Chapter Ten
“I didn’t hear you come in,” Sonny says quietly.
“Francis let me in,” Carly says as she walks into the living room. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Well…” Mike begins as the door closes behind her.
“Not really,” Sonny answers. “What can I do for you? What do you need?”
“I don’t always need anything, Sonny. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“Okay,” Sonny says patiently. “Then what is it?”
“Well, Michael’s been asking about you and…I thought you could come by and we could have dinner together tonight.”
“Uh,” Sonny begins, “I can’t tonight.”
She looks around her.
“Why not? You’re obviously cooking so you don’t have any plans…”
“Carly…”
“Mike…” Sonny interrupts. “I do have plans, Carly so…can we do it another night – like tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? Sure, Sonny. I’ll just go home and tell your son that you’re too busy to stop by and see him!”
“Carly, that’s not fair,” Mike argues.
“No, no,” Sonny interrupts again. “I don’t need you fightin’ my battles for me, Mike. Now can you…excuse us, please?”
Mike shakes his head and takes a deep breath.
“Whatever you say,” he says. “I’ve been wanting to see Alexis anyway…I’ll be back later.”
“Yeah – whatever…”
Carly watches as Mike walks over to the front door, opens it, and steps out closing the door behind him.
“Alright, Sonny,” Carly says. “What is it you’re gonna tell me. Is it what you and Mike were talking about when I walked in?”
“Yeah,” Sonny answers. “Have a seat.”
“I’d rather stand.”
“So stand, Carly!” he yells. He takes a moment to calm himself. “Look…somethin’s happening and I uh…want you to hear about it from me…”
“What?” Carly demands. “No – wait. This has something to do with the neurotic next door, right?”
“You know,” Sonny begins, “I’ve asked you not to come up here…and start this every time. Now, Alexis is someone who’s important to me, Carly. Why is that so hard for you to get through your head?”
“Because you’re only with her because I’m not here anymore,” she answers. “She took her time and waited for her chance and now she’s got you right where she wants you, Sonny. You’re even neglecting Michael because of her.”
“I’m not neglecting Michael,” Sonny protests.
“Sonny, you haven’t seen Michael in weeks and you know it.”
“And you know what’s been happenin’ around here. Alexis was kidnapped and held hostage because somebody was tryin’ to get to me. Then she got shot…Look, why am I explaining this to you – why should I even have to? You know what’s goin’ on, Carly. Things are still kinda crazy lately and I haven’t been able to see him. But I talk to him on the phone everyday. Michael’s fine – you know that. But now…I’m gonna have to ask you again. Do not come up here – upsetting Alexis. I mean it.”
“Oh yeah? Well what about the things she says to me? You don’t seem to care about that, do you?”
“Alexis never starts it…”
“And I do, right? I don’t even know why I should be surprised. Everything’s always about Alexis – poor Alexis or Alexis your attorney. That’s all you ever think about! Well, you know something, Sonny? I’m getting pretty sick and tired of listening to you protecting Little Miss Goody Two Shoes from mean old Carly. What’s the matter – she can’t speak up for herself?”
“Stay away from Alexis, Carly. I’m not gonna say it again.”
“Okay, you know what? You can’t tell me what to do – not anymore.”
“Alexis is pregnant!” Sonny yells.
___________________________________________________________________
“So,” Mike begins as he sits on the sofa, “how are you feeling?”
“Okay so far,” Alexis answers. “I went to see my doctor today and everything seems fine and…Sonny showed up.”
Mike shrugs.
“You can’t be surprised,” he says.
“I just…didn’t expect to see him…just show up like that…”
“Listen, I’ve been…getting the feeling lately that something’s not quite right between you and Sonny. Am I crazy or what?”
“Depends on your point of view…”
“You know what I mean…”
“Yes, I do…Well, the truth is that before I found out that I was pregnant…Sonny and I had…decided that we wouldn’t see each other anymore…”
“Oh,” Mike says. “Now that explains it.”
“Now that explains what? What are you talking about?”
“Well, just that Sonny’s been…a little edgy lately.”
“Lately?” Alexis repeats. “Are you sure that we’re talking about the same man?”
“Good point but you know what I mean. So what happened? Why did you stop seeing each other?”
“I don’t really know, Mike. He suddenly became distant and when I demanded to know why, he blurted out that our relationship had become too much for him to handle.”
“You do know that he’s still feeling guilty about everything that Roscoe did to you, don’t you?”
“I know he is,” Alexis answers. “And I’m also pretty certain that that was what was behind what happened between us. He’s been trying to protect me from his life…”
“So you understand.”
“I understand but…that doesn’t mean that I want to put myself into the position of being off-loaded again the next time he feels that I’ll be safer without him. He can’t make that decision for me, Mike. No one can. No one has the right…”
“Okay,” Mike appeases. “You don’t like it when people make decisions for you. I get that. I’m sure that Sonny does, too. But Alexis…you are pregnant with his child.”
“Mike…”
“And Sonny loves you. You must know that.”
Alexis begins to pace.
“I don’t…see where that’s pertinent…”
“Of course it’s pertinent, Alexis. He loves you. You love him…”
“You think so, do you?” she asks as she begins to fidget.
“Alright, alright,” Mike says. “I’ll back off. Only please don’t punish Sonny for wanting to keep you safe…You don’t know what he put himself through while you were in the hospital…You mean a great deal to him. I didn’t see it before but it really hit home for me when Roscoe had you and I watched Sonny driving himself crazy trying to find you...and that means a great deal to me. I would love to see my son truly happy for the first time in his life, Alexis…I think he can have that with you…And now, with this baby…”
“I get the idea, Mike,” Alexis interrupts. “And I’ll consider what you’ve said – I really will. Now can we please...stop talking about this?”
Mike laughs.
“You know, you and Sonny are two of a kind,” he teases. “He would have thrown me out by now…”
“I considered it…”
“Okay," Mike says. "I’ll get off the subject of you and Sonny...So about my grandchild -- got any names in mind?”
Alexis rolls her eyes.
"Mike, please..."
___________________________________________________________________
Carly stands frozen to the spot – staring at Sonny, replaying his words in her head over and over again.
“Alexis is what?” she repeats.
“She’s pregnant, okay?” Sonny answers. “And I don’t want you comin’ up here stressin’ her out.”
“So,” she manages, “what are you saying? You’re telling me that I can’t come here anymore?”
“That’s not what I said but you know…if you want…we can make it that way.”
She shakes her head in disbelief.
“I don’t believe this…”
“Alexis is part of my life, Carly. You’re gonna have to accept that. And now we’re gonna have a baby together. Nothing is more important than that – nothing. Now…this won’t affect my relationship with Michael but …I can’t have you on her back right now. It’s your choice.”
“Look,” she begins, the tears forming in her eyes, “I have an idea. Why don’t I just get out of here and leave you with your new family, Sonny. It’s obvious that you don’t want Michael and me anymore so…”
“Carly…”
“It’s fine, Sonny,” Carly interrupts. “You can go have your precious Alexis. My son and I won’t bother you anymore!”
She turns and hurries to the front door, Sonny following.
Before she can open the door, Sonny grabs hold of her arm and swings her around to face him.
“We’re talkin’ about a baby here, Carly,” he says. “I’m not choosin’ between the baby and Michael and you know it. All I’m askin’ …is for you to leave Alexis alone so that everything stays calm for her and for the baby. That’s all.”
“No, that’s not all, Sonny,” Carly shouts. “You have a new baby coming and so Michael and I aren’t important anymore. I mean, we were fine when there was nobody else in your life. But now that Alexis is having your baby, we should just get out of the way…”
“Okay," Sonny says. "You're being ridiculous now...”
“And you know what? That’s fine, Sonny. You have your life with Alexis and your baby. Michael and I will be fine!”
She turns and jerks the door open, runs past Francis, and pounds on the elevator button.
“It doesn’t have to be this way, Carly,” Sonny quietly offers as he walks to where she’s standing.
Alexis’ front door opens at that moment.
“You just have to make sure to get enough rest,” Mike says as he walks out of the apartment.
“I will, I will,” Alexis says. “You sound like your son…”
Mike stops when he sees Carly standing at the elevator.
“Carly?” he manages.
“Congratulations, Alexis!” Carly shouts at a startled Alexis. “You finally got what you wanted…” The elevator doors open. “I hope it turns out to be worth it!”
Carly rushes into the elevator and pushes the lobby button.
“Carly?” Mike calls as the doors close.
“Forget it, Mike,” Sonny says. “She won’t listen…” He looks across at Alexis. “I’m…sorry…”
“No,” Alexis manages. “Don’t apologize. It was to be expected, I guess…I…think I’ll go…lie down…”
“The food’s almost ready,” Sonny says quickly. “Why don’t you…have somethin’ to eat first?”
“I’ll get something later. Thank you anyway…”
“Alexis…”
“I’m okay, Sonny,” she says. “I’m just tired…Goodnight, Mike. Thanks for stopping by…”
“Goodnight,” Mike says.
“Goodnight, Sonny.”
“Goodnight,” he answers.
He watches as Alexis steps into her apartment and gently closes the door.
“Damn…”
“I…take it that you told Carly about the baby,” Mike says.
“Yeah – for all the good it did. Do me a favor?” he tells Francis. “You make sure that she stays away from Miss Davis.”
“Sure, Boss,” Francis says.
___________________________________________________________________
Alexis sits at the dining table, open book next to her right hand, pen in left hand and pad underneath. There’s a big bowl of popcorn in the center of the table and she’s wearing her glasses, re-reading the same paragraph for the fourth time – her powers of concentration momentarily escaping her.
I’m pregnant with Sonny’s child and Carly knows it, she reminds herself. What a mess! She probably thinks that I did this on purpose. Who are you kidding, Alexis? Of course she thinks you did it on purpose…
Well, that gives her every right to make my life miserable. It used to be that she would only annoy me whenever the opportunity presented itself. Now she’ll go out of her way.
Suddenly a thought pops into her head.
Do you realize that you are carrying a Corinthos-Cassadine child – heir to the reprehensible dynasty of its father…and the grandchild of the murderous Mikkos Cassadine? That’s a lot for a little person to live down…
Alexis hears keys turning in the lock and looks up as the door opens.
“Hi!” Kristina says as she walks into the apartment. “Look who I bumped into!”
Jax follows Kristina into the apartment before she closes the door.
“You know,” he begins, “somehow I knew that this is what you’d be doing…”
“Oh, shut up!” Alexis says as she stands. “How was your trip?”
“The company is now mine, thank you very much!” Jax boasts.
“I never had any doubt that it would be,” Alexis says. “And what are you doing here?”
“Checking up on two of my favorite people. So how are you?”
“I’m well, thank you.”
“So what is this news that Kristina keeps trying not to tell me about?”
Alexis glares at Kristina.
“I’m sorry, Alexis,” Kristina says. “I couldn’t help myself. But I didn’t tell him…”
“Tell me what?” Jax asks.
Before Alexis can answer, she notices him staring at her.
“What?” she asks.
“Oh…nothing. You…look different…”
“Oh, for crying out loud,” Alexis complains. “You said the same thing the last time you were here.
“It was true then and it’s still true.”
“You bet it is,” Kristina mutters.
“Kristina, please!”
“Sorry…”
“So that’s it then?” Jax asks. “The big secret?”
“There’s no big secret, believe me,” Alexis says.
There’s a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it!” Kristina says as she goes to the front door and opens it.
“That is it!” Jax exclaims. “That's what I keep seeing! You’re pregnant, aren't you?”
Alexis begins to stammer an answer when she catches sight of Ned in the doorway – a look of horrified disapproval on his face.
Oh my God…
“Well, are you, Alexis?” Ned faintly demands as he walks past Kristina and into the apartment. “Are you…pregnant?”
Alexis takes a deep breath.
“Yes,” she answers as calmly as she can. “I’m pregnant…”
"With Sonny's baby," Ned adds.
Alexis' back seems to straighten just the tiniest bit as her sense of defiant independence grows.
She looks at Ned.
"With Sonny's baby," she calmly states.