Second Chances
by Susanne

Chapter 12 -- Taking Care of Loose Ends

The next morning while Sonny and Alexis were cuddled together in the bed, Kristina had left hers, and had just entered the bedroom to see her mother lying together with a man. The little girl went to her mother's side of the bed, shook her awake and whispered

Kristina: "Mommy…There's a 'nekked' man lying next to you!" Alexis giggled due to the shocked look on her little girl's face.

Sonny: "Instead of 'nekked' man I'd like it if you'd call me Sonny…For starters anyway…" He replied sitting up in bed making the little girl blush.

Alexis: "Why don't you go into the livingroom, and watch cartoons, huh? Kristina?"

Kristina: "OK…Mommy, Sonny!" She exclaimed hurrying into the livingroom doing as her mother had asked.

Sonny: "She reminds me of you…" He laughed, as Alexis hurled a pillow in his head.

Alexis: "Very funny! I'm guessing that her and her brother are ready for their breakfast - do you dare stay and eat?"

Sonny: "Rumor has it that you've improved your cooking skills so I think I'll stay and eat."

Alexis: "Good!" She exclaimed kissing him hard on the lips before wrapping a robe around her body, and exiting the bedroom. Suddenly Sonny's cell phone rang, and he hurried to grab his jacket where he'd placed the cell phone, and answered it saying

Sonny: "Yeah!"

Caller: "It's Jason - I've got some news."

Sonny: "Go on…" He replied beginning to put on his pants and shirt.

Jason: "John Benson left Florida a few days ago according to our contacts down there. Chances are that he's already in town."

Sonny: "I understand! Send Johnny and Max over here to stand guard because I need to do something before we can start moving them."

Jason: "So everything went OK last night?"

Sonny: "Surprisingly enough: yes. I actually feel like there's a chance for me to be happy now.

Jason: "I'm happy for you Sonny - I really am!"

Sonny: "I know - just send Johnny and Max over as soon as possible, and then we'll go from there, OK?"

Jason: "You got it! Bye!" He exclaimed hanging up, as Sonny turned around and saw Alexis standing in the doorway with a questioning look in her eyes.

Alexis: "What's wrong?" She asked closing the door behind her.

Sonny: "Nothing's wrong…Just a minor complication."

Alexis: "One by the name of John Benson? I heard you talking to Jason so you better just tell me the truth!"

Sonny: "Nothing bad will happen, OK? I just wanted Jason to send Johnny and Max over to look out for you and the kids, OK? I need to make a quick errand, and then we can think about moving you guys." He replied smiling, as he took Alexis into his arms noticing how much she shook out of fear of John finding them.

Alexis: "I trust you completely but just be careful, OK? You're all I have left besides Kristina and Christopher."

Sonny: "I promise - come on - let's have breakfast." He replied, as he placed his hand in hers, as they entered the kitchen.

Christopher: "What are you doing here?" He asked extremely rude making Alexis look at him frowning.

Alexis: "Excuse me? I know that, that isn't the handsome son I've raised, who just said that!"
Christopher: "I'm sorry…" He replied going to sit down at the table.

Alexis: "I'm sorry…" She apologized turning to Sonny.

Sonny: "It's OK! It'll take some getting used to having a new man around but they'll get used to it. Christopher just has to come to terms with the fact that his mother has a grownup protecting her now."

Kristina: "You can sit next to me Sonny - I've made you a sandwich!" She exclaimed smiling sweetly displaying her dimples.

Sonny: "All right! What's in it?" He asked, as he took a seat next to Kristina, and Alexis took a seat next to Christopher.

Kristina: "Jelly, peanut butter and cheese!" She exclaimed happily, as she was always experimenting with new things to add to the traditional jelly and peanut butter sandwich. Sonny not wanting to start of the wrong foot with his daughter too took a big bite to please his little girl.

Sonny: "Mmm…Delicious!" He exclaimed making Alexis' heart happy upon seeing her daughter's joy of being reunited with her father.

Alexis had changed into a pair of jeans and a pink top and pink cardigan accompanied by a pair of black sandals and her hair up in a small bun in the back of her head.

Sonny: "I'll be back in a few hours, OK? Johnny and Max are right outside."

Alexis: "OK…Just me careful, OK? I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you now that we're so close to being happy again."

Sonny: "Not a chance - besides I want to see what my daughter puts on my sandwich tomorrow - I love you…"

Alexis: "I love you too…" She replied, as they kissed softly before Sonny walked out of the apartment and off to take care of his errand.

Kristina: "He's nice! Mommy? Do you think that Johnny and Max would like something to eat? I could make them some sandwiches…"

Alexis: "How about you give them a piece of the pie we made a few days ago, huh?"

Kristina: "OK - Do you want to come too Chris?"

Christopher: "Nope…"

Alexis: "Wait a second before you go, OK Krissy?"

Kristina: "OK mommy!" She replied, as Alexis went to the kitchen table where Christopher was sulking.

Alexis: "What's wrong?" She asked, as she sat down next to her son.
Christopher: "Is he going to be our 'new' father?"

Alexis: "No, he's the only father you'll ever have. Come here Krissy…" She replied reaching out for her daughter, whom she sat on her lap.

Kristina: "What is it mommy?"

Alexis: "I know that these past couple of years have been anything but easy for you guys, but Sonny is an honest man, who'd die before hurting you or me, OK? And you can trust him completely because I do."

Christopher: "I guess I owe him an apology, huh?"

Alexis: "Yes, you do! Now…How about you go with your sister, and give Johnny and Max a piece of pie to thank them for protecting us?"

Christopher: "OK! Come on Krissy!" He exclaimed, as the two siblings took each other's hands and walked downstairs to the entrance of the apartment building where Johnny and Max were on guard.

Voice: "I thought they'd never leave…" Alexis could feel a shiver run down her spine, as she heard that voice, and her fears were confirmed when she turned around and saw John Benson - her 'darling' husband.

Alexis: "What are you doing here?" She asked scared to death.

John: "I'm here to bring my wife and children home!" He exclaimed shutting the door close.

Alexis: "They aren't your children, and I'm only your wife on paper. I should probably be named 'punching bag' instead, huh?"

John: "Are you talking back to me all of the sudden? Or is it that mobster's doing? What exactly did you to do in that bedroom of yours last night? As if I have to guess!" He laughed coldly.

Alexis: "You son of a bitch!" She exclaimed advancing towards him ready to slap him when he grabbed her arm, and hit her so hard that she knocked her head on the wall, and fell limply to the ground with blood running from the corner of her mouth.

Suddenly the door was knocked in by Johnny and Max with Sonny standing right behind them. Johnny and Max went directly for John, and took a hold of his collar, and escorted him out of the building, while Sonny rushed to Alexis' side.

Sonny: "Alexis…Talk to me honey!" He begged before lifting her up in his arms, and proceeding into the bedroom where he placed her on the bed, supporting her head with the pillows on the bed. He took a cold cloth, and washed the blood from the corner of her mouth away.

Alexis: "Sonny…" She suddenly began moaning, as her eyes slowly opened up.

Sonny: "He's gone now - it's OK!" He tried to reassure her, as she looked towards the livingroom.

Alexis: "Krissy and Chris - did he…?"

Sonny: "They're fine - they're with your next door neighbor Mrs. Jones - don't worry - they're fine, and he's never going to hurt you ever again. I promise you!" He exclaimed lying down next to Alexis on the bed.

Alexis: "How did you?"

Sonny: "I felt you needing me, and I came - he's apparently come up through the service elevator so Max and Johnny had no chance of catching him. It's OK - shh…" He replied tucking her head under his chin wanting her to feel safe after all the turmoil she'd been through today, but also the past couple of years.

chapter 13