to me, got it?"

Jason: "Got it! She hides it well…" The minute he'd said that he wished he could take it back because he'd just revealed to Sonny that he'd seen Alexis.

Sonny: "Where is she Jason? Tell me!"

Jason: "Alexis doesn't want to see you Sonny. Can't you at least give her a few days to settle in, in her old apartment…? Damn!" He cursed, as he once again had opened his big mouth with no regard as to what was coming out of it.

Sonny: "I've gotta go!" He exclaimed picking up his jacket but was met with an obstacle in the doorway of PH4 - namely Jasper Jacks.

Jax: "You're not going anywhere Corinthos!"

Sonny: "You don't tell me what to do Candy Boy!!"

Jax: "If you're headed to see Alexis, then yes; it is my job to tell you what to do. Alexis is my friend, and I won't stand by and watch you destroy her once more, got it?!" He asked, entering PH4.

Sonny: "I love Alexis, and I love my children, who are presently living with her in her old apartment. A place where this 'husband' of hers can find them at any time."

Jax: "Well…If your men are as good as they're cracked up to be John won't get within 100 feet of them."

Sonny: "You told Candy Boy about Johnny and Max?" He puzzled asked Jason.

Jason: "No…"

Jax: "Johnny and Max aren't the most discreet bodyguards you've ever seen - just an hour ago Kristina gave them both a cookie for their troubles."

Sonny: "Huh?"

Jax: "Corinthos…Alexis lived across the hall from your for about 2 years - and in that time she discovered your habits, and which bodyguards you send out for your loved ones. Alexis has always liked Johnny and Max in a manner of speaking, and particularly Max has never been on the discreet side."

Sonny: "So what do you want Jax?"

Jax: "Let's work together in neutralizing John. I know the guy - you don't - so therefore I've got an advantage. I can also put in a good word for you with Alexis AFTER John has been dealt with."

Sonny: "And why would you do that? True: you want to help Alexis in getting away from her tormenter but you hate me, and as I recall you see me as a threat to all good women - including Alexis!"

Jax: "I know what Alexis wants - no matter how much she continues to deny it!" He exclaimed.

Kristina: "What are you doing mommy?" She asked coming from the bathroom where she and Christopher had just brushed their teeth and put on their pajamas'.

Alexis: "I'm making a little scrapbook of the two most important people in my life!" She exclaimed lifting Kristina onto her lap so that the little girl could see what Alexis had managed to do up until now.

Kristina: "What's that?" She asked pointing to the sonogram picture, which had displayed a pair of twins.

Alexis: "That's a sonogram, which showed that I was about to have two children."

Kristina: "Cool!" She exclaimed.

Christopher: "What's cool?" He asked exiting the bathroom.

Kristina: "This scrapbook mommy has made - FOR ME!" She exclaimed - there had lately been some sibling rivalry between Christopher and Kristina, and Alexis had had just about enough of it.

Alexis: "For both of you - now…I do think that it's past your bedtime so how about you two scurry on into your bed's, and then I'll come in and kiss you goodnight in a few minutes?"

Kristina: "OK!" She exclaimed, as she hurried into her room, while Christopher kissed his mother goodnight followed by a hug.

Christopher: "I love you mommy!"

Alexis: "I love you!" She exclaimed watching, as he went into his room after which Alexis packed the scrapbook away. When she looked into the mirror she noticed that she hadn't worn this outfit for several years now. She wore a grey T-shirt together with a pair of blue sweat pants, and a pair of fuzzy socks together with her glasses, which were placed crookedly on her nose, and then with her hair up in a ponytail. John had always been adamant about her always having to look good, and if she didn't look good in his opinion then that would just have been another reason for him to have used her as a substitute for a punching bag. She could remember like it was yesterday when she'd last worn this outfit - it had been the beginning of an amazing evening.

*** FLASHBACK ***

Alexis: "See, as usual, you're missing the point entirely. I am not your employee, I am not your soldier, I'm not your consigliore, I'm not your thug, I'm not one of your bodyguards, I'm not even your attorney, yet I have recently, despite the fact that I should know better, agreed to be your friend and friends don't order friends to do things…They ask them…"

Sonny: "Breathe."

Alexis: "Are you ordering me to breathe?"

Sonny: "Do what you want. Do you want to pass out? Pass out. Whatever."

Alexis: "Oh God."

Sonny: "That's better."

Alexis: "In addition to your other numerous character flaws, you're condescending."

Sonny: "You finished?"

Alexis: "Nearly. If you want me to go to dinner with you, you have to ask me."

Sonny: "OK. Would you like to come to dinner with me, Alexis?"

Alexis: "No. Thank you. Goodnight."

Sonny: "Wait, wait, wait, wait…"

Alexis: "Wait please."

Sonny: "Wait please."

Alexis: "Oh, there, that's better."

Sonny: "How come you don't want to come to dinner with me?"

Alexis: "Because I'm tired, because I have briefs to file, because I'm wearing my sweats…"

Sonny: "You gotta eat."

Alexis: "I am gonna eat. I'm gonna have a bowl of popcorn."

Sonny: "But this is so much better."

Alexis: "Do you see my feet? I'm wearing socks. They're in socks. They're tired. They don't want to be in heels anymore and neither do I. If you want to cook something, I'll come over to your apartment and eat with you."

Sonny: "No, no, no, I'm not in the mood."

Alexis: "Well, I'm never in the mood to cook…I can't cook. I burn things."

Sonny: "Alexis, I would like it very much if you would have dinner with me. You don't have to wear high heels. Would you do that? Please."

Alexis: "See there, when you ask me so nicely…I can't refuse. I'll be ready in fifteen minutes."

Sonny: "I'll be waiting."

*** FLASHBACK ***

Alexis was pulled out of her memory by an insistent knock on the door - she hurried to answer the door in fear of waking up the children if they had fallen asleep. But the eyes she met when she opened the door were the eyes she had feared seeing; Sonny's eyes. They both inhaled deeply upon seeing each other for the first time in ages.

chapter 08